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Northeastern BC NYU Babson Fairfield University Tufts UMass Brandeis University Lehigh Colgate George Washington Holy Cross| Boston University | Providence College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
BU | Providence | ||
| Location | Boston, MA | Providence, RI | ||
| Setting | Large City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 36,624 | 4,635 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #77 | #119 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Roman Catholic | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | bu.edu | providence.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
BU | Providence | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $63,798 | $59,830 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $63,798 | $59,830 | ||
| Room & Board | $18,110 | $17,150 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $27,551 | $46,645 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $55,080 | $30,040 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 50% | 82% |
Admission |
BU | Providence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 80,495 | 12,469 | ||
| Admitted | 8,733 | 6,075 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 10.8% | 48.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 36% | 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 | 32/34 | 28/32 | ||
| SAT Range | 1400/1520 | 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 4, 2026 | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
BU | Providence | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 11:1 | ||
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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 | 21% | 4% | ||
| % Women | 28% | 6% | ||
| 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 (36,624 students vs. 4,635 students)
BU vs. Providence Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, BU or Providence?
- Boston University is 6.6% more expensive to attend than Providence for in-state tuition ($63,798.00 vs. $59,830.00)
- Out of state tuition is 6.6% higher at BU than Providence College ($63,798.00 vs. $59,830.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Boston University than Providence ($27,551 vs. $46,645)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Providence College are 5.6% lower than costs at Boston University ($17,150 vs. $18,110)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Providence College than Boston University (82% vs. 50%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 83.4% larger than aid received Providence College ($55,080 vs. $30,040)
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 (48.7%) than BU (10.8%)
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/