Study in Providence, The United States

About Providence

Providence is the capital of Rhode Island, the smallest US state, and sits at the head of Narragansett Bay in New England. It is a compact city with a long academic history: Brown University was founded here in 1764, and its campus on College Hill, on the city's East Side, is still surrounded by historic houses.

Students choose Providence for its mix of an Ivy League research university, a public college with low fees for local students and applied programmes such as culinary arts and hospitality. Boston is within reach by train, which makes the city a practical base for exploring New England.

Studying in Providence

This directory lists three universities and colleges, one English language programme and two private schools in Providence. Teaching is in English, and some institutions have a religious affiliation.

• Brown University is a private, nonprofit research university founded in 1764. Undergraduates follow the Open Curriculum, a flexible approach in which students build their own course of study. The university has 11,956 students, 7,910 of them undergraduates, and a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, according to College Navigator. It is also home to the Warren Alpert Medical School and many master's and doctoral programmes. Brown also runs a pre-college Intensive English Program (IEP), listed separately in the directory.
• Rhode Island College is the state's first public college. It grew out of the Rhode Island Normal School, a teacher-training school that opened on 29 May 1854. It has 6,155 students and a student-to-faculty ratio of 15 to 1, and at least 25% of its full-time undergraduates identify as Hispanic or Latino.
• Johnson & Wales University is a private university with 4,303 students on its Providence campus, according to College Navigator. It awards associate's, bachelor's and master's degrees, and its programmes include culinary arts, baking and pastry arts and hospitality management.

For school-age students, La Salle Academy is a Catholic, co-educational college-preparatory day school for grades 6 to 12, and Lincoln School teaches girls from kindergarten to grade 12 with Quaker values, plus a co-educational early learning programme.

Admission and student visa

International students usually need an F student visa to study at an accredited college or university or at an English language institute. After admission, the school's international student office sends a Form I-20 (or a DS-2019 for J exchange programmes), which you present when you apply for the visa. According to EducationUSA, the academic year typically runs from September to May, and international students may work on campus up to 20 hours a week in their first year.

Cost of living for students

College Navigator gives these 2024-25 figures for undergraduates:

• Brown University: $71,412 in tuition and fees, plus $17,444 for food and housing on campus
• Johnson & Wales University: $42,419 in tuition and fees, plus $19,800 for food and housing on campus
• Rhode Island College: $11,300 for Rhode Island residents and $27,299 for out-of-state students, plus $13,414 for food and housing on campus

Rhode Island College offers a 40% discount to students from Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, New Jersey and parts of Pennsylvania. Prices change every year, so check each school's current cost of attendance.

Getting around and daily life

The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) runs the city's buses, with Kennedy Plaza downtown as the main hub. At Rhode Island College, the student ID works as an unlimited RIPTA bus pass, and route 92 links the campus with Kennedy Plaza, Federal Hill, the East Side and Fox Point. Downtown, College Hill and Federal Hill, known for its Italian restaurants, are close enough to explore on foot.

Winters are cold and summers warm and humid. NOAA's 1991-2020 normals for T. F. Green Airport, the city's main weather station, give an average of 30.2 °F (about −1 °C) in January and 74.4 °F (about 23.5 °C) in July.

Frequently asked questions

Which universities are in Providence?

This directory lists Brown University, Rhode Island College and Johnson & Wales University, plus Brown's pre-college Intensive English Program.

Is there an affordable option for studying in Providence?

Rhode Island College is public. In 2024-25, tuition and fees were $11,300 for state residents and $27,299 for out-of-state students, according to College Navigator.

Can I study culinary arts in Providence?

Yes. Johnson & Wales University offers degrees in culinary arts, baking and pastry arts and hospitality management at its Providence campus, according to College Navigator.

Do students need a car in Providence?

Not usually. RIPTA buses cover the city, and Rhode Island College students ride them for free with their student ID.