Admit rate has ranged 5%–8% over the last 5 years. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Brown University is the Ivy League's iconoclast, where the Open Curriculum lets students design their own academic paths without core requirements. With a fiercely selective 5.4% acceptance rate and a student body described as 'intellectually entrepreneurial,' Brown pairs rigorous academics with a laid-back, collaborative vibe. Its no-loan financial aid policy and 96% graduation rate underscore a commitment to accessibility and student success.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Letters of recommendation
College-prep program
Considered (not required)
Grade point average
Class rank
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
TOEFL (non-native English)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
7,226
In-state tuition
$71,412
Out-of-state tuition
$71,412
Acceptance Rate
5.4%
Graduation Rate
96%
Signature Feature
Open Curriculum (no core requirements)
Financial Aid Policy
100% need met, no loans
Student-Faculty Ratio
6:1
Median Early-Career Salary
$93,487
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$93,487
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
3.7×
Median debt at graduation
$11,428
Graduation rate
96%
First-year retention
99%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
87%
Pell (lower-income) share
41%
First-generation share
17%
Endowment / student
$929,807
Financial health
3.0 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Computer Science$153,718
Applied Mathematics$88,506
Engineering, General$75,921
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations$73,769
Economics$63,302
Political Science and Government$53,108
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
11
Per 1,000 students
1.52
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
91
Summer high
82°F
Winter low
26°F
Annual rain
52.9"
Annual snow
27.9"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
1,003
Scholarly works
137,939
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Share of this school’s graduates who go on to earn research doctorates (2010–20), by national rank and per-capita yield (NSF institutional-yield ratio). A signal of a research-oriented student culture — not a causal promise, since it partly reflects who enrolls. Only top producers appear. Source: NSF NCSES, Baccalaureate Origins of U.S. Research Doctorate Recipients.
Economic mobility
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Brown University?
Brown University's acceptance rate is approximately 5% (Providence, RI), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Brown University?
Admitted students at Brown University typically score 1510–1580 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Brown University cost?
At Brown University, the average net price (after aid) is about $25,184 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Brown University?
Brown University enrolls approximately 7,226 undergraduate students.
Where is Brown University located?
Brown University is located in Providence, RI.
Admissions
Brown's admissions process is among the most selective in the world, with a 5.4% Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. for the Class of 2026 from 51,316 applicants. The middle 50% SAT range for admitted students is 1510–1560, while the ACT range is 34–35. Notably, 89% of enrolled students scored within the top percentile of test-takers. Brown does not track demonstrated interest, focusing instead on academic excellence (average unweighted GPA ~3.9) and intellectual curiosity. Early Decision applicants have a slightly higher acceptance rate at 14.4%.
Brown's signature Open Curriculum—implemented in 1969—eliminates general education requirements, allowing students to design their own course of study. Unlike peers with core curricula, Brown has no mandatory classes outside a student's concentration (major). This fosters intense academic freedom, with students often combining disparate fields (e.g., computer science and poetry). The university is particularly strong in:
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
International Relations and National Security Studies
$50,105
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$47,260
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Mobility rate
1.5%
Bottom → top quintile
53%
From bottom quintile
3%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Applied Mathematics (one of the first programs of its kind)
Public Health (home to the Ivy League's first school of public health)
Literary Arts (notable for its creative writing faculty)
Pass/fail grading is widely used, encouraging intellectual risk-taking. The 6:1 student-faculty ratio supports close mentorship.
Brown's campus culture is famously low-key compared to peer Ivies, with students describing it as 'down to earth' and 'chill.' Social life revolves around small house parties and student-group events rather than Greek life (only 12% of students join fraternities/sororities). The vibe is collaborative rather than competitive, with traditions like Spring Weekend (a music festival) and Midnight Organ Recitals adding whimsy. Providence offers indie music venues and coffee shops, while Boston is an hour away. Students praise the lack of pretension—'you can wear pajamas to class and debate Kant over vegan tacos at the Ratty (cafeteria).'
Brown's no-loan policy ensures 100% of demonstrated financial need is met via grants, not debt. For 2023–24:
Total Cost of attendanceThe full estimated yearly cost of a college: tuition, fees, housing, food, books, and other expenses, before any financial aid.: $84,828 (tuition: $65,656; room/board: $16,432)
Average Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. after aid: $26,776
44% of undergrads receive Need-based aidFinancial aid awarded based on your family's ability to pay, as measured by forms like the FAFSA, rather than on achievements.
Families earning <$60K pay $0 in tuition
The MyinTuition calculator provides quick estimates, while detailed net price tools account for home equity and non-custodial parents.
Brown is the anti-Ivy Ivy—a place where a neuroscience major can take sculpture classes guilt-free, where 'pre-professional' isn't a dirty word but doesn't dominate the culture. Its Open Curriculum attracts self-directed learners who bristle at requirements (one alum famously designed a major in 'Archaeology of Outer Space'). The combination of academic rigor (94% of classes have <50 students) and Providence's quirky charm creates an environment where intellectual curiosity thrives without cutthroat competition. As one Reddit user put it: 'At other Ivies, people ask what you do. At Brown, they ask why you do it.'
Brown University logo · sourceCampus Tours and Information Sessions | Undergraduate Admission | Brown University · sourceBrown University - Profile, Rankings and Data | US News Best Colleges · sourceVisit Brown | Brown University · source
