Providence College is a primarily undergraduate, liberal arts, Catholic institution of higher education. Committed to fostering academic excellence through the sciences and humanities, the College provides a variety of opportunities for intellectual, social, moral, and spiritual growth in a supportive environment.

The College actively cultivates intellectual, spiritual, ethical, and aesthetic values within the context of the Judaeo-Christian heritage. These values are nurtured by the unique tradition of the Dominican Order which emphasizes quality teaching and scholarship.

Providence College recognizes the unity of the human family that proceeds from its one Creator. It therefore encourages the deepest respect for the essential dignity, freedom, and equality of every person and welcomes qualified women and men from all religious, racial, and ethnic backgrounds. Providence College prepares its students to be responsible and productive citizens to serve in their own society and the greater world community.

Before it was a place name, "providence" was a theological term denoting God's loving plan to bring each created being to its proper fulfillment. Thus the name Providence College does not merely reflect the location of the school, but rather its deepest mission: to provide an environment where each person created in the image and likeness of God comes to understand his or her identity and role in the plan of God.

Providence College's current 105-acre campus has undergone extensive renovations over the years. It has continued to evolve in recent years with additional campus infrastructure improvements.

Providence enjoys a reputation as one of America’s most desirable cities. In 2000, Money magazine’s “Best Places” issue rated Providence the best place to live in the Northeast. The city is home to eight colleges and universities, now including this metropolitan center location of Roger Williams University. The 26,000 students who study in the city each year enjoy the cultural, recreational, and shopping opportunities that contribute to Providence’s reputation.