Fast Facts & Statistics

An photo of the entrance to Harkins Hall at dawn

The information, based on Fall 2023 data, below was gathered by the Office of Institutional Effectiveness. It can be found by going to the Campus Data section.

Students

Total Student Population = 4,807 (Undergraduate, Graduate, and Continuing Education)
Male = 2,181 (45%)
Female = 2,626 (55%)

Geographic Origin of Undergraduate Students (4,120)

Rhode Island = 396 (9%)
Other New England = 2,278 (54%)
Other United States = 1,501 (35%)
Int’l/US Territories = 80 (2%)

Graduation Rates (preliminary for 2017 cohort)

4-year Graduation Rate (2017 Cohort) 86%
5-year Graduation Rate (2017 Cohort) 88%
6-year Graduation Rate (2017 Cohort) 88%

Undergraduate Majors by School (4,389)*

School of Arts & Sciences = 1,972 (45%)
School of Business = 1,932 (44%)
School of Nursing and Health Sciences = 264 (6%)
School of Education and Social Work = 217 (5%)
Individualized/General Studies = 4 (<1%)
School of Continuing Education (no certificates) = 88

*Includes double majors. There are 300 undeclared majors, not included here.

Faculty

Full-time Faculty = 371
Male = 224 (60%)
Female = 147 (40%)
Tenured/Tenure-track = 300 (81%)
With terminal degrees = 350 (94%)
Dominican faculty = 20

Miscellaneous

  • Student/Faculty Ratio 11:1
  • Retention Rate (Fall 2023): 91%
  • Average class size = 19 (classroom-based classes, undergraduate day only)
  • Study abroad programs = 300+ in 40+ countries
  • Class of 2022 graduates employed and/or attending graduate school within six months of graduation = 96%
  • PC has been ranked #1 in the U.S. News “America’s Best Colleges” regional (north) universities category for five consecutive years.
  • PC was selected as a recipient of the Senator Paul Simon Spotlight Award. PC earned this prestigious honor for its Department of Global Studies, an innovative educational experience that focuses on internationalization.
  • PC has been routinely chosen to the Corporation for National and Community Service President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. To be named to the Honor Roll, a school must demonstrate that its students, faculty, and staff are engaged in meaningful service that achieves measurable results in the community.
  • PC was the first higher education institution in the nation to offer a bachelor’s degree in Public and Community Service Studies.
  • The Friars compete in 8 men’s and 11 women’s varsity sports, all at the Division I level, with membership in the NCAA, the BIG EAST Conference, and the HOCKEY EAST Association

Profile of the PC Class of 2027

This information was provided by the Office of Admission.

Enrolled first-year students
The 1,205 first-year students bring impressive records of academic excellence and extracurricular involvement. The Class of 2027 is the largest in the college’s history.

  • Average grade point average of 3.56 on a 4.0 scale.
  • Average SAT score was 665 for the EBR&W (critical reading), and 664 for math. The average ACT score was 30.
  • 14.1% of the class are students of color.

Providence College Overview

Providence College is a Roman Catholic, four-year, liberal arts college located on 105 acres in Providence, Rhode Island. Providence College was founded in 1917 and is the only college or university in the United States founded by and conducted under the auspices of the Dominican Friars. Formally known as the Order of Preachers, the Dominicans were founded by the Spanish priest St. Dominic de Guzman in 1216.

Accreditation Statement

Providence College is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). Accreditation of an institution of higher education by the Commission indicates that it meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of institutional quality periodically applied through a peer review process. An accredited college or university is one which has available the necessary resources to achieve its stated purposes through appropriate educational programs, is substantially doing so, and gives reasonable evidence that it will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. Institutional integrity is also addressed through accreditation. Accreditation by the Commission is not partial but applies to the institution as a whole. As such, it is not a guarantee of every course or program offered, or the competence of individual graduates. Rather, it provides reasonable assurance about the quality of opportunities available to students who attend the institution.​ Inquiries regarding the accreditation status by the Commission should be directed to the administrative staff of the institution. Individuals may also contact:

New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
3 Burlington Woods Drive, Suite 100 Burlington, MA 01803-451 781-425-7785 E-mail: cihe@neasc.org

Other accreditations/certifications include:

  • American Chemical Society
  • Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
  • Council on Social Work Education
  • National Association of Schools of Music
  • Rhode Island Department of Education