AU vs. Providence

Should I go to American University or Providence College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if AU or Providence is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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American University vs. Providence College comparison
American University Providence College College 3 College 4
American University Providence College
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Overview

AU Providence
Location Washington, DC Providence, RI
Setting Large City Midsize City
Enrollment 13,885 4,473
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #93 #121
Religious Affiliation United Methodist Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website american.edu providence.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

AU Providence
Tuition (In State) $53,070 $56,980
Tuition (Out of State) $53,070 $56,980
Room & Board $15,706 $16,540
Avg Net Price $41,369 $43,970
Avg Grant Aid $27,138 $30,971
% Receiving Grant Aid 66% 81%

Admission

AU Providence
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 19,510 11,129
Admitted 7,926 5,874
Acceptance Rate 40.6% 52.8%
Enrolled % 22.2% 19.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.47
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Very High
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 29/32 28/32
SAT Range 1290/1430 1260/1420
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

AU Providence
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (43%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Psychology (3%)
  • Business (33%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • English and Literature (6%)

Outcomes

AU Providence
Graduation Rate 77% 85%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $64,800 $68,000
Making Student Loan Payments 80% 80%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,250 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $250 $279

Diversity

AU Providence
% Men 37% 45%
% Women 63% 55%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 58% 77%
% Black 7% 4%
% Hispanic 12% 9%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 2%
% International 7% 2%
% Unknown Race 4% 5%

Students

AU Providence
% In-State 2% 8%
% Out-of-State 94% 90%

Campus

AU Providence
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • American University is larger than than Providence based on total student enrollment (13,885 students vs. 4,473 students)

AU vs. Providence Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or Providence?

  • Providence College is 7.4% more expensive to attend than AU for in-state tuition ($56,980.00 vs. $53,070.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 7.4% higher at Providence than American University ($56,980.00 vs. $53,070.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at American University than Providence ($41,369 vs. $43,970)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American University are 5.3% lower than costs at Providence College ($15,706 vs. $16,540)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Providence College than American University (81% vs. 66%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Providence College students is 14.1% larger than aid received American University ($30,971 vs. $27,138)

AU vs. Providence Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or Providence? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Providence or AU .

  • Accepted freshman AU students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Providence (3.47)
  • Providence has a higher acceptance rate (52.8%) than AU (40.6%)

AU vs. Providence Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, AU or Providence? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Providence and AU.

  • The graduation rate at Providence is higher than American University (85% vs. 77%)
  • Graduates from Providence College earn on average $3,200 more per year than AU graduates after ten years. ($68,000 vs. $64,800)
  • American University students graduate with a $2,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Providence graduates. ($24,250 vs. $27,000)
  • AU graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than Providence graduates. ($250 vs. $279)
  • More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Providence students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 80%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/