Brown vs. Providence

Deciding between Brown University and Providence College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Brown University
Providence College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Brown Providence, RI
  • Providence Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Brown Midsize City
  • Providence Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Brown 11,956
  • Providence 4,666
  • Type
  • Brown Private 4 Year
  • Providence Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Brown #11
  • Providence #125
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Brown -
  • Providence Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • Brown Non-profit
  • Providence Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Brown
  • Providence

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Brown $71,412
  • Providence $63,550
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Brown $71,412
  • Providence $63,550
  • Room & Board
  • Brown $17,444
  • Providence $17,840
  • Average Net Price
  • Brown $26,256
  • Providence $48,618
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Brown $61,392
  • Providence $31,873
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Brown 52%
  • Providence 83%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Brown 48,904
  • Providence 12,521
  • Admitted
  • Brown 2,638
  • Providence 6,372
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Brown 5.4%
  • Providence 50.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Brown 65.2%
  • Providence 19.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Brown 1550
  • Providence 1320
  • Typical ACT score
  • Brown 34
  • Providence 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Brown 3.94
  • Providence 3.47
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Brown A
  • Providence B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Brown Elite
  • Providence Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Brown Extreme
  • Providence Low
  • ACT Range
  • Brown 34/35
  • Providence 29/32
  • SAT Range
  • Brown 1510/1580
  • Providence 1250/1390
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Brown Required
  • Providence Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Brown Jan 5, 2027
  • Providence Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Brown 6:1
  • Providence 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Brown
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Providence
    • Business (33%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Biology (6%)
    • English and Literature (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Brown 95%
  • Providence 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Brown $87,600
  • Providence $68,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Brown 89%
  • Providence 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Brown $15,000
  • Providence $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Brown $155
  • Providence $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Brown 48%
  • Providence 45%
  • % Women
  • Brown 52%
  • Providence 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Brown Very High
  • Providence Low
  • HBCU
  • Brown No
  • Providence No
  • % White
  • Brown 43%
  • Providence 77%
  • % Asian
  • Brown 13%
  • Providence 1%
  • % Black
  • Brown 7%
  • Providence 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Brown 11%
  • Providence 9%
  • % Native American
  • Brown 0%
  • Providence 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Brown 0%
  • Providence 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Brown 6%
  • Providence 2%
  • % International
  • Brown 12%
  • Providence 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Brown 7%
  • Providence 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Brown 3%
  • Providence 9%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Brown 79%
  • Providence 90%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Brown Yes
  • Providence Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Brown Yes
  • Providence No
  • Meal Plan
  • Brown Yes
  • Providence Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Brown No
  • Providence Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Brown No
  • Providence No

Comparable Facts

Compare Brown University in Providence, RI with Providence College in Providence, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Brown University is larger than Providence based on total student enrollment (11,956 students vs. 4,666 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Brown University is located in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting); Providence College is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Brown University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Providence College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Brown University 6:1; Providence College 11:1.

Brown vs. Providence Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Brown or Providence? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Brown University than Providence ($26,256 vs. $48,618).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Brown University are 2.2% lower than at Providence College ($17,444 vs. $17,840).
  • Brown University is 12.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Providence (about $7,862 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $63,550.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 12.4% higher at Brown than at Providence College (about $7,862 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $63,550.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Providence College than at Brown University (83% vs. 52%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Brown University students is 92.6% larger than aid received by Providence College students ($61,392 vs. $31,873).

Brown vs. Providence Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Brown or Providence? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Providence and Brown.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Brown University (1550) is 230 points higher than at Providence (1320).
  • Incoming Brown students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at Providence).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Brown University 1510/1580; Providence College 1250/1390.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Brown University 34/35; Providence College 29/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Brown - Required; Providence - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Brown Jan 5, 2027; Providence Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Brown students have a 0.47 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Providence (3.47).
  • Providence has a higher acceptance rate (50.9%) than Brown (5.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 65.2% at Brown vs. 19.2% at Providence.

Brown vs. Providence Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Brown and Providence? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Brown University's six-year graduation rate (95%) is higher than Providence College's (85%).
  • Graduates from Brown University earn a median of about $19,600 more per year than Providence graduates about ten years after starting college ($87,600 vs. $68,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Brown University graduates have a $12,000 lower median loan debt than Providence graduates ($15,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Brown graduates have an estimated $124 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Providence graduates ($155 vs. $279).
  • More Brown graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Providence students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 80%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.