Dominican friars still run Providence College, a Catholic liberal arts college founded in 1917 on the north side of Providence. Every student takes the Development of Western Civilization programme, a sequence of history, literature, philosophy and theology courses. Business majors, especially finance and accountancy, are popular, and so are the sciences. Big East basketball games downtown pull in much of the campus.
Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Official website: providence.edu
Private Catholic college, Dominican order
1917
Big East Conference
Elmhurst, Providence
$60,000 – $64,000
International students, undergraduate tuition before aid
$16,000 – $20,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on providence.edu before you apply.
BS Finance
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
BS Accountancy
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
BS Biology
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
BA Economics
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
BA Political Science
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
A Dominican Catholic identity that shapes the core curriculum.
A required history and humanities sequence for every student.
Big East basketball at the Amica Mutual Pavilion downtown.
Many graduates go into finance, accounting and consulting in Boston, New York and Providence.
Biology graduates often continue to medical or other health professional school.
F-1 graduates can apply for OPT after their degree.
Undergrad
Main intake
Postgrad
No PG intake
The campus is a compact set of brick and stone buildings in the residential Elmhurst neighbourhood, and most undergraduates live on or right beside it.
Providence is a small New England capital, known for Federal Hill's Italian restaurants and a busy arts scene. Boston is about an hour away by commuter train.
Form I-20 issued by Providence College
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
Providence College has Early Action and Early Decision deadlines in November and a Regular Decision deadline in mid-January for fall entry. International applicants should send English scores and financial documents early.
First-year students start in late August or early September.
It's the F-1 student visa. Get your I-20 from Providence College first (they need your deposit and bank documents), then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and attend the visa interview. Book the interview early in peak season.
Finance, accountancy, biology, economics and political science are popular majors. Admission looks at secondary school grades, essays and recommendations, with tests optional. Non-native English speakers usually need IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 80.
Providence College offers merit scholarships to strong international applicants, decided at admission. Need-based aid for international students is limited.
