BU vs. Providence

Should I go to Boston University or Providence College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if BU 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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Boston University vs. Providence College comparison
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Boston University Providence College
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Overview

BU Providence
Location Boston, MA Providence, RI
Setting Large City Midsize City
Enrollment 36,714 4,473
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #79 #121
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bu.edu providence.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

BU Providence
Tuition (In State) $61,050 $56,980
Tuition (Out of State) $61,050 $56,980
Room & Board $17,400 $16,540
Avg Net Price $27,829 $43,970
Avg Grant Aid $51,565 $30,971
% Receiving Grant Aid 48% 81%

Admission

BU Providence
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 80,796 11,129
Admitted 11,607 5,874
Acceptance Rate 14.4% 52.8%
Enrolled % 31.3% 19.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.79 3.47
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Very High
Applicant Competition Very High Low
ACT Range 31/34 28/32
SAT Range 1350/1500 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 4, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

BU Providence
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (21%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Communication (15%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Business (33%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • English and Literature (6%)

Outcomes

BU Providence
Graduation Rate 85% 85%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $72,000 $68,000
Making Student Loan Payments 82% 80%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $279

Diversity

BU Providence
% Men 43% 45%
% Women 57% 55%
Racial Diversity Very High Low
HBCU No No
% White 43% 77%
% Black 4% 4%
% Hispanic 11% 9%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 2%
% International 20% 2%
% Unknown Race 5% 5%

Students

BU Providence
% In-State 14% 8%
% Out-of-State 61% 90%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Boston University is larger than than Providence based on total student enrollment (36,714 students vs. 4,473 students)

BU vs. Providence Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BU or Providence?

  • Boston University is 7.1% more expensive to attend than Providence for in-state tuition ($61,050.00 vs. $56,980.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 7.1% higher at BU than Providence College ($61,050.00 vs. $56,980.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Boston University than Providence ($27,829 vs. $43,970)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Providence College are 5.2% lower than costs at Boston University ($16,540 vs. $17,400)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Providence College than Boston University (81% vs. 48%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 66.5% larger than aid received Providence College ($51,565 vs. $30,971)

BU vs. Providence Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman BU students have a 0.32 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at Providence (3.47)
  • Providence has a higher acceptance rate (52.8%) than BU (14.4%)

BU vs. Providence Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, BU 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 BU.

  • The graduation rate at BU is the same as at Providence College (85% vs. 85%)
  • Graduates from Boston University earn on average $4,000 more per year than Providence graduates after ten years. ($72,000 vs. $68,000)
  • Providence College and BU graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($27,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Providence College and BU graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($279 vs. $279)
  • More BU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Providence students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 80%)

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