Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Providence College #937 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $1,878 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Providence College in the 50.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Providence College #150 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. ---
Azimuth ranks Providence College #937 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private master's university in Providence, RI, Providence College enrolls roughly 4,229 undergraduates. Retention is 94.0% and the six-year graduation rate is 85.8%, reflecting solid institutional support for degree completion. Where Providence College performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Providence College #150 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $83,143, and Providence College sits in the 50.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This performance reflects the institution's strength in Business and related fields, where employers actively recruit and early-career earnings remain competitive. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Providence College enrolls 13.4% Pell-eligible students and 14.6% first-generation undergraduates — modest shares that reflect the institution's positioning as a tuition-dependent private college. Azimuth ranks Providence College in the 36.4 percentile for access and the 1.1 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. For families who can manage the sticker price, the institution's strong return on investment and solid graduation outcomes make it a reliable choice; for cost-sensitive students, Financial GPS tool can model affordability scenarios across different borrowing and earnings paths.
Providence College's published cost of attendance is $80,466. Financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $28,152, families in the lower-middle income band pay around $21,835, middle-income families pay about $25,296, families in the upper-middle income band pay approximately $33,169, and higher-income families pay around $56,699. Azimuth ranks Providence College #1409 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. Providence College meets demonstrated financial need in full for admitted students under its current financial aid policy. Need-based aid forms the foundation of the aid package, with merit scholarships available for qualifying students. Most first-year students receive some form of institutional aid, and the net price illusion between sticker price and what families actually pay is substantial at Providence College — a meaningful advantage for families comparing institutions by headline cost alone. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $46,300; 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 Providence College earning median four-year earnings of $83,143, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Providence College is a strong fit for students seeking a private liberal arts education with a business-oriented focus in RI's Northeast region. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $83,143, placing the institution in the 87.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $1,878 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Providence College in the 50.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution serves a mix of students — 13.4% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 14.6% are first-generation — with outcomes that place it in the 92.9 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions, a historical 10-year Scorecard measure. The Business program family represents 39% of degrees, anchoring the curriculum. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 50.9% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the $56,699 net price for higher-income families requires financial planning. Students whose interests align with the institution's business-oriented strengths and who can navigate the cost structure will find strong post-graduation 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 Providence College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Accounting and Related Services
67 graduates
Finance and Financial Management Services
207 graduates
Economics
79 graduates
Biology, General
91 graduates
Mathematics
19 graduates
Providence College's program mix is anchored in business and professional fields, reflecting the institution's identity as a Catholic liberal arts college with strong career-preparation focus. Finance is the largest program with 207 graduates, followed by Psychology, General with 102 graduates, Business Administration with 102 graduates, Digital Marketing with 93 graduates, and Biology, General with 91 graduates.
Across 30 programs, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, with several delivering strong four-year earnings outcomes. The highest-earning programs reflect the institution's professional orientation.
Accounting graduates earn median earnings of $103,245 four years after enrollment, while Finance graduates earn $103,021, Economics graduates earn $95,590, Biology, General graduates earn $93,757, and Digital Marketing graduates earn $89,629. These earnings patterns align with Providence College's concentration in Business, which accounts for a substantial share of the institution's degree output and drives the overall earnings profile.
Several of these programs are high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the workforce directly and earnings reflect national labor-market outcomes. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Providence College's dominant program families align with labor-market demand and wage-growth trends across sectors.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Providence College's published cost of attendance is $80,466. Financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $28,152, families in the lower-middle income band pay around $21,835, middle-income families pay about $25,296, families in the upper-middle income band pay approximately $33,169, and higher-income families pay around $56,699.
Azimuth ranks Providence College #1409 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.
Providence College meets demonstrated financial need in full for admitted students under its current financial aid policy. Need-based aid forms the foundation of the aid package, with merit scholarships available for qualifying students.
Most first-year students receive some form of institutional aid, and the [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) between sticker price and what families actually pay is substantial at Providence College — a meaningful advantage for families comparing institutions by headline cost alone. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $46,300; 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 Providence College earning median four-year earnings of $83,143, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 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 Providence College earn median 4-year earnings of $83,143, placing Providence College in the 87.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $1,878 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Providence College in the 50.0 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Providence College #150 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Providence College's concentration in business and professional fields.
Finance is the largest program with 207 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $103,021, performing at 1.2x the national benchmark for the field. The Psychology, General program graduates 102 students with median 4-year earnings of $63,746, and Business Administration delivers median 4-year earnings of $85,119 across 102 graduates.
Together, these programs anchor Providence College's return profile, with outcomes that align closely with peer institutions in the private nonprofit sector.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Bryant University Higher acceptance rate (16.9 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 7 miles away; similar graduate earnings | RI | 66% | $90,008 | Compare |
Stonehill College Higher acceptance rate (23.8 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 24 miles away; similar graduate earnings | MA | 73% | $77,745 | Compare |
Assumption University Higher acceptance rate (37.8 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 37 miles away; similar graduate earnings | MA | 87% | $74,895 | Compare |
Saint Joseph's University Higher acceptance rate (37.7 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | PA | 86% | $86,881 | Compare |
Drexel University Higher acceptance rate (28.8 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | PA | 78% | $84,648 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dickinson College Similar quality tier in Northeast (#22551 ranked) | PA | 42% | $70,204 | #22551 | Compare |
Lindenwood University Similar quality tier (#22579 ranked) | MO | 57% | $53,278 | #22579 | Compare |
Bellarmine University Similar quality tier (#22519 ranked) | KY | 86% | $62,069 | #22519 | Compare |
Regent University Similar quality tier (#22515 ranked) | VA | 38% | $44,498 | #22515 | Compare |
Niagara University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#22593 ranked) | NY | 87% | $56,196 | #22593 | Compare |
