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George Washington Fairfield University Georgetown Holy Cross Fordham Bentley BC URI Syracuse UConn Villanova Mason| American University | Providence College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
AU | Providence | ||
| Location | Washington, DC | Providence, RI | ||
| Setting | Large City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 13,019 | 4,635 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #84 | #119 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | United Methodist | Roman Catholic | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | american.edu | providence.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
AU | Providence | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $55,724 | $59,830 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $55,724 | $59,830 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,012 | $17,150 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $40,189 | $46,645 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $31,402 | $30,040 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 62% | 82% |
Admission |
AU | Providence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 17,786 | 12,469 | ||
| Admitted | 8,427 | 6,075 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 47.4% | 48.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22% | 19.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.7 | 3.47 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 29/33 | 28/32 | ||
| SAT Range | 1300/1450 | 1250/1400 | ||
| 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, 2026 | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
AU | Providence | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 11:1 | ||
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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 | 15% | 4% | ||
| % Women | 25% | 6% | ||
| 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 (13,019 students vs. 4,635 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 ($59,830.00 vs. $55,724.00)
- Out of state tuition is 7.4% higher at Providence than American University ($59,830.00 vs. $55,724.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at American University than Providence ($40,189 vs. $46,645)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American University are 0.8% lower than costs at Providence College ($17,012 vs. $17,150)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Providence College than American University (82% vs. 62%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 4.5% larger than aid received Providence College ($31,402 vs. $30,040)
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 (48.7%) than AU (47.4%)
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/