Acceptance Rate
5%
Avg. SAT
1580
75th percentile
“Ivy League pioneer of the Open Curriculum, where students declare concentrations instead of majors and skip mandatory core courses.”
Providence, RI
Location
Midsize City
Campus Setting
Brown traces its roots to 1764, when Baptists established the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, the seventh-oldest institution of higher education in the U.S. and the first Ivy to welcome students of all religious backgrounds. Nestled in Providence, a midsize city with gritty charm, performing arts vibrancy, and a renowned culinary scene, the campus offers a compact Collegiate Gothic core amid urban energy. Independent thinkers who crave flexibility and self-direction flourish here, charting unconventional paths without rigid requirements, while students who prefer structured guidance or hand-holding might find the freedom overwhelming.
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Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Test Policy
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Average GPA
Application Fee
Academics
Student-Faculty Ratio
Programs Offered
Full-Time Faculty
Women Faculty
Research Spending
Degree Levels Offered
In Brown's classrooms, you'll dive into small seminars—thanks to a 6-to-1 student-faculty ratio—where professors push discussions rather than deliver lectures, fostering debate across disciplines under the Open Curriculum's banner. You concentrate in one or more fields, from Applied Math to Contemplative Studies, with undergrads often joining labs early in areas like neuroscience, public health, or computer science. Research thrives, with opportunities like the Royce Fellowship funding summer projects abroad, though popular concentrations fill quickly and large intro classes in sciences can feel impersonal before you reach upper levels.
Student Body
Total Enrollment
7,910 undergrad • 4,046 grad
Undergraduate
Graduate
International
White
32%
Black / African American
8%
Hispanic / Latino
11%
Asian
17%
Other / Multi-racial
32%
Campus Life
Campus Setting
Providence, RI
Varsity Athletics
NCAA Athletics
A typical week blends late-night study sessions on the Quiet Green, Thayer Street coffee runs, and evenings at house parties or a cappella shows, with over 400 clubs spanning improv troupes to ultimate frisbee. Residential life centers on 25 dorms and program houses where 80% of undergrads live, some themed around languages or outdoors pursuits, creating tight-knit communities without heavy Greek influence. Providence's walkable vibe invites off-campus eats at Federal Hill or RISD Museum visits, but the city's winter chill and higher Northeast living costs test resolve alongside the lively but fragmented social scene.
Housing
On-Campus Housing
Housing Capacity
Meal Plan Available
Average Room & Board
Athletics
Athletic Association
The Ivy League
ROTC & Veteran Support
Army
Yes
Navy
Yes
Air Force
Yes
Veteran’s Programs Available
Yellow Ribbon Program (Post-9/11 GI Bill)
Yes
Dedicated point of contact for veteran support services
Yes
Recognized student veteran organization
Yes
Member of DoD Voluntary Educational Partnership MOU
Yes
Cost & Aid
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
Room & Board
Estimated Cost
Financial Aid
Students Receiving Aid
Receiving Pell Grants
Average Grant
Average Federal Loan
Net Annual Cost by Household Income
Household Income
Avg. Net Cost
$0 – $30K
$4,849
$30K – $48K
$5,870
$48K – $75K
$8,446
$75K – $110K
$21,773
$110K+
$43,008
Apply for Financial Aid
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Costs shown are before financial aid. Most students receive some form of aid. Complete the FAFSA to see what you qualify for.
Outcomes & Earnings
Retention Rate
99%
4 Years Graduation Rate
88%
6 Years Graduation Rate
96%
Median 10-Year Earnings
$93,487
99% of first-time, full-time students complete their freshman year at Brown University and return in the fall. 88% of first-time, full-time students graduate in 4 years, and 96% graduate within 6 years.
Graduation Rate
4-year grads
88%
4-5 years
8%
6-8 years
1%
Non-grad
3%
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Key Statistics
Type
Private
Tuition
$62,680
Acceptance
5%
Undergrads
7,910
4-Year Grad Rate
88%
Endowment
$6.1B
Providence, RI 02912