Harvard vs. Providence

Deciding between Harvard 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.

Harvard University
Providence College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Providence Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Providence Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Providence 4,666
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • Providence Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • Providence #125
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • Providence Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Providence Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • Providence

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Providence $63,550
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Providence $63,550
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Providence $17,840
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Providence $48,618
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • Providence $31,873
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • Providence 83%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Providence 12,521
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Providence 6,372
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Providence 50.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Providence 19.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • Providence 1320
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • Providence 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Providence 3.47
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Providence B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • Providence Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • Providence Low
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • Providence 29/32
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Providence 1250/1390
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required
  • Providence Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • Providence Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

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

  • Outcomes

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

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • Providence 45%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • Providence 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • Providence Low
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • Providence No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • Providence 77%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • Providence 1%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • Providence 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • Providence 9%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • Providence 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • Providence 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • Providence 2%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • Providence 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • Providence 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • Providence 9%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • Providence 90%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Harvard University is larger than Providence based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 4,666 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvard University is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Providence College is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Providence College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Harvard University 7:1; Providence College 11:1.

Harvard vs. Providence Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard 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 Harvard University than Providence ($17,525 vs. $48,618).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Providence College are 15.8% lower than at Harvard University ($17,840 vs. $21,190).
  • Providence College is 3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harvard (about $1,874 more per year; $63,550.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3% higher at Providence than at Harvard University (about $1,874 more per year; $63,550.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Providence College than at Harvard University (83% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 113.4% larger than aid received by Providence College students ($68,015 vs. $31,873).

Harvard vs. Providence Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Harvard 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 Harvard.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 230 points higher than at Providence (1320).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 30 at Providence).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; Providence College 1250/1390.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36; Providence College 29/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; Providence - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; Providence Jan 15, 2027.
  • 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 (50.9%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 19.2% at Providence.

Harvard vs. Providence Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard 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).

  • Harvard University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than Providence College's (85%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $68,700 more per year than Providence graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $68,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $20,500 lower median loan debt than Providence graduates ($6,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $212 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.