Providence College vs Roger Williams University: which has better ROI?
Providence College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $194,092 in 5 years versus 6.9 years at Roger Williams University, on median earnings of $87,054 vs $70,266 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Providence College | Roger Williams University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $48,523 | $37,999 |
| Total net cost | $194,092 | $151,996 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $87,054 | $70,266 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $26,940 |
| Payback | 5 yrs | 6.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $579,788 | $286,124 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Providence College or Roger Williams University?
Roger Williams University, at $37,999 a year after aid versus $48,523 — a gap of $10,524 a year, or $42,096 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Providence College or Roger Williams University graduates earn more?
Providence College graduates report a median $87,054 ten years after entry, $16,788 more than the $70,266 at Roger Williams University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Providence College or Roger Williams University?
Roger Williams University: its completers carry a median $26,940 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Providence College, a difference of $60. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
86% of students finish at Providence College, against 69% at Roger Williams University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.