Kirsten Carman ’27

by Kirsten Carman ’27 on November 12, 2023

Earlier this week, the U.S. News & World Report ranked Providence College No. 1 out of 178 across all regional universities in the north. Tying for the top spot with Bentley University and Rhode Island School of Design, PC has retained this ranking for five consecutive years, while remaining  in the top five colleges in the northeast region for over 25 years. This outstanding accomplishment can be attributed to the plentiful academic success and performances exhibited by students and faculty, of which the rankings can be broken down further. 

The U.S. News & World Report determines rankings based on a school’s performance across widely accepted indicators of excellence. Included in these categories is Best Value Schools, in which PC was ranked No. 19. Best Value is determined by a school’s academic quality, while also factoring in the net cost of attendance for an out-of-state student with average need-based financial aid awarded. In simple terms, a high academic quality with a lower cost of tuition is the indicator of high value. This notably remarks PC as academically above average, additionally highlighting the success of our business and psychology programs. 

Furthermore, the USN ranked PC as No. 5 (following Ithaca College, Loyola University Maryland, Marist College, and SUNY Geneseo) for Best Undergraduate Teaching Programs. Top college administrators determined these rankings based on the particular focus an institution places on undergraduate teaching. With a rather smaller undergraduate population of roughly 4,000 students, this ranking also reflects the success of the smaller student-to-faculty ratio. Unlike many larger schools, PC’s smaller undergraduate population allows for smaller class sizes, resulting in better relationships between students and their professors, likely resulting in the well-deserved high ranking. 

Under USN’s Most Innovative Schools in the North category, PC was ranked No. 7 in the region. This category factors in the extent to which a university is making innovative improvements in terms of curriculum, faculty, students, campus life, technology, and facilities. These innovative improvements are viewed as promising changes that will further the success of the institution and the students that are enrolled. Some of these innovative improvements that PC has implemented in the most recent school year could include the initiation of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences. Having just commenced its first year, the school offers three different majors and is currently undergoing construction to offer the latest and most beneficial technological assets for students in the program. 

In addition to the improvements to facilities on campus is the recent construction of the new Shanley Hall, home to 364 co-ed sophomore students for the first time this fall. This building reflects some of the most modern architecture on campus, which has made studying easier and more efficient for those living in the building and given its residents somewhere to look forward to being at the end of each day. With multiple shared study spaces and lounges, it can be presumed that students who are living in Shanley Hall will be academically and socially successful in the 2023-24 academic year at PC.

Other noteworthy standings include Providence being ranked for the first time for two undergraduate programs. The economics program was listed as No. 165 in the nation, while psychology was placed at No. 203. PC’s business school also earned a ranking of No. 159 nationwide.

Providence College’s No. 1 ranking by the U.S. News & World Report is exceptional and a highly befitting reflection of the progressive academic success of the students and faculty. For the last five years, the USN has recognized this success and has attributed it to the quality of our school, the achievements and support of our undergraduate programs, and the ongoing improvements made to our university to ensure that students are getting the absolute most out of their time at PC. The future is looking bright for the Friars.