Northeastern vs. Providence

Deciding between Northeastern 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.

Northeastern University
Providence College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Northeastern Boston, MA
  • Providence Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Northeastern Large City
  • Providence Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Northeastern 32,553
  • Providence 4,666
  • Type
  • Northeastern Private 4 Year
  • Providence Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Northeastern #128
  • Providence #125
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Northeastern -
  • Providence Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • Northeastern Non-profit
  • Providence Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Northeastern
  • Providence

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Northeastern $66,162
  • Providence $63,550
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Northeastern $66,162
  • Providence $63,550
  • Room & Board
  • Northeastern $19,580
  • Providence $17,840
  • Average Net Price
  • Northeastern $34,207
  • Providence $48,618
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Northeastern $50,421
  • Providence $31,873
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Northeastern 66%
  • Providence 83%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Northeastern 98,425
  • Providence 12,521
  • Admitted
  • Northeastern 5,133
  • Providence 6,372
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Northeastern 5.2%
  • Providence 50.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Northeastern 53.8%
  • Providence 19.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Northeastern 1490
  • Providence 1320
  • Typical ACT score
  • Northeastern 34
  • Providence 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Northeastern 3.91
  • Providence 3.47
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Northeastern A
  • Providence B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Northeastern Elite
  • Providence Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Northeastern Extreme
  • Providence Low
  • ACT Range
  • Northeastern 33/35
  • Providence 29/32
  • SAT Range
  • Northeastern 1440/1540
  • Providence 1250/1390
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Northeastern Test optional
  • Providence Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Northeastern Jan 1, 2027
  • Providence Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Northeastern 16:1
  • Providence 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Northeastern
    • Business (25%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • Providence
    • Business (33%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Biology (6%)
    • English and Literature (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Northeastern 77%
  • Providence 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Northeastern $69,500
  • Providence $68,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Northeastern 79%
  • Providence 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Northeastern $27,875
  • Providence $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Northeastern $288
  • Providence $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Northeastern 48%
  • Providence 45%
  • % Women
  • Northeastern 52%
  • Providence 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Northeastern High
  • Providence Low
  • HBCU
  • Northeastern No
  • Providence No
  • % White
  • Northeastern 48%
  • Providence 77%
  • % Asian
  • Northeastern 12%
  • Providence 1%
  • % Black
  • Northeastern 4%
  • Providence 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Northeastern 7%
  • Providence 9%
  • % Native American
  • Northeastern 0%
  • Providence 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Northeastern 0%
  • Providence 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Northeastern 4%
  • Providence 2%
  • % International
  • Northeastern 20%
  • Providence 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Northeastern 6%
  • Providence 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Northeastern 27%
  • Providence 9%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Northeastern 62%
  • Providence 90%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Northeastern University is larger than Providence based on total student enrollment (32,553 students vs. 4,666 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Northeastern University is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Providence College is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Northeastern University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Providence College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Northeastern University 16:1; Providence College 11:1.

Northeastern vs. Providence Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northeastern 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 Northeastern University than Providence ($34,207 vs. $48,618).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Providence College are 8.9% lower than at Northeastern University ($17,840 vs. $19,580).
  • Northeastern University is 4.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Providence (about $2,612 more per year; $66,162.00 vs. $63,550.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.1% higher at Northeastern than at Providence College (about $2,612 more per year; $66,162.00 vs. $63,550.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Providence College than at Northeastern University (83% vs. 66%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northeastern University students is 58.2% larger than aid received by Providence College students ($50,421 vs. $31,873).

Northeastern vs. Providence Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Northeastern 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 Northeastern.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Northeastern University (1490) is 170 points higher than at Providence (1320).
  • Incoming Northeastern 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: Northeastern University 1440/1540; Providence College 1250/1390.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northeastern University 33/35; Providence College 29/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Northeastern - Test optional; Providence - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Northeastern Jan 1, 2027; Providence Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Northeastern students have a 0.44 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Providence (3.47).
  • Providence has a higher acceptance rate (50.9%) than Northeastern (5.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 53.8% at Northeastern vs. 19.2% at Providence.

Northeastern vs. Providence Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Northeastern 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 Northeastern University's (77%).
  • Graduates from Northeastern University earn a median of about $1,500 more per year than Providence graduates about ten years after starting college ($69,500 vs. $68,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Providence College graduates have a $875 lower median loan debt than Northeastern graduates ($27,000 vs. $27,875).
  • Among borrowers, Providence graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northeastern graduates ($279 vs. $288).
  • More Providence graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northeastern students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 79%)

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.