Providence College User Reviews and Ratings
Top Liberal Arts Edu & Academics
By Jon, '19, From Boston, MA
I devote my success to my professors, faculty, and staff. Providence College has a quality, top notch, education system for a small catholic institution. The professors are amazing, ratio is about 20:1 student:faculty, and they really care about their students. The students hail mainly from New England and NY but it's not a bad thing. I'd say 70% of the kids are all the same, and what I mean by that is the typical preppy, affluent and wealthy kids, whom probably get by with menial work and okay grades. On the other hand, 25% are decent, hardworking students, who really strive for success and make it on their own. Then 5% drop out from Junior to Senior year. Abundance of clubs/orgs that you have to take initiative to get involved but the top clubs are the clique central. Basically if you don't conform you get shunned or they're just disrespectful to you (from what my buddies have said). The food is by Sodexo and is below par (Ray Dining hall sucks, Alumni decent, Ryan Center [Biz School] best of them all). Don't get a meal Plan junior/senior year if in apartments, you'll save $5k. I wish they'd renovate dorms because they suck until Junior year. Old rooms, bathrooms, and common areas. The things PC decides to spend money on is egregious. They just built a new "Development" Center, for sports teams only. Even though it's mainly for our basketball team who aren't that good. Costs $30 million for the building. Lastly Health & Safety, so we have an open campus but also live on the West side of Providence. I'll let you do some search on that one. Health centers are fine but would recommend to just go to an urgent care, they're not really that helpful. Campus safety isn't helpful either they're really just out to get your money, make you pay fines for doing stupid things. Be nice and friendly to them because there could be some underlying benefits if you really get to know them... and that's it. I'm rating 5 overall just because the education you receive is superb.
What best describes you? Alumni
Activities & Social Life
Score：4
City & Setting
Score：4
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：2
Dorms & Housing
Score：3
Health & Safety
Score：3
Great Opportunity and Ability to evolbe
By Class 2002, From Queens, NY
I enjoyed my time here because of the ability to grow as a student. Programs like the Western Civ program helped me to more fully investigate my academic interests. My preparation at Providence College helps me every day in my career, and I feel as if I was more prepared than many co-workers were after colelge.
What best describes you? Alumni
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：5
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：4
Dorms & Housing
Score：4
Health & Safety
Score：4
Happy student
By Jim, From New Jersey
Great campus environment that provides energy and excitement. Students balance academics and partying well. PC is a work hard play hard environment. Everyone loves the friars. As always go friars.
What best describes you? Current Student
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：4
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：3
Dorms & Housing
Score：4
Health & Safety
Score：3
Good school but trapped in a bubble
By Kevin, 2008, From Brooklyn, NY
Class of 2008. PC is a school that is advancing in quality of life on campus all the time. Facilities improved by leaps and bounds in the last 10 years. Difficulty of classes depends a lot of on choices you make at registration time. You have the opportunity to get a very well rounded Liberal Arts education. Or you can skate by in low level classes and not learn much. The (in)famous Western Civ is a good survey course but the size and scope of the class means you can have a lot of inconsistency in quality and difficulty depending on which time slot you end up in. Student life had a way to go when I was there. If you don't like drinking and parties (or, at least, willing to get to like them) you found yourself with little to do and kept up all night by your dorm mates on weekends (and most other days too). Enjoyed the culture my first three years but by my senior year I was over it. Fake ID was required for a social life. Almost everyone is a former jock from Long Island or Mass or CT... which equates to a lot of friendly but cliquish upper middle class white kids who haven't had much experience beyond the world of upper middle class white kids who are pretty good at sports. Severely lacking in minority representation (in all regards) which leads to a bit of a casually closed minded campus culture in terms of race, gender, and sexuality. Still, most students are polite about their beliefs and there is a lively fine arts community to go with the intramural sports crew. So, I guess what I'm saying is, students are pretty much what you'd expect from a small Catholic private school in the Northeast. It's been a while since I've been on campus but from what I've heard it hasn't changed too much. If I had to sum it up in one sentence: A fun time but sometimes (oppressively) one note. Food and Dorms were nothing to write home about. City is nice but surrounding area is dodgy (at least it was when I was there) but that doesn't stop most seniors from living off campus.
What best describes you? Alumni
Activities & Social Life
Score：3
City & Setting
Score：3
Classes & Teachers
Score：4
Dining & Food
Score：2
Dorms & Housing
Score：2
Health & Safety
Score：4
Top tier Liberal Arts and Business School
By Class of 1989, From Boston
I would recommend PC to anyone looking for a firm foundational education in the Western Civilization program followed by your chosen major / career path. PC will transform you for a successful and happy life. No regrets here!
What best describes you? Alumni
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：5
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：4
Dorms & Housing
Score：5
Health & Safety
Score：5
Poor Academics Overall More of just a college for name
By Upset Senior, From Providence RI
Students dont really care about grades, college falling fast. Really boring campus and WAY Overpriced for the education. Did 4 years here, wanted to transfer the whole time, put in no effort still made Deans list and now have $110,000 in debt. Bryant, Rhode Island and Salve are better (Obliviously Brown too)
What best describes you? Current Student
Activities & Social Life
Score：1
City & Setting
Score：1
Classes & Teachers
Score：1
Dining & Food
Score：1
Dorms & Housing
Score：1
Health & Safety
Score：1
Providence College Overview
By Jacob B, Class of 2018, From Boston, MA
Great clubs and organization to be involved in on campus. Aspect of family and helping another out plays a role in both student life, administration, and post-graduation alumni networking.
What best describes you? Alumni
Activities & Social Life
Score：5
City & Setting
Score：4
Classes & Teachers
Score：5
Dining & Food
Score：2
Dorms & Housing
Score：4
Health & Safety
Score：4
