Universities in Providence, USA
- Rankings & Reviews -

Latest ranking updates related to universities in Providence
  • 06 Mar, 2024: New edition of Scimago Institutions Rankings. 2 universities in Providence ranked.
  • 25 Jan, 2024: THE World’s Most International Universities updated with Brown University in position 116.
  • 19 Dec, 2023: URAP World Ranking - University Ranking by Academic Performance updated with Brown University in position 202.
  • 05 Dec, 2023: British Quacquarelli Symonds, UK published most recent results of QS World University Rankings: Sustainability. Brown University achieves position 334.

Providence is a small but densely populated city located in the state of Rhode Island. It’s a place known for the great quality of life it offers, but also for its challenging living costs. With a healthy job market, good transport options, several post secondary institutions including its own Ivy League university, and plenty of activities to get up to in your free time, Providence will definitely have something that captures your attention.

Providence is not on everyone’s radar as a place to live, or even visit, but people who discover it are almost always pleasantly surprised. Imagine braziers full of fire lighting a path in the middle of a canal, or a city with hardly any chain restaurants in its downtown, or a zoo where most of the animals are not in a cage. This speaks volumes about the city values. Providence mixes historical buildings with modern architecture and is constantly finding new ways to blend the two.


Rankings of universities in Providence, USA 2024

  • #26 
  • #64 
THE World University Rankings
[Published 27 September, 2023]
  • #6 
  • #6 
Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education US College Rankings
[Published 14 September, 2021]
  • #23 
  • #73 
QS World University Rankings
[Published 27 June, 2023]
Show 30 more rankings of Brown University and subject specific rankings for 10 subjects

  • #220 
  • #219 
Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education US College Rankings
[Published 14 September, 2021]
  • #407 
  • #3179 
Scimago Institutions Rankings
[Published 06 March, 2024]
  • #139 
  • #141 
Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (Bachelors only)
[Published 11 November, 2021]
Show 5 more rankings of Providence College and subject specific rankings for 1 subjects

  • #134 
  • #135 
Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education US College Rankings
[Published 14 September, 2021]
  • #273 
  • #279 
Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (Bachelors only)
[Published 11 November, 2021]
  • #207 
  • #208 
Forbes: America's Top Colleges
[Published 30 August, 2022]
Show 3 more rankings of Rhode Island School of Design and subject specific rankings for 1 subjects


  • #559 
  • #501 
Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education US College Rankings
[Published 14 September, 2021]
  • #894 
  • #929 
Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (Bachelors only)
[Published 11 November, 2021]
  • #944 
  • #985 
Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (All Alumni)
[Published 11 November, 2021]
Show 2 more rankings of Rhode Island College and subject specific rankings for 2 subjects

Student satisfaction: 4.4 / 5.0 (based on 909 student ratings)
Card image

  • #750 
  • #600 
Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education US College Rankings
[Published 14 September, 2021]
  • #1015 
  • #1055 
Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (Bachelors only)
[Published 11 November, 2021]
  • #1041 
  • #1091 
Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (All Alumni)
[Published 11 November, 2021]
Show 2 more rankings of Johnson & Wales University and subject specific rankings for 3 subjects

Highest subject rankings of universities in Providence

Computer Science Payscale College Salary Report - Best Schools by Majors
#12 
Brown University
Sociology GRAS Global Ranking of Academic Subjects - ShanghaiRanking
#32 
Brown University
Mathematics QS World University Rankings By Subject
#39 
Brown University
Physics GRAS Global Ranking of Academic Subjects - ShanghaiRanking
#51 
Brown University
Education GRAS Global Ranking of Academic Subjects - ShanghaiRanking
#51 
Brown University
Engineering US News: Best Grad Schools (US)
#53 
Brown University
Law GRAS Global Ranking of Academic Subjects - ShanghaiRanking
#76 
Brown University
Medicine QS World University Rankings By Subject
#104 
Brown University
Business US News: Best Online Master's in Business Programs
#116 
Johnson & Wales University
Linguistics QS World University Rankings By Subject
#251 
Brown University

Student Opinions About Studying in Providence

“Providence is a special city where you can find something that draws you in, no matter what your interests might be. Whether you’re a foodie, or whether you love festivals, it’s all here. The only downside is that sometimes people end up accepting jobs in Boston because the salaries tend to be a little higher there, but it means that you have to make that commute every day so I would try to avoid that personally.”

“The speed of life here is fairly slow compared with some other cities, but you can still find pretty much everything you need and you don’t have to put up with the trouble of huge crowds and traffic congestion.”

“When it comes to liveability, Providence scores really highly in my opinion. You’ve got a wide variety of dining and nightlife options, not to mention parks, bowling alleys, theatres, museums, and video game arcades. If for some reason you get a little bit tired of the scenery, you can take a day out in Boston.”

Providence Key Facts for International Students

PROS

  • Providence residents tend to agree that getting a job here is relatively easy compared to many other US cities. Some of the most prominent employers in the city are medical facilities, Brown University, and Verizon Communications.

  • The residents here are known for living life at a relaxed pace, which is especially appreciated on the roads since people drive with much more civility when they’re not stressed out and in a hurry, and this affects everyone’s mood for the better.

  • The options for activities to get involved in are almost endless, as Providence offers many amenities, including services and comforts one would expect from a big city.

CONS

  • The average rental price for a 2-bedroom apartment is around $1,750 in Providence, which is decidedly above the national average. Most people moving to Providence will likely need to lower their rent by sharing with a flatmate.

  • A significant number of residents express that the taxes are high, but very little return is seen on public services such as public schools.

  • The cost of living is generally very high in Providence, with grocery and energy bills being significantly higher than the national averages, and even more so in the case of goods and services like clothes and restaurants.


5 out of 5 Universities in Providence Ranked in at least one ranking

34 Different Rankings list Universities in Providence (24 institution and 10 subject rankings)

27 Global Rankings rank Universities in Providence Among TOP 200

Population: 191000

Elevation: 2 m. above sea level

Time: GMT -5

District/province: Rhode Island, Providence County

Living costs for students in Providence:

* 100 = prices in London

  • Living costs without accommodation 91* (9% cheaper than London)
  • All costs including accommodation 72* (28% cheaper than London)
  • Meals (grocery & lower cost restaurants) 85* (15% cheaper than London)
  • Average Big Mac price 5.15 US$
  • Plug Type A
    • Residential voltage: 120 V
    • Frequency: 60 Hz
  • Plug Type B
    • Residential voltage: 120 V
    • Frequency: 60 Hz

Map with location of universities in Providence

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FAQ

Brown University ranks #1 in Providence in our meta ranking composed of 112 university rankings.

Among all universities in Providence Brown University is listed in the largest number of rankings. See all 43 rankings where Brown University is listed.

Brown University is ranked best in Providence for Computer Science (Computer Science). See all rankings for the Brown University.

Brown University is ranked best in Providence for Social Studies & Humanities (Sociology). See all rankings for the Brown University.

Brown University is ranked best in Providence for Mathematics (Mathematics). See all rankings for the Brown University.

Brown University is ranked best in Providence for Natural Sciences (Physics). See all rankings for the Brown University.

Brown University is ranked best in Providence for Education (Education). See all rankings for the Brown University.

Brown University is ranked best in Providence for Engineering (Engineering). See all rankings for the Brown University.

Brown University is ranked best in Providence for Law (Law). See all rankings for the Brown University.

Brown University is ranked best in Providence for Medicine & Health (Medicine). See all rankings for the Brown University.

Johnson & Wales University is ranked best in Providence for Business (Business). See all rankings for the Johnson & Wales University.

Brown University is ranked best in Providence for Languages & Literature (Linguistics). See all rankings for the Brown University.

Brown University is ranked best in Providence for Agriculture (Agriculture). See all rankings for the Brown University.

Ranking publishers

4icu

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British Quacquarelli Symonds, UK

Criteria used in ranking -QS World University Rankings:

Academic Reputation 40% Employer Reputation 10% Faculty/Student Ratio 20% Citations per faculty 20% International Faculty Ratio 5% International Student Ratio 5%

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Criteria used in ranking -QS Employability Rankings:

Employer reputation 30% Alumni outcomes 25% Partnerships with Employers per Faculty 25% Employer/Student Connections 10% Graduate employment rate 10%

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CWUR Center for World University Rankings

Criteria used in ranking -CWUR Center for World University Rankings:

Research Performance: 40%

  • Research Output: 10%
  • High-Quality Publications: 10%
  • Influence: 10%
  • Citations: 10%

Quality of Education: 25%

Alumni Employment: 25%

Quality of Faculty: 10%

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Centre for Science and Technology Studies, Leiden University, Netherlands

Criteria used in ranking -CWTS Leiden Ranking:

Scientific Impact Number of Publications Collaboration Open Access Gender Diversity

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Forbes

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Kiplinger

Criteria used in ranking -Kiplinger's Best College Values:

Quality Criteria 55% Cost Criteria 45%

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MONEY

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Criteria used in ranking -MONEY Best Colleges in America, ranked by value:

Quality of education 33.33% Affordability 33.33% Outcomes 33.33%

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NTU ranking

Criteria used in ranking -NTU Performance Ranking of Scientific Papers:

Research Productivity: 25%

  • # Articles last 11 years: 10%
  • # Articles current year: 15%

Research Impact: 35%

  • # Citations last 11 years: 15%
  • # Citations last 2 years: 10%
  • Average # citations last 11 years: 10%

Research Excellence: 40%

  • H-index last 2 years: 10%
  • # Highly cited papers last 11 years: 15%
  • # Articles current year in high-impact journals: 15%

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Nature Index

Criteria used in ranking -Nature Index - Academic:

Article count (AC) Fractional count (FC) Weighted fractional count (WFC)

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Payscale

Criteria used in ranking -Payscale College Salary Report - Best Universities (Bachelors only):

Ranking is based on ROI

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RUR Ranking Agency (Moscow, Russia)

Criteria used in ranking -RUR World University Rankings:

Teaching: 40%

  • Ratio Faculty/Student: 8%
  • Ratio Faculty/Bachelor Degrees Awarded: 8%
  • Ratio Faculty/Doctoral Degrees Awarded: 8%
  • Ratio Doctoral Degrees Awarded/Bachelor Degrees Awarded: 8%
  • World Teaching Reputation: 8%

Research: 40%

  • Citations per Academic/Research Staff: 8%
  • Doctoral Degrees per Accepted PhD: 8%
  • Normalized Citation Impact: 8%
  • Papers per Academic/Research Staff: 8%
  • World Research Reputation: 8%

International Diversity: 10%

  • International Faculty: 2%
  • International Students: 2%
  • International Co-Authored Papers: 2%
  • Reputation Outside Geographical Region: 2%
  • International Level: 2%

Financial Sustainability: 10%

  • Institutional Income per Faculty: 2%
  • Institutional Income per Student: 2%
  • Papers per Research Income: 2%
  • Research Income per Academic/Research Staff: 2%
  • Research Income per Institutional Income: 2%

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Criteria used in ranking -RUR Academic Rankings:

Normalized citation impact (Citations of research publications from all university authors compared with world averages) 20% Citation per papers 20% Papers per academic and research staff 20% International research reputation 20% Share of research publications written in international co-authorship 20%

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Criteria used in ranking -RUR Reputation Ranking:

Teaching Reputation 50% Research Reputation 50%

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Scimago Institutions

Criteria used in ranking -Scimago Institutions Rankings:

Research 50% Innovation 30%
Societal 20%

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ShanghaiRanking Consultancy

Criteria used in ranking -ARWU Academic Ranking of World Universities - ShanghaiRanking:

Quality of Education 10%

  • Alumni winning Nobel Prizes/Field Medals 10%

Quality of Faculty 40%

  • Staff winning Nobel Prizes/Field Medals 20%
  • Highly Cited Researchers 20%

Research Output 40%

  • Papers published in Nature and Science 20%
  • Papers indexed in Science Citation Index-Expanded & Social Science Citation Index 20%

Per Capita Performance 10%

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StuDocu

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THE Times Higher Education, UK

Criteria used in ranking -THE World University Rankings:

30% Teaching (the Learning Environment)

  • Reputation survey: 15%
  • Staff-to-student ratio: 4.5%
  • Doctorate-to-bachelor’s ratio: 2.25%
  • Doctorates-awarded-to-academic-staff ratio: 6%
  • Institutional income: 2.25%

30% Research (Volume, Income and Reputation)

  • Reputation survey: 18%
  • Research income: 6%
  • Research productivity: 6%

30% Citations (Research Influence)

7.5% International Outlook (Staff, Students and Research)

  • Proportion of international students: 2.5%
  • Proportion of international staff: 2.5%
  • International collaboration: 2.5%

2.5% Industry Income (Knowledge Transfer)"

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Criteria used in ranking -THE Global Employability University Ranking:

Employability (survey) 100%

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Criteria used in ranking -THE World Reputation Rankings:

Research Reputation 66,6% Teaching Reputation 33,3%

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Criteria used in ranking -THE World’s Most International Universities:

Proportion of international students 25% Proportion of international staff 25% Proportion of journal publications with one or more international co-authors 25% University’s international reputation 25%

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The Princeton Review

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Urap

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Us News

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Wallstreet Journal USA & THE Times Higher Education, UK

Criteria used in ranking -Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education US College Rankings:

Outcomes 40% (employability) Resources 30% Engagement 20% (teaching) Environment 10% (diversity)

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Washington Monthly

Criteria used in ranking -Washington Monthly - National Universities:

Social Mobility 33.33%
Research 33.33%
Community and National Service 33.33%

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Webometrics

Criteria used in ranking -Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities:

Visibility 50% Excellence 35% Transparency 10% Presence 5%

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