F&M vs. Providence

Deciding between Franklin and Marshall College 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.

Franklin and Marshall College
Providence College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • F&M Lancaster, PA
  • Providence Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • F&M Small City
  • Providence Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • F&M 1,808
  • Providence 4,666
  • Type
  • F&M Private 4 Year
  • Providence Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • F&M #60
  • Providence #125
  • Religious Affiliation
  • F&M -
  • Providence Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • F&M Non-profit
  • Providence Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • F&M
  • Providence

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • F&M $70,794
  • Providence $63,550
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • F&M $70,794
  • Providence $63,550
  • Room & Board
  • F&M $16,188
  • Providence $17,840
  • Average Net Price
  • F&M $43,987
  • Providence $48,618
  • Average Grant Aid
  • F&M $41,901
  • Providence $31,873
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • F&M 80%
  • Providence 83%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • F&M 9,881
  • Providence 12,521
  • Admitted
  • F&M 2,785
  • Providence 6,372
  • Acceptance Rate
  • F&M 28.2%
  • Providence 50.9%
  • Enrolled
  • F&M 17.1%
  • Providence 19.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • F&M 1390
  • Providence 1320
  • Typical ACT score
  • F&M 31
  • Providence 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • F&M -
  • Providence 3.47
  • Typical High School Grades
  • F&M -
  • Providence B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • F&M Very High
  • Providence Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • F&M High
  • Providence Low
  • ACT Range
  • F&M 30/33
  • Providence 29/32
  • SAT Range
  • F&M 1310/1463
  • Providence 1250/1390
  • Submit Test Scores
  • F&M Test optional
  • Providence Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • F&M Jan 15, 2027
  • Providence Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • F&M 9:1
  • Providence 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • F&M
    • Social Sciences (29%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • General Studies (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Providence
    • Business (33%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Biology (6%)
    • English and Literature (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • F&M 85%
  • Providence 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • F&M $61,900
  • Providence $68,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • F&M 88%
  • Providence 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • F&M $22,000
  • Providence $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • F&M $227
  • Providence $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • F&M 49%
  • Providence 45%
  • % Women
  • F&M 51%
  • Providence 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • F&M High
  • Providence Low
  • HBCU
  • F&M No
  • Providence No
  • % White
  • F&M 59%
  • Providence 77%
  • % Asian
  • F&M 5%
  • Providence 1%
  • % Black
  • F&M 6%
  • Providence 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • F&M 8%
  • Providence 9%
  • % Native American
  • F&M 0%
  • Providence 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • F&M 0%
  • Providence 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • F&M 2%
  • Providence 2%
  • % International
  • F&M 14%
  • Providence 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • F&M 6%
  • Providence 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • F&M 29%
  • Providence 9%
  • % Out-of-State
  • F&M 55%
  • Providence 90%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA with Providence College in Providence, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Providence College is larger than F&M based on total student enrollment (4,666 students vs. 1,808 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Franklin and Marshall College is located in Lancaster, PA (Small City setting); Providence College is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Franklin and Marshall College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Providence College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Franklin and Marshall College 9:1; Providence College 11:1.

F&M vs. Providence Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, F&M 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 Franklin and Marshall College than Providence ($43,987 vs. $48,618).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Franklin and Marshall College are 9.3% lower than at Providence College ($16,188 vs. $17,840).
  • Franklin and Marshall College is 11.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Providence (about $7,244 more per year; $70,794.00 vs. $63,550.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 11.4% higher at F&M than at Providence College (about $7,244 more per year; $70,794.00 vs. $63,550.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Providence College than at Franklin and Marshall College (83% vs. 80%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Franklin and Marshall College students is 31.5% larger than aid received by Providence College students ($41,901 vs. $31,873).

F&M vs. Providence Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, F&M 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 F&M.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Franklin and Marshall College (1390) is 70 points higher than at Providence (1320).
  • Incoming F&M students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at Providence).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Franklin and Marshall College 1310/1463; Providence College 1250/1390.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Franklin and Marshall College 30/33; Providence College 29/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: F&M - Test optional; Providence - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: F&M Jan 15, 2027; Providence Jan 15, 2027.
  • Providence has a higher acceptance rate (50.9%) than F&M (28.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.1% at F&M vs. 19.2% at Providence.

F&M vs. Providence Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for F&M 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).

  • The graduation rate at F&M is the same as at Providence College (85% vs. 85%).
  • Graduates from Providence College earn a median of about $6,100 more per year than F&M graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,000 vs. $61,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Franklin and Marshall College graduates have a $5,000 lower median loan debt than Providence graduates ($22,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, F&M graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Providence graduates ($227 vs. $279).
  • More F&M graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Providence students, three years after graduation. (88% 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.