Business Schools in Providence

The Best Business Schools in Providence for 2027

Key Points: Best Business Schools in Providence

  • Brown University ranks #1 in the Providence area on a 96.7 Program Score, with a 96% graduation rate.
  • Private schools hold most of the places on this list.
  • Cost and quality are not opposites here: the lowest-tuition program on the list, University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, ranks #8.
Programs analyzed
166
Schools ranked
8
Tuition range
$14,897-$68,612
Average graduation rate
75%

We analyzed 166 accredited business programs in Providence and the surrounding metro and ranked 8 schools on graduation rate, selectivity, cost, and outcomes. Tuition across the 8 ranked schools runs from $14,897 to $68,612 a year, a $53,715 spread for the same credential.

Brown University leads with a 96.7 Program Score on a 96% graduation rate, at $68,612 a year. Across all 8 ranked business schools in Providence the average graduation rate is 75%, ranging from 52% to 96%. 1 of the 8 are public and 7 are private, a split that drives most of the price gap below.

How the Top Business Schools in Providence Compare

Brown leads at 96.7, and Massachusetts-Dartmouth closes the chart at 75.9. Longer bars rank higher.

How We Rank Business Schools in Providence

Each Program Score runs from 0 to 100: outcomes count for 44%, selectivity and academics for 38%, and scale and value for 18%, all from federal data. See how the weights work.

The 8 Best Business Schools in Providence, Ranked for 2027

The 8 best Business Schools in Providence, ranked by outcomes.

Brown University

Providence, RI · Nonprofit

96.7 Program Score
Grad rate
96%
Admit rate
5%
Tuition
Varies by program

Brown University's online Master of Management runs 16 months and eight courses (32 credits) with only one optional three-day in-person session.

  • 96% graduation rate
  • Program Score 96.7
  • 16 months, 32 credits
  • Online with optional 3-day session

Brown University's page describes an online Master of Management (MiM), a 16-month program built from eight courses worth 32 credits. It is offered online with one optional three-day in-person session, and students can enter in the spring or fall. The curriculum covers strategic leadership, business and data analytics, financial management, marketing, entrepreneurship, ethics and social responsibility. Brown frames the degree around technology-aided, data-informed, human-directed and ethical management, and it is designed for early-career professionals who want to build a business framework on top of an undergraduate foundation. The page lists early action, priority and final application deadlines for each term and invites prospects to attend an information session or speak with an advisor.

The Program Score of 96.7 out of 100 is the basis of this program's ranking. Brown graduates 96% of its students and admits only 5% of applicants, making it one of the most selective schools in the country. The program fits recent graduates and early-career professionals who want management fundamentals in an online format that keeps them in their current job and location.

View Brown University's Business Schools Program →

Providence College

Providence, RI · Nonprofit

92.5 Program Score
Grad rate
86%
Admit rate
51%
In-state
$62,520
Out-of-state
$62,520

Providence College's accountancy curriculum covers all the major topics on the CPA exam, and a one-year accounting MBA cohort can follow in 13 to 14 months.

  • 86% graduation rate
  • Program Score 92.5
  • Covers all major CPA exam topics
  • 13 to 14 month accounting MBA cohort

Providence College offers a Bachelor of Science in accountancy through its School of Business. The department says the curriculum covers all of the major topics on the CPA exam, and that many students take and pass the exam after graduation. Coursework uses case analyses, computer labs, team projects, oral presentations, internships and research projects. The school reports AACSB accreditation and says nearly every business graduate completes at least one internship, with employers named on the page including Deloitte, EY, KPMG and PwC. Students can join the PC Accounting Association, or compete in the Ethics Case Competition or the PwC Challenge. For those who want to continue, a one-year MBA Accounting Cohort lets students with an accounting background finish an MBA in 13 to 14 months, summer to summer, with CPA exam preparation built in.

Federally reported figures show an 86% graduation rate and a 51% admit rate. Tuition is $62,520 for in-state and out-of-state students alike, as Providence is a private nonprofit. The program's Program Score is 92.5 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. The major suits students who want a rigorous, CPA-oriented path and an accelerated route into a graduate degree, and who are comfortable with a demanding workload.

View Providence College's Business Schools Program →

Bryant University

Smithfield, RI · Nonprofit · online option

91.5 Program Score
Grad rate
80%
Admit rate
65%
Tuition
Varies by program

A 12-month, 39-credit full-time MBA that includes a January Global Immersion Experience abroad and a business practicum with a corporate or nonprofit partner.

  • 80% graduation rate
  • Program Score 91.5
  • 12-month full-time format
  • Global Immersion Experience abroad

Bryant University's One-Year MBA is a full-time, in-person cohort program in Smithfield that runs from August to August. It totals 13 courses and 39 credits: 11 required courses, including a one-credit MBA Boot Camp, the Global Immersion Experience and a business practicum, plus three electives. The Global Immersion Experience takes place in January, and the page lists past destinations such as Chile, Panama, China, Germany, Iceland and Dubai. In the practicum, the cohort works with a corporation or nonprofit partner to solve a problem or build a new business opportunity. Students can choose a concentration in business analytics, fintech, global supply chain management or international business, or follow a general management track. The business analytics concentration is STEM-designated. Applicants submit a statement of objectives, resume, one faculty recommendation and transcripts, and no GMAT or GRE is required.

Federal data shows 80% of Bryant students graduate, and the university admits 65% of applicants. The program earns a Program Score of 91.5 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It suits recent graduates and career changers who can commit to a single intense year on campus and want an international component built into the degree.

View Bryant University's Business Schools Program →

Stonehill College

Easton, MA · Nonprofit

87.2 Program Score
Grad rate
76%
Admit rate
66%
In-state
$55,750
Out-of-state
$55,750

Stonehill College's B.S.B.A. in Management builds a senior capstone and project management coursework around case studies, simulations and internships.

  • 76% graduation rate
  • Program Score 87.2
  • $55,750 tuition, in-state and out-of-state
  • Senior Management Capstone

Stonehill College offers a Management major in its Meehan School of Business, leading to a B.S.B.A. delivered on campus. The program places its emphasis on the analytical, conceptual and professional skills needed for managerial work. Coursework spans human resource management, organizational behavior, project management and operations management, and the page describes a senior Management Capstone built around negotiating and decision-making. Students learn through case studies, classroom discussion, community-based learning projects, computer simulations, internships, team projects and research reports. The curriculum gives particular attention to ethical values, the behavioral sciences and international operations.

Stonehill graduates 76% of its students and admits 66% of applicants, so admission is moderately selective. In-state tuition is $55,750, the same as out-of-state, since the college is private. The program earned a Program Score of 87.2 out of 100, the basis of its ranking here. It suits students who want a broad management curriculum with hands-on projects and internship experience at a small college of about 2,700 students, and who are comfortable with an on-campus format rather than online study.

View Stonehill College's Business Schools Program →

Wheaton College (Massachusetts)

Norton, MA · Nonprofit

86.9 Program Score
Grad rate
73%
Admit rate
68%
In-state
$63,240
Out-of-state
$63,240

Wheaton's Business and Management major requires an internship and offers five concentrations, from healthcare management to creative arts management.

  • 73% graduation rate
  • Program Score 86.9
  • $63,240 tuition, in-state and out-of-state
  • Required internship

Wheaton College in Massachusetts offers a Business and Management major that connects core business disciplines to the liberal arts. The page says the curriculum is meant to give future leaders the knowledge and skills to thrive in a global marketplace. Students apply what they learn through experiential and project-based learning and a required internship. They can tailor the degree with a concentration in international business and cross-cultural management; marketing, new media and media analytics; creative arts management; healthcare management; or finance, accounting and business analytics. The program is an on-campus bachelor's degree at a small college of about 1,800 students.

Wheaton graduates 73% of its students and admits 68% of applicants. Tuition is $63,240 for in-state and out-of-state students alike, as at most private colleges. The program earned a Program Score of 86.9 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want a business degree grounded in the liberal arts, with a specialty that matches a particular industry interest and real work experience before graduation.

View Wheaton College (Massachusetts)'s Business Schools Program →

Salve Regina University

Newport, RI · Nonprofit · online option

86.1 Program Score
Grad rate
77%
Admit rate
68%
In-state
$49,300
Out-of-state
$49,300

Salve Regina University's healthcare administration major reports that 100% of responding majors were employed or in graduate school six months after graduating, and seniors can begin a graduate program early.

  • 77% graduation rate
  • Program Score 86.1
  • Early entry to a graduate program
  • Seahawk Tank capstone competition

Salve Regina University's bachelor's degree in healthcare administration is housed in the Jean and David W. Wallace Department of Business and Economics, which the school says is accredited by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education. The program builds business skills for managing change in the healthcare industry along with a broad understanding of global health, access to care and disease prevention. A capstone course has student teams develop a business opportunity, write mission and vision statements, run SWOT analyses and market research, and present a business plan, with top teams pitching in the annual Seahawk Tank competition. The page lists career paths in clinics, hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living centers. Qualified undergraduates can begin a graduate program in business administration or healthcare administration during their senior year.

Federal figures show a 77% graduation rate and a 68% admit rate. Tuition is $49,300 for in-state and out-of-state students alike, since Salve Regina is a private nonprofit. The program's Program Score is 86.1 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. The school's own survey found that, among healthcare administration majors who responded, 100% were employed or enrolled in graduate programs six months after graduating. The degree suits students who want the management side of healthcare rather than clinical practice.

View Salve Regina University's Business Schools Program →

New England Institute of Technology

East Greenwich, RI · Nonprofit

83.6 Program Score
Grad rate
60%
Admit rate
67%
In-state
$34,875
Out-of-state
$34,875

New England Institute of Technology's B.S. in Business Management is open to any associate degree graduate and offers an Automotive Service/Transportation Management concentration.

  • 60% graduation rate
  • Program Score 83.6
  • $34,875 tuition
  • Automotive service management concentration

New England Institute of Technology offers a Bachelor of Science in Business Management that blends technical, analytical and people skills. Any associate degree graduate is eligible to enter. Coursework covers management and leadership, accounting, finance, marketing, operations and project management, along with courses such as human resource management, business presentations, customer relations and sales, negotiation, and entrepreneurship. Students practice in labs that simulate the workplace and take part in simulations of negotiation, customer service, sales and employee supervision. Courses are delivered in a mix of face-to-face and online formats, and a few degree credits require hands-on work experience through internships. The page also lists an Automotive Service/Transportation Management concentration, and says students in automotive or healthcare fields can focus on management topics for those industries.

Federal data show a 60% graduation rate and a 67% admit rate at NEIT, which enrolls 1,922 students. Tuition is $34,875 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The program earns a Program Score of 83.6 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It fits working technicians and associate degree holders who want to move into supervision or management, or start a small business, and who prefer practical, lab-based instruction with internship experience.

View New England Institute of Technology's Business Schools Program →

University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth

North Dartmouth, MA · Public

75.9 Program Score
Grad rate
52%
Admit rate
91%
In-state
$14,897
Out-of-state
$31,852

University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth's Charlton College of Business lists bachelor's programs in finance, management, marketing, MIS and general business administration, several with fully online versions.

  • Program Score 75.9
  • 52% graduation rate
  • $14,897 in-state tuition
  • Online B.S. options in several majors

The Charlton College of Business at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth offers a range of undergraduate business degrees. Its program listing includes B.S. degrees in accounting, finance, general business administration, human resources management, management, management information systems and marketing, plus a Business Exploratory option for students who are undecided. Several of these are offered in online versions, including general business administration, management and marketing. The college describes its programs as built around hands-on learning and real-world experience, and the page notes AACSB accreditation for its finance program. The accounting program is described as preparing students for CPA certification. Students who start with the exploratory option can sample several business disciplines before choosing a major.

Federal data show a 52% graduation rate and a 91% admit rate for UMass Dartmouth. In-state tuition is $14,897 and out-of-state tuition is $31,852. The program earns a Program Score of 75.9 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want a public university with a wide menu of business majors, the option of online study in some of them, and a large in-state price advantage.

View University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth's Business Schools Program →

Graduation Rates at the Ranked Business Schools in Providence

The median school on this list graduates 77% of its students. The highest rates belong to Brown University (96%) and Providence College (86%). The school with the highest rate is also ranked #1.

77% Median graduation rate across 8 schools
96% Highest on the list Brown University
3 Graduate 80% or more of 8 schools
  • 80% and above 3
  • 60% to 79% 4
  • 40% to 59% 1
  1. #1 Brown University96% graduation rate
  2. #2 Providence College86% graduation rate
  3. #3 Bryant University80% graduation rate

Institution-wide graduation rates reported to IPEDS. They describe the whole school, not this program alone.

How Selective Are the Business Schools in Providence?

On this list, 1 school admits fewer than half of applicants, the most selective being Brown University at 5%.

67% Median admit rate across 8 schools
5% Most selective Brown University
  • Admit under 25% 1
  • 50% to 74% 6
  • 75% and above 1
  1. #1 Brown University5% admitted
  2. #2 Providence College51% admitted
  3. #3 Bryant University65% admitted

Institution-wide admit rates for first-time applicants, reported to IPEDS. Open-admission schools do not report one.

Online Options Among the Business Schools in Providence

Of the 8 schools ranked here, 2 offer distance education. The highest ranked is Bryant University, at #3.

2 Offer an online option of 8 ranked
  1. #3 Bryant UniversitySmithfield, RI
  2. #6 Salve Regina UniversityNewport, RI

Based on each school reporting distance-education offerings to IPEDS. Whether this specific degree is fully online varies, so confirm the format with the school.

Campus Size Across the Business Schools in Providence

Enrollment on this list runs from 1,785 at Wheaton College (Massachusetts) to 11,956 at Brown University. Of the 8, 6 enroll fewer than 5,000.

3,214 Median enrollment students, whole institution
11,956 Largest Brown University
1,785 Smallest Wheaton College (Massachusetts)

Total institution enrollment reported to IPEDS, all levels and programs.

What Graduates of the Business Schools in Providence Earn

Rank School Median earnings, 4 years outEarnings, 4 yrs Average net priceNet price
#2 Providence CollegeProvidence College $103,245 $49,594
#3 Bryant UniversityBryant $129,664 $39,186
#4 Stonehill CollegeStonehill College $79,796 $36,082
#5 Wheaton College (Massachusetts)Wheaton College (Massachusetts) $78,769 $31,147
#6 Salve Regina UniversitySalve Regina $70,320 $36,528
#7 New England Institute of TechnologyNew England Institute of Technology $76,351 $39,333
#8 University of Massachusetts-DartmouthMassachusetts-Dartmouth $73,398 $20,319

Four years out, medians on this list run from $70,320 at Salve Regina to $129,664 at Bryant.

The highest-ranked school in the table, Providence College (#2), reports $103,245, so the highest score and the highest pay are not the same school.

After grants, the average undergraduate pays least at Massachusetts-Dartmouth, $20,319 a year, and most at Providence College, $49,594.

College Scorecard, October 2026 release. Earnings cover each school's programs in this field at this degree level; net price is for full-time first-time undergraduates receiving aid.

What Business Schools in Providence Cost

Tuition across the 8 ranked schools runs from $14,897 to $68,612 a year. University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth in North Dartmouth anchors the low end at $14,897 a year, while Brown University sits at the top at $68,612. The cheapest public option among the business schools in Providence is University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth in North Dartmouth at $14,897; the cheapest private is New England Institute of Technology in East Greenwich at $34,875.

Over the four years a bachelor's takes, that is roughly $59,588 in tuition at University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth against about $274,448 at Brown University. Public figures here are the in-state resident rate, so an applicant moving to Providence from another state should read the out-of-state column before treating the cheap end of this list as cheap.

$53,765 Median in-state tuition across 8 schools
$55,750 Private nonprofit, median 7 private

Published annual tuition and required fees reported to IPEDS. Private schools charge one rate regardless of residency; public schools charge non-residents the out-of-state rate shown on each card.

Which Business Major to Choose in Providence

Business school covers a dozen different degrees, and the business schools in Providence do not all offer the same ones. Across the 166 accredited programs analyzed here, the fields with the deepest coverage in Providence are business administration (13 schools), accounting (10 schools), finance (10 schools), marketing (10 schools), and healthcare administration (8 schools). A school ranked highly overall is not automatically strong in the major you want, so check the field before the name.

Accounting is the one track bound to a license: most states now license CPAs on either 150 credit hours and one year of experience or a bachelor's and two years, so the choice between a fifth year of school and a longer apprenticeship shapes the course plan from the first year rather than the last. 10 of the schools analyzed in Providence run one.

Public and Private Business Schools in Providence

1 of the 8 ranked business schools in Providence is public and 7 are private, and that split drives most of the $53,715 tuition spread above. The public rate is a residency benefit: University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth charges $14,897 in-state and $31,852 out of state, so where a student already lives changes this ranking more than any other single factor.

1 Public highest ranked: #8 University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth
7 Private nonprofit highest ranked: #1 Brown University

Control (public, private nonprofit, for-profit) as reported to IPEDS. Public schools usually charge residents less; private schools charge everyone the same rate.

Why Study Business in Providence

The 8 ranked schools sit across 7 towns in the metro, among them Providence, Smithfield, and Easton, and the table names the city of each, so check the commute before assuming a suburban campus is the convenient option. 2 of the 8 also run a confirmed online option for students who cannot be on campus daily.

Keep Exploring

Business Schools in Providence: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best business school in Providence?

By Program Score, Brown University ranks first among the 8 ranked business schools in Providence, with a 96.7 score and a 96% graduation rate. The score weighs graduation rate, selectivity, cost, and outcomes together, so the top school balances all four rather than winning on any one of them.

Can you study business part-time in Providence?

Yes. Evening, weekend and part-time formats are common across the business schools in Providence, and in a metro this size most schools run at least one. The tradeoff is length rather than content: the same credential takes longer while you keep working. Ask each school for the completion rate of its part-time cohort specifically, since it often differs from the headline graduation rate this ranking uses.

How much does a business degree cost in Providence?

Tuition among the ranked Providence schools runs from $14,897 to $68,612 a year. Public schools publish the in-state resident rate, so students moving in from another state should check the out-of-state column before comparing. Neither figure includes Providence living costs, which are a real part of the total.

How many business schools in Providence does this ranking cover?

We analyzed 166 accredited business programs across Providence and the surrounding metro and ranked the top 8 schools, listing one entry per school on its strongest program. This list covers the Providence metro area, so some schools sit outside the city line; the city of each is shown in the table. The metro crosses into MA, so schools on both sides of the line are ranked together.

Is it worth studying business in Providence instead of online?

2 of the 8 ranked schools run a confirmed online option, so in Providence this is a live choice rather than a hypothetical one. An accredited online program carries identical standing on a transcript, since accreditation attaches to the school and the program rather than to the delivery format. What a campus adds is proximity to the employers that school recruits into, and at $14,897 in-state, University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth is what that proximity costs at the low end here. The honest comparison is local access against the cost of being here.

Data Sources