Boston College (BC) vs. Providence College (PC) Overview
You’re wrestling with a tough question: “Should I go to BC or Providence College (PC)?“
Boston College (BC)
Providence College (PC)
Can you get in?
Calculate Your ChancesCan you get in?
Calculate Your ChancesThis complete guide analyzes both the quantitative and qualitative differences between Boston College (BC) and Providence College (PC). This comparison is particularly valuable at understanding the cultural nuances between the colleges since it uses student videos to capture the “vibes” of campus - these videos are exclusively available on CampusReel :)
Differences between Boston College (BC) and Providence College (PC)
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s go through a general overview of the high-level differences between Boston College (BC) and Providence College (PC). The table below summarizes some of the most important statistics around competitiveness, costs, etc.
| Boston College (BC) | Providence College (PC) | |
|---|---|---|
| In-state Tuition | $49,324 | $45,400 |
| Net Price | $33,661 | $35,848 |
| Average Financial Aid | $38,307 | $25,151 |
| Total Undergraduates | 9491 | 3948 |
| Average SAT Scores | 1260 - 1470 | 0 - 0 |
| Acceptance Rate | 29 | 57 |
| Location | 140 Commonwealth Avenue | 1 Cunningham Square |
| City Name | Chestnut Hill | Providence |
WARNINGS: Based on net price alone, Boston College (BC) is the cheaper option. However, this sticker price may not adequately represent the difference in living costs between Chestnut Hill and Providence. BC is in a New England and Providence College (PC) is in a New England - sometimes off campus meals and housing costs can dramatically vary between schools
Is Boston College (BC) or Providence College (PC) Harder to get into? Which school is easier to get into?
If you’re looking at acceptance rate alone, then Boston College (BC) is more difficult to get into. However, each college is looking to fill its incoming class with a variety of students with different strengths, backgrounds, etc.
Therefore, the acceptance rate alone is not a good indicator that Boston College (BC) is a better school or will be more difficult for you specifically to get into. On the flipside, Providence College (PC) is easier to get into based on acceptance rate alone.
You can use the below college admissions predictor to determine your likelihood of acceptance at either school.
How Do BC Dorms Compare to housing Options at Providence College (PC)?
Both colleges provide on-campus living options. BC charges for on-campus living, while Providence College (PC) charges N/A for on-campus living. Most importantly, though, check out the video below for a sample of dorm tours at each school.
BC and Providence College (PC) student body differences
The table below helps demonstrate the student body differences as well.
| Boston College (BC), % | Providence College (PC),% | |
|---|---|---|
| White | 61.71 | 76.6 |
| Hispanic | 9.68 | 8.61 |
| Black | 4.04 | 4.31 |
| Foreign | 5.96 | 2.13 |
| Others | 18.6 | 8.4 |
How different is the Boston College (BC) campus compared to Providence College (PC) campus?
The BC campus is located in Chestnut Hill, MA and is characterized as City: Small (population less than 100,000). The Providence College (PC) campus is located in Providence, RI and is characterized as City: Midsize (population of at least 100,000 but less than 250,000).
Which school gives more financial aid?
BC provides $38,307 whereas Providence College (PC) provides an average of $25,151.
How does BC academics compare to Providence College (PC)?
When analyzing academics between Boston College (BC) and Providence College (PC) we’ll look at both what current students are studying and also where they end up after graduation. After all, college should prepare you for a career! Analyzing each school’s outcomes is super valuable to understand the value of the degree.
| Majors | BC | Providence College (PC) |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture agriculture operations and related sciences | N/A | N/A |
| Natural resources and conservation | 27 | N/A |
| Architecture and related services | N/A | N/A |
| Area ethnic cultural gender and group studies | N/A | 5 |
| Communication journalism and related programs | 202 | N/A |
| Computer and information sciences and support services | 68 | 16 |
| Communications technologies technicians and support services | N/A | N/A |
| Personal and culinary services | N/A | N/A |
| Engineering | N/A | 5 |
| Education | 66 | 48 |
| Engineering technologies and engineering related fields | N/A | N/A |
Which is better: Boston College (BC) or Providence College (PC)?
We’ve compared dorm life, costs, outcomes and more to provide the most complete comparison between BC and Providence College (PC). But, you’re smart enough to know that numbers paint a terrible picture for truly understanding what each college and community is like. And, the real answer to which school is better is: the school that’s right for you. No matter who you ask, if they know what they’re talking about, the answer is the same: the “better” school is whatever is the best fit for you personally. That’s why it’s extremely important to check out all the videos on CampusReel for each school.
%202025&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.campusreel.org%2Fcompare-colleges%2Fboston-college-or-providence-college&auid=b924462e-257f-4460-8fc4-2dcc31a22d4e)
How does BC social life compare to Providence College (PC)?
It’s tough to understand the nuances of social life with data alone. That’s why we’ve brought in real student videos to show how BC social life differs from Providence College (PC).
Check here.
Check here.