Providence vs. URI

Deciding between Providence College and University of Rhode Island? 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.

Providence College
University of Rhode Island

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Providence Providence, RI
  • URI Kingston, RI
  • Setting
  • Providence Midsize City
  • URI Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Providence 4,666
  • URI 17,210
  • Type
  • Providence Private 4 Year
  • URI Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Providence #125
  • URI #425
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Providence Roman Catholic
  • URI -
  • Status
  • Providence Non-profit
  • URI Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Providence
  • URI

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Providence $63,550
  • URI $16,942
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Providence $63,550
  • URI $37,146
  • Room & Board
  • Providence $17,840
  • URI $15,607
  • Average Net Price
  • Providence $48,618
  • URI $24,118
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Providence $31,873
  • URI $12,578
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Providence 83%
  • URI 96%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Providence 12,521
  • URI 26,987
  • Admitted
  • Providence 6,372
  • URI 19,475
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Providence 50.9%
  • URI 72.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Providence 19.2%
  • URI 15.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Providence 1320
  • URI 1150
  • Typical ACT score
  • Providence 30
  • URI
  • Average High School GPA
  • Providence 3.47
  • URI 3.58
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Providence B+
  • URI A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Providence Very High
  • URI Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • Providence Low
  • URI Low
  • ACT Range
  • Providence 29/32
  • URI
  • SAT Range
  • Providence 1250/1390
  • URI 1020/1280
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Providence Test optional
  • URI Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Providence Jan 15, 2027
  • URI Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Providence 11:1
  • URI 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Providence
    • Business (33%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Biology (6%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
  • URI
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Providence 85%
  • URI 63%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Providence $68,000
  • URI $56,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Providence 80%
  • URI 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Providence $27,000
  • URI $23,438
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Providence $279
  • URI $242

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Providence 45%
  • URI 41%
  • % Women
  • Providence 55%
  • URI 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Providence Low
  • URI Low
  • HBCU
  • Providence No
  • URI No
  • % White
  • Providence 77%
  • URI 71%
  • % Asian
  • Providence 1%
  • URI 3%
  • % Black
  • Providence 4%
  • URI 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Providence 9%
  • URI 9%
  • % Native American
  • Providence 0%
  • URI 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Providence 0%
  • URI 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Providence 2%
  • URI 3%
  • % International
  • Providence 2%
  • URI 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Providence 5%
  • URI 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Providence 9%
  • URI 42%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Providence 90%
  • URI 57%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Rhode Island is larger than Providence based on total student enrollment (17,210 students vs. 4,666 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Providence College is located in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting); University of Rhode Island is in Kingston, RI (Large Suburban setting).
  • Providence College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Rhode Island is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Providence College 11:1; University of Rhode Island 17:1.

Providence vs. URI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Providence or URI? 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 University of Rhode Island than Providence ($24,118 vs. $48,618).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Rhode Island are 12.5% lower than at Providence College ($15,607 vs. $17,840).
  • Providence College is 275.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than URI (about $46,608 more per year; $63,550.00 vs. $16,942.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 71.1% higher at Providence than at University of Rhode Island (about $26,404 more per year; $63,550.00 vs. $37,146.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Rhode Island than at Providence College (96% vs. 83%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Providence College students is 153.4% larger than aid received by University of Rhode Island students ($31,873 vs. $12,578).

Providence vs. URI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Providence or URI? 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 URI and Providence.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Providence College (1320) is 170 points higher than at URI (1150).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Providence College 1250/1390; University of Rhode Island 1020/1280.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Providence College 29/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Providence - Test optional; URI - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Providence Jan 15, 2027; URI Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman URI students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.58) than students at Providence (3.47).
  • URI has a higher acceptance rate (72.2%) than Providence (50.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.2% at Providence vs. 15.4% at URI.

Providence vs. URI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Providence and URI? 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 University of Rhode Island's (63%).
  • Graduates from Providence College earn a median of about $11,800 more per year than URI graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,000 vs. $56,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Rhode Island graduates have a $3,562 lower median loan debt than Providence graduates ($23,438 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, URI graduates have an estimated $37 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Providence graduates ($242 vs. $279).
  • More Providence graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former URI students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 69%)

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.