Rutgers vs. Providence

Deciding between Rutgers University New Brunswick 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.

Rutgers University New Brunswick
Providence College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • Providence Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Rutgers Small City
  • Providence Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • Providence 4,666
  • Type
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • Providence Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Rutgers #114
  • Providence #125
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Rutgers -
  • Providence Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • Providence Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Rutgers
  • Providence

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • Providence $63,550
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • Providence $63,550
  • Room & Board
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • Providence $17,840
  • Average Net Price
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • Providence $48,618
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • Providence $31,873
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Rutgers 50%
  • Providence 83%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • Providence 12,521
  • Admitted
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • Providence 6,372
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • Providence 50.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • Providence 19.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Rutgers 1410
  • Providence 1320
  • Typical ACT score
  • Rutgers 30
  • Providence 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • Providence 3.47
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Rutgers B+
  • Providence B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • Providence Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Rutgers Low
  • Providence Low
  • ACT Range
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • Providence 29/32
  • SAT Range
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • Providence 1250/1390
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • Providence Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Rutgers
  • Providence Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • Providence 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
  • Providence
    • Business (33%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Biology (6%)
    • English and Literature (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Rutgers 77%
  • Providence 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • Providence $68,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Rutgers 68%
  • Providence 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • Providence $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Rutgers $229
  • Providence $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Rutgers 46%
  • Providence 45%
  • % Women
  • Rutgers 54%
  • Providence 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Rutgers Very High
  • Providence Low
  • HBCU
  • Rutgers No
  • Providence No
  • % White
  • Rutgers 42%
  • Providence 77%
  • % Asian
  • Rutgers 26%
  • Providence 1%
  • % Black
  • Rutgers 7%
  • Providence 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Rutgers 13%
  • Providence 9%
  • % Native American
  • Rutgers 0%
  • Providence 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Rutgers 0%
  • Providence 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Rutgers 3%
  • Providence 2%
  • % International
  • Rutgers 7%
  • Providence 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Rutgers 2%
  • Providence 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Rutgers 75%
  • Providence 9%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Rutgers 13%
  • Providence 90%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ with Providence College in Providence, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than Providence based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 4,666 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is located in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting); Providence College is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Providence College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1; Providence College 11:1.

Rutgers vs. Providence Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rutgers 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick than Providence ($20,522 vs. $48,618).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 11.9% lower than at Providence College ($15,714 vs. $17,840).
  • Providence College is 254.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rutgers (about $45,621 more per year; $63,550.00 vs. $17,929.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 69.7% higher at Providence than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (about $26,109 more per year; $63,550.00 vs. $37,441.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Providence College than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (83% vs. 50%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Providence College students is 90.4% larger than aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students ($31,873 vs. $16,742).

Rutgers vs. Providence Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rutgers 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 Rutgers.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rutgers University New Brunswick (1410) is 90 points higher than at Providence (1320).
  • Incoming Rutgers students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 30) as students at Providence (30).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500; Providence College 1250/1390.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33; Providence College 29/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Rutgers - Test optional; Providence - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Providence Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Providence students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.47) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than Providence (50.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.5% at Rutgers vs. 19.2% at Providence.

Rutgers vs. Providence Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rutgers 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick's (77%).
  • Graduates from Providence College earn a median of about $1,800 more per year than Rutgers graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,000 vs. $66,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates have a $4,785 lower median loan debt than Providence graduates ($22,215 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Rutgers graduates have an estimated $50 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Providence graduates ($229 vs. $279).
  • More Providence graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 68%)

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.