College · Private nonprofit · Providence, RI · City
Johnson & Wales University-Providence
Providence, RI
Admit rate88%
6-yr median pay$36k
Net price / yr$31k
Undergrad size3,868
§ I · The real read
What it's actually like.
The bet
Net price of $31k/yr for a shot at a $36k first-5-year salary. Math out whether that works for you — it does for some people, not for others.
Getting in
Admit rate of 88% means this is workable if your grades and essays are solid. Admitted students average SAT 1050.
If you get in
3,868 undergrads. Small. You will know your cohort.
Where you live
City campus — public transit, off-campus food, weekends happen nearby.
§ II · Cost & aid
Sticker vs. real.
Sticker cost of attendance is $60k/yr. After need-based aid, the average student pays $31k/yr. Merit aid varies. Run your EFC calculator before you rule anything out.
Sticker · 4 yrs$241k
Before any aid.
Net · 4 yrs$124k
What the average student pays.
Typical aid$117k
Difference over 4 years — higher for lower-income households.
Payback3.5x
4-yr net price ÷ first-5-year salary. Lower is better.
Where the money goes · annual sticker.
- Tuition · in-state
- $42.4k
- Room & board
- $19.8k
- Books & supplies
- $1,200
How students pay for it.
Pell grants30%
Share of undergrads on federal Pell grants.
Federal loans72%
Share taking out federal student loans.
Median debt · grads$26k
What the median student owes at graduation. Non-completers: $10k.
3-yr default0%
Low — grads tend to pay on time.
§ III · Outcomes
Do people finish? Do they land?
1-yr retention79%
Watch this number.
Graduation · 6 yr55%
A meaningful chunk do not finish — ask why.
6-yr median pay$36k
Cross-major. Your major's number can be very different.
10-yr median pay$43k
Ten years out — where grads tend to land career-wise.
Transfer out22%
Share of full-time students who transfer to another school.
§ IV · Campus & identity
Setting, size, and who this school is.
- Setting
- City
- Control
- Private nonprofit
- Undergrad size
- 3,868
- Location
- Providence, RI
- Region
- New England (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT)
- Carnegie class
- Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
- Size & setting
- Four-year · medium · highly residential
- Undergrad program
- Four-year · full-time, inclusive, lower transfer-in
- Accreditor
- New England Commission on Higher Education
§ · Who studies here
The student body at a glance.
- White59%
- Hispanic17%
- Black11%
- Asian4%
- Two or more races3%
- Unknown3%
- International3%
First-gen students35%
Share whose parents didn't complete college.
Part-time3%
Mostly a full-time student body.
Veterans0%
Share using veteran education benefits.
Median family income$41k
Of enrolled students' households — useful for aid context.
§ V · Majors offered here · 47
What you can study.
- Accounting$76k · 5-yr
- Organizational Communication$71k · 5-yr
- Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications$68k · 5-yr
- Engineering, Other$60k · 5-yr
- Criminal Justice and Corrections, General$57k · 5-yr
- Finance$56k · 5-yr
- Marketing/Marketing Management$56k · 5-yr
- International Business/Trade/Commerce$55k · 5-yr
- Business Administration and Management$53k · 5-yr
- Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities Management$50k · 5-yr
- Auctioneering$48k · 5-yr
- Web Page, Digital/Multimedia and Information Resources Design$48k · 5-yr
- Clinical Psychology$48k · 5-yr
- Hospitality Administration/Management$46k · 5-yr
- Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies$45k · 5-yr
- Foods, Nutrition, and Wellness Studies$42k · 5-yr
- Baking and Pastry Arts/Baker/Pastry Chef$39k · 5-yr
- Dog/Pet/Animal Grooming$33k · 5-yr
- Computer Scienceearnings not reported
- Writingearnings not reported
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studiesearnings not reported
- Biology/Biological Sciencesearnings not reported
- Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary (CTP) Programearnings not reported
- Data Analyticsearnings not reported
- Computer Engineeringearnings not reported
- Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitnessearnings not reported
- Psychologyearnings not reported
- Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineeringearnings not reported
- Homeland Securityearnings not reported
- Political Science and Governmentearnings not reported
- Sociologyearnings not reported
- Design and Visual Communicationsearnings not reported
- Health and Wellnessearnings not reported
- Public Healthearnings not reported
- Dietetics/Dietitianearnings not reported
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurseearnings not reported
- Information Science/Studiesearnings not reported
- Computer Programming/Programmerearnings not reported
- Speech Communication and Rhetoricearnings not reported
- Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policyearnings not reported
- Animal Sciencesearnings not reported
- Human Resources Management/Personnel Administrationearnings not reported
- Applied Horticulture/Horticulture Operationsearnings not reported
- Sales, Distribution, and Marketing Operationsearnings not reported
- Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineeringearnings not reported
- Agricultural Production Operationsearnings not reported
- Electrical, Electronic, and Communications Engineering Technology/Technicianearnings not reported