Harvard vs. Providence

Should I go to Harvard University or Providence College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Harvard 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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Harvard University vs. Providence College comparison
Harvard University Providence College College 3 College 4
Harvard University Providence College
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Overview

Harvard Providence
Location Cambridge, MA Providence, RI
Setting Midsize City Midsize City
Enrollment 30,631 4,473
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #4 #121
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website harvard.edu providence.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Harvard Providence
Tuition (In State) $52,659 $56,980
Tuition (Out of State) $52,659 $56,980
Room & Board $19,502 $16,540
Avg Net Price $19,491 $43,970
Avg Grant Aid $61,801 $30,971
% Receiving Grant Aid 56% 81%

Admission

Harvard Providence
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 61,221 11,129
Admitted 1,984 5,874
Acceptance Rate 3.2% 52.8%
Enrolled % 83% 19.7%
Avg High School GPA 4.0 3.47
Typical High School Grades A/A+ B+
Admissions Standards Elite Very High
Applicant Competition Extreme Low
ACT Range 34/36 28/32
SAT Range 1490/1580 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 1, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Harvard Providence
Student to Faculty Ratio 7:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (32%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • History (9%)
  • Mathematics (6%)
  • Business (33%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • English and Literature (6%)

Outcomes

Harvard Providence
Graduation Rate 97% 85%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $136,700 $68,000
Making Student Loan Payments 70% 80%
Median Student Loan Debt $6,500 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $67 $279

Diversity

Harvard Providence
% Men 46% 45%
% Women 54% 55%
Racial Diversity Very High Low
HBCU No No
% White 44% 77%
% Black 6% 4%
% Hispanic 10% 9%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 2%
% International 11% 2%
% Unknown Race 3% 5%

Students

Harvard Providence
% In-State 15% 8%
% Out-of-State 69% 90%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Harvard University is larger than than Providence based on total student enrollment (30,631 students vs. 4,473 students)

Harvard vs. Providence Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard or Providence?

  • Providence College is 8.2% more expensive to attend than Harvard for in-state tuition ($56,980.00 vs. $52,659.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 8.2% higher at Providence than Harvard University ($56,980.00 vs. $52,659.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Harvard University than Providence ($19,491 vs. $43,970)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Providence College are 17.9% lower than costs at Harvard University ($16,540 vs. $19,502)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Providence College than Harvard University (81% vs. 56%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 99.5% larger than aid received Providence College ($61,801 vs. $30,971)

Harvard vs. Providence Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.53 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Providence (3.47)
  • Providence has a higher acceptance rate (52.8%) than Harvard (3.2%)

Harvard vs. Providence Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Harvard 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 Harvard.

  • The graduation rate at Harvard is higher than Providence College (97% vs. 85%)
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn on average $68,700 more per year than Providence graduates after ten years. ($136,700 vs. $68,000)
  • Harvard University students graduate with a $20,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Providence graduates. ($6,500 vs. $27,000)
  • Harvard graduates are paying $212 less per month on federal student loans than Providence graduates. ($67 vs. $279)
  • More Providence graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 70%)

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