Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Johnson & Wales University-Providence #1072 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $54,530, placing Johnson & Wales University-Providence in the 14.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Johnson & Wales University-Providence sits in the 24.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. ---
Azimuth ranks Johnson & Wales University-Providence #1072 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university in Providence, Rhode Island, Johnson & Wales University-Providence enrolls roughly 3,868 undergraduates. Retention is 82.0% and the six-year graduation rate is 55.4%, reflecting solid conversion of enrollment into degree completion. Where Johnson & Wales University-Providence performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Johnson & Wales University-Providence #1183 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $8,494 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Johnson & Wales University-Providence in the 24.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's program portfolio, anchored in Business, aligns closely with employer demand in the Northeast and supports graduates into stable, well-paying career pathways. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Johnson & Wales University-Providence sits in the 54.4 percentile for access and the 36.6 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting a higher sticker price typical of private institutions and a smaller share of Pell-eligible students (36.2%) and first-generation undergraduates (34.6%) relative to some peer institutions. For families who can manage the upfront cost, the institution's strong return on investment and career-focused curriculum offer meaningful long-term financial payoff.
Johnson & Wales University-Providence's published cost of attendance is $26,864. Need-based aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $19,916, middle-income families pay around $19,319, and higher-income families pay approximately $25,364. Azimuth ranks Johnson & Wales University-Providence #904 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Johnson & Wales University-Providence meets demonstrated financial need through need-based aid, with no merit component. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile to determine eligibility. The institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs to help bridge the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $34,260; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $54,530, median federal debt of $26,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $294 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Johnson & Wales University-Providence is a strong fit for students interested in business and hospitality fields who want a private university experience in RI, with career-focused programs that align with regional employer needs. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $54,530, placing Johnson & Wales University-Providence in the 14.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn about $8,494 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 24.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university enrolls students from a range of backgrounds, with 36.2% of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants and 34.6% being first-generation students. The published net price for higher-income families is $25,364, and median federal debt at graduation is $26,000. Fit depends on program alignment — Business represents 31% of graduates, reflecting the institution's career-oriented focus. Students seeking strong regional employer connections in these fields will find the strongest outcomes.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Johnson & Wales University-Providence hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Westmont College Similar quality tier (#29480 ranked) | CA | 77% | $64,778 | #29480 | Compare |
Upper Iowa University Similar quality tier (#29478 ranked) | IA | 96% | $52,766 | #29478 | Compare |
Otterbein University Similar quality tier (#29471 ranked) | OH | 85% | $53,313 | #29471 | Compare |
John Brown University Similar quality tier (#30518 ranked) | AR | 76% | $53,907 | #30518 | Compare |
Chaminade University Of Honolulu Similar quality tier (#29459 ranked) | HI | 91% | $52,343 | #29459 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Johnson & Wales University-Providence's published cost of attendance is $26,864. Need-based aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $19,916, middle-income families pay around $19,319, and higher-income families pay approximately $25,364.
Azimuth ranks Johnson & Wales University-Providence #904 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Johnson & Wales University-Providence meets demonstrated financial need through need-based aid, with no merit component. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile to determine eligibility.
The institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs to help bridge the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $34,260; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $54,530, median federal debt of $26,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $294 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Johnson & Wales University–Providence earn median 4-year earnings of $54,530, placing the institution in the 14.1st percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $8,494 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Johnson & Wales University–Providence in the 24.9th percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Johnson & Wales University–Providence #1183 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures represent meaningful lifetime returns relative to Rhode Island's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $36,082 — the state median earnings of working adults age 25–34 with only a high school credential.
The earnings pattern reflects Johnson & Wales University–Providence's focus on Business fields, which account for 31% of graduates. Baking and Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef is the largest program with 159 graduates earning median earnings of $55,056 — 1.2× the national benchmark for the field. The Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services, Other program graduates 142 students with median earnings of $50,571, while Brewery/Brewpub Operations/Management serves 93 graduates earning $55,790.
Human Resources Management and Services
8 graduates
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
13 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
15 graduates
Finance and Financial Management Services
15 graduates
Marketing
20 graduates
Johnson & Wales University's program mix is anchored in business, hospitality, and culinary fields—a portfolio shaped by the institution's distinctive identity as a career-focused private university. Culinary Arts and Related Services is the largest program with 159 graduates, followed by Food and Nutrition, Hospitality Administration/Management, Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management, and Criminal Justice.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 940 students annually, several deliver strong four-year earnings outcomes aligned with applied professional pathways. The earnings pattern reflects Johnson & Wales' positioning as a hospitality and business-focused institution.
Business Administration leads with median earnings of $59,186 four years after enrollment, followed by Criminal Justice with $56,632, Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management with $56,241, Hospitality Administration/Management with $55,790, and Culinary Arts and Related Services with $55,056. These outcomes correspond to the institution's concentration in Business (representing 31% of graduates), Engineering (representing 2%), and Social Sciences (representing 94%), which collectively form the economic foundation of the institution's degree portfolio.
Most of Johnson & Wales' dominant programs are direct-to-workforce pathways where four-year earnings reflect immediate labor-market outcomes in hospitality management, culinary arts, business administration, and related applied fields. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these applied-professional fields align with regional and national labor-market demand, particularly in the hospitality and food-service sectors where Johnson & Wales maintains significant employer relationships.
