Providence College Acceptance Rate
Providence, Rhode Island · Private not-for-profit · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 12,469
- Admitted
- 6,075
- Yield
- 19.7%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Providence College's acceptance rate has fallen from 63.1% in 2014–15 to 48.7% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 8,976 to 12,469 (+39%) over that period.
Its 48.7% rate makes Providence College more selective than about 85% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 10 tracked Rhode Island schools, it is more selective than about 70%.
In 2023–24, men were admitted at a higher rate (46.4% for women vs 52% for men, a 5.6-point gap). Providence College has been test-optional since 2016–17. Of admitted students, 19.7% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 8,976 | 5,660 | 63.1% | 1,032 |
| 2015–16 | 10,215 | 5,800 | 56.8% | 1,034 |
| 2016–17 | 10,820 | 5,954 | 55% | 1,058 |
| 2017–18 | 11,251 | 5,797 | 51.5% | 1,064 |
| 2018–19 | 11,421 | 5,593 | 49% | 1,122 |
| 2019–20 | 11,478 | 5,447 | 47.5% | 1,094 |
| 2020–21 | 10,817 | 5,826 | 53.9% | 999 |
| 2021–22 | 11,129 | 6,453 | 58% | 1,040 |
| 2022–23 | 11,129 | 5,874 | 52.8% | 1,156 |
| 2023–24 | 12,469 | 6,075 | 48.7% | 1,197 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 7,263 | 3,367 | 46.4% |
| Men | 5,206 | 2,708 | 52% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 630–700 | 22% |
| SAT Math | 620–700 | |
| ACT Composite | 28–32 | 7% |
How Providence College compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Providence College's acceptance rate?
Providence College's acceptance rate is 48.7% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (6,075 admitted of 12,469 applicants).
Is Providence College test optional?
Providence College is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Providence College?
Providence College received 12,469 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 6,075.
What SAT score do you need for Providence College?
Admitted students at Providence College typically scored 630–700 on SAT Reading/Writing and 620–700 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is Providence College getting harder to get into?
Providence College has become harder to get into: its acceptance rate went from 63.1% in 2014–15 to 48.7% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.providence.edu/.