FDU vs. Providence

Deciding between Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus 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.

Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus
Providence College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • FDU Madison, NJ
  • Providence Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • FDU Large Suburban
  • Providence Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • FDU 2,885
  • Providence 4,666
  • Type
  • FDU Private 4 Year
  • Providence Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • FDU #391
  • Providence #125
  • Religious Affiliation
  • FDU -
  • Providence Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • FDU Non-profit
  • Providence Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • FDU
  • Providence
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • FDU $38,004
  • Providence $63,550
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • FDU $38,004
  • Providence $63,550
  • Room & Board
  • FDU $16,270
  • Providence $17,840
  • Average Net Price
  • FDU $25,585
  • Providence $48,618
  • Average Grant Aid
  • FDU $28,294
  • Providence $31,873
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • FDU 100%
  • Providence 83%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • FDU 5,652
  • Providence 12,521
  • Admitted
  • FDU 5,380
  • Providence 6,372
  • Acceptance Rate
  • FDU 95.2%
  • Providence 50.9%
  • Enrolled
  • FDU 10.5%
  • Providence 19.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • FDU 1180
  • Providence 1320
  • Typical ACT score
  • FDU 24
  • Providence 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • FDU 3.42
  • Providence 3.47
  • Typical High School Grades
  • FDU B+
  • Providence B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • FDU Difficult
  • Providence Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • FDU
  • Providence Low
  • ACT Range
  • FDU 19/30
  • Providence 29/32
  • SAT Range
  • FDU 1040/1310
  • Providence 1250/1390
  • Submit Test Scores
  • FDU Test optional
  • Providence Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • FDU
  • Providence Jan 15, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • FDU 11:1
  • Providence 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • FDU
    • Business (34%)
    • Psychology (16%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Providence
    • Business (33%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Biology (6%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • FDU 55%
  • Providence 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • FDU $52,900
  • Providence $68,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • FDU 60%
  • Providence 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • FDU $26,000
  • Providence $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • FDU $268
  • Providence $279
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • FDU 43%
  • Providence 45%
  • % Women
  • FDU 57%
  • Providence 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • FDU Medium
  • Providence Low
  • HBCU
  • FDU No
  • Providence No
  • % White
  • FDU 58%
  • Providence 77%
  • % Asian
  • FDU 4%
  • Providence 1%
  • % Black
  • FDU 11%
  • Providence 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • FDU 16%
  • Providence 9%
  • % Native American
  • FDU 0%
  • Providence 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • FDU 0%
  • Providence 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • FDU 2%
  • Providence 2%
  • % International
  • FDU 0%
  • Providence 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • FDU 7%
  • Providence 5%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • FDU 86%
  • Providence 9%
  • % Out-of-State
  • FDU 14%
  • Providence 90%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus in Madison, NJ with Providence College in Providence, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Providence College is larger than FDU based on total student enrollment (4,666 students vs. 2,885 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus is located in Madison, NJ (Large Suburban setting); Providence College is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Providence College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus 11:1; Providence College 11:1.

FDU vs. Providence Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, FDU 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 Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus than Providence ($25,585 vs. $48,618).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus are 8.8% lower than at Providence College ($16,270 vs. $17,840).
  • Providence College is 67.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than FDU (about $25,546 more per year; $63,550.00 vs. $38,004.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 67.2% higher at Providence than at Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus (about $25,546 more per year; $63,550.00 vs. $38,004.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus than at Providence College (100% vs. 83%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Providence College students is 12.6% larger than aid received by Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus students ($31,873 vs. $28,294).

FDU vs. Providence Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, FDU 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 FDU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Providence College (1320) is 140 points higher than at FDU (1180).
  • Incoming Providence students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 24 at FDU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus 1040/1310; Providence College 1250/1390.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus 19/30; Providence College 29/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: FDU - Test optional; Providence - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Providence Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Providence students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.47) than students at FDU (3.42).
  • FDU has a higher acceptance rate (95.2%) than Providence (50.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.5% at FDU vs. 19.2% at Providence.

FDU vs. Providence Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for FDU 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).

  • Providence College's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus's (55%).
  • Graduates from Providence College earn a median of about $15,100 more per year than FDU graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,000 vs. $52,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Providence graduates ($26,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, FDU graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Providence graduates ($268 vs. $279).
  • More Providence graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former FDU students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 60%)

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.