Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Providence

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
Providence RI skylinePhoto: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0
Colleges in and near Providence

Providence is home to six colleges, with about 28,000 students on campus

Brown University (11,009 students on campus) and Rhode Island College (5,586) are inside the city. About 14% of Providence’s residents are enrolled in college, above Rhode Island (8%).

Johnson & Wales University-ProvidenceRhode Island School of DesignBrown UniversityProvidence CollegeRhode Island College

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Providence. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
11
48,062 students on campus
Nearest college
0.4 mi
Johnson & Wales University-Providence
Residents in college
14%
Above RI (8%)
Nearest community college
8.3 mi
Community College of Rhode Island · $5,550 tuition
Nearest public university
2.8 mi
Rhode Island College · $11,300 in-state
Median household income
$68K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Providence

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

Five colleges within 2.8 milesJohnson & Wales University-Providence admits 88% of applicants; Rhode Island School of Design admits 19%; Brown University admits 5%. Together they have 27,996 students on campus.In-state price at Rhode Island CollegeLiving in Rhode Island, Rhode Island College charges $11,300 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $27,299. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 8.3 miles awayCommunity College of Rhode Island in Warwick: tuition and fees $5,550 a year for Rhode Island residents.Students are 14% of residentsAbove Rhode Island (8%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Providence

Nine private colleges within 14.5 miles, one public college within 2.8 miles, and Community College of Rhode Island 8.3 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miBrown UniversityCommunity College of Rhode IslandRhode Island CollegeProvidence
University or collegeCommunity college
Johnson & Wales University-ProvidenceUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 4,285 on campus · In Providence88%admitted$31knet price55%graduate$43kearningsEarnings are reported for all 3 campuses that file with it.Rhode Island School of DesignUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,540 on campus · In Providence19%admitted$51knet price89%graduate$68kearningsBrown UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 11,009 on campus · In Providence5%admitted$25knet price96%graduate$93kearningsCollege UnboundUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 225 on campus · In Providence$21knet priceProvidence CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 4,576 on campus · In Providence51%admitted$49knet price86%graduate$87kearningsRhode Island CollegeUniversity or college · Public · 5,586 on campus · In Providence92%admitted$9knet price48%graduate$56kearningsCommunity College of Rhode IslandCommunity college · Public · 9,996 on campus · 8.3 mi · Warwick$7knet price26%graduate$43kearningsTuition and fees: $5,550 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Bryant UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,504 on campus · 9.1 mi · Smithfield65%admitted$41knet price80%graduate$90kearningsNew England Institute of TechnologyUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,751 on campus · 12 mi · East Greenwich67%admitted$36knet price60%graduate$49kearningsRoger Williams University School of LawUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 516 on campus · 14.4 mi · Bristol$70kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Graduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Roger Williams UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 4,074 on campus · 14.5 mi · Bristol88%admitted$38knet price69%graduate$70kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $48–75k, where Providence’s median household income ($68,119) falls.

Brown UniversityIn Providence · sticker $87,648$5,858a year
Community College of Rhode Island8.3 mi · Warwick · sticker $12,725 · tuition $5,550$6,825a year
Rhode Island CollegeIn Providence · sticker $17,454$8,701a year
College UnboundIn Providence · sticker $27,138$21,991a year
Providence CollegeIn Providence · sticker $80,466$25,296a year
Rhode Island School of DesignIn Providence · sticker $81,727$25,872a year
Johnson & Wales University-ProvidenceIn Providence · sticker $60,314$28,088a year
Roger Williams University14.5 mi · Bristol · sticker $61,950$33,623a year
Bryant University9.1 mi · Smithfield · sticker $69,964$36,130a year
New England Institute of Technology12 mi · East Greenwich · sticker $48,543$36,414a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Providence: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k$100k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Johnson & Wales University-ProvidenceBrown UniversityProvidence CollegeRhode Island CollegeCommunity College of Rhode IslandRoger Williams University
Brown University96% graduate$93k earnings$11k typical debt
Community College of Rhode Island26% graduate$43k earnings$11k typical debt
Rhode Island College48% graduate$56k earnings$20k typical debt
Providence College86% graduate$87k earnings$27k typical debt
Johnson & Wales University-Providence55% graduate$43k earnings*$26k typical debt
Roger Williams University69% graduate$70k earnings*$27k typical debt
Bryant University80% graduate$90k earnings$27k typical debt
Rhode Island School of Design89% graduate$68k earnings$27k typical debt
New England Institute of Technology60% graduate$49k earnings$17k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Johnson & Wales University-Providence (3); Roger Williams University (2).

Majors

What students study in Providence

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Providence’s 6 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Business 15%Social sciences 10%Health professions 8%Visual & performing arts 7%Personal & culinary services 6%Biology 6%Everything else 48%

Biggest programs

Computer ScienceBrown University · 236 graduates a year
$214k4 yrs out
EconomicsBrown University · 179 graduates a year
$125k4 yrs out
Finance and Financial Management ServicesProvidence College · 177 graduates a year
$103k4 yrs out
Applied MathematicsBrown University · 173 graduates a year
$158k4 yrs out
Culinary Arts and Related ServicesJohnson & Wales University-Providence · 168 graduates a year
$55k4 yrs out
Fine and Studio ArtsRhode Island School of Design · 143 graduates a year
$41k4 yrs out
International Relations and National Security StudiesBrown University · 137 graduates a year
$87k4 yrs out
MarketingProvidence College · 134 graduates a year
$90k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Providence

Is Providence a college town?

No. About 14 of every 100 Providence residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Rhode Island (8). The largest campus in the city, Brown University, has 11,009 students on campus.

What colleges are in Providence?

Brown University, Rhode Island College, Providence College, Johnson & Wales University-Providence and 2 more are inside the city. Community College of Rhode Island is 8.3 miles away in Warwick.

What is the closest community college to Providence, and what does it cost?

Community College of Rhode Island in Warwick, 8.3 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,550 a year for Rhode Island residents; the federal net price, $6,513, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Rhode Island College cost if we live in Rhode Island?

Tuition and fees are $11,300 a year in-state and $27,299 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $6,378 (under $30,000 income) to $15,681 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

Neighbors talk college

Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Providence. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →