Providence College, founded in 1917, is the nation's only university administered by the Catholic Dominican friars. The college is located atop Smith Hill in the city of Providence, Rhode Island's capital; as such, about 9% of undergrads are from Rhode Island (another 54% are from New England in general).
In the classroom, the roughly 4,000 undergrads find the coursework generally fulfilling, but they express some mixed feelings about the college's Development of Western Civilization requirement, or "Civ," (which is mandatory for most incoming freshmen) because of the sizable course load necessary to complete it. The average class size at Providence College is 19 people; its most popular majors include finance, marketing, biology, and business administration.
There’s no Greek scene on campus, but students still enjoy an active social life. The bars near campus are the go-to hangouts, and Boston nightlife is just an hour away. On campus, there's nearly always a game to attend, thanks to the school's varsity teams and a vibrant set of recreational sports — more than half of Providence students play on an intramural team.
Ring Weekend, an annual two-day bash themed around senior class rings, dates back to 1966, and basketball season kickoffs feature performances from big musical acts like John Legend and Ludacris.
