Johnson & Wales University-Providence Acceptance Rate
Providence, Rhode Island · Private not-for-profit · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 8,841
- Admitted
- 7,400
- Yield
- 14.3%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Johnson & Wales University-Providence's acceptance rate has risen from 81.1% in 2014–15 to 83.7% in 2023–24. Applications fell from 11,899 to 8,841 (-26%) over that period.
Its 83.7% rate makes Johnson & Wales University-Providence more selective than about 34% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 10 tracked Rhode Island schools, it is more selective than about 10%.
In 2023–24, women were admitted at a higher rate (85.4% for women vs 80.6% for men, a 4.8-point gap). Johnson & Wales University-Providence has been test-optional since 2022–23. Of admitted students, 14.3% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 11,899 | 9,656 | 81.1% | 1,952 |
| 2015–16 | 11,971 | 9,807 | 81.9% | 2,006 |
| 2016–17 | 16,525 | 14,608 | 88.4% | 2,233 |
| 2017–18 | 14,372 | 12,580 | 87.5% | 1,625 |
| 2018–19 | 11,802 | 10,740 | 91% | 1,497 |
| 2019–20 | 11,668 | 10,819 | 92.7% | 1,479 |
| 2020–21 | 10,145 | 8,776 | 86.5% | 1,219 |
| 2021–22 | 9,254 | 8,182 | 88.4% | 1,121 |
| 2022–23 | 8,281 | 6,909 | 83.4% | 994 |
| 2023–24 | 8,841 | 7,400 | 83.7% | 1,056 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 5,731 | 4,893 | 85.4% |
| Men | 3,106 | 2,504 | 80.6% |
| Unknown | 4 | 3 | 75% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 500–630 | 15% |
| SAT Math | 470–600 | |
| ACT Composite | 20–26 | 2% |
How Johnson & Wales compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Johnson & Wales University-Providence's acceptance rate?
Johnson & Wales University-Providence's acceptance rate is 83.7% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (7,400 admitted of 8,841 applicants).
Is Johnson & Wales University-Providence test optional?
Johnson & Wales University-Providence is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Johnson & Wales University-Providence?
Johnson & Wales University-Providence received 8,841 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 7,400.
What SAT score do you need for Johnson & Wales University-Providence?
Admitted students at Johnson & Wales University-Providence typically scored 500–630 on SAT Reading/Writing and 470–600 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is Johnson & Wales University-Providence getting harder to get into?
Johnson & Wales University-Providence has become easier to get into: its acceptance rate went from 81.1% in 2014–15 to 83.7% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: https://www.jwu.edu/campuses/providence/.