Providence College vs Salve Regina 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 years at Salve Regina University, on median earnings of $87,054 vs $72,975 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Providence College | Salve Regina University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $48,523 | $36,967 |
| Total net cost | $194,092 | $147,868 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $87,054 | $72,975 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 5 yrs | 6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $579,788 | $344,432 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Providence College or Salve Regina University?
Salve Regina University, at $36,967 a year after aid versus $48,523 — a gap of $11,556 a year, or $46,224 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 Salve Regina University graduates earn more?
Providence College graduates report a median $87,054 ten years after entry, $14,079 more than the $72,975 at Salve Regina 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 Salve Regina University?
Completers at both borrow a median $27,000, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
Which graduates more of its students?
86% of students finish at Providence College, against 77% at Salve Regina 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.