Brandeis University

Waltham, MA · NortheastQuad's selectivityVery selective

Known forTop test scoresVery diverseHigh graduation rateTest-optional heavy

Admissions · Fall 2024

1 in 2 applicants admitted

Brandeis admits about 1 in 2 applicants (41%). That puts it in the "Very selective" tier, more selective than 89% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

41%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityVery selective

Applied

10,462

Admitted

4,237

Yield

17%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

1390–1520

10001600

ACT middle 50%

31–34

1836

Applications +5% since fall 2014 · admit rate 35% → 41%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A small campus of 3,618 undergrads, where 15% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

3.6K

undergrads · larger than 72% of colleges

Diversity index

0.75

Pell Grant

15%

below the median

First generation

16%

below the median

Small cityNCAA D-III · University Athletic AssociationROTCStudy abroad

More diverse · index 0.70 → 0.75 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Biology/Biological Sciences, General (11% of graduates). 10 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 76% of colleges. 74% of faculty are full-time. Spends $21,670 a year on instruction per student.

10 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 76% of colleges

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $59,794 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $35.5K more than the national median. The 62% who received grants paid $43,550 on average; the other 38% paid the full sticker price of $86,242.

31%

$59.8K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $35.5K above the national median

Full price: $86,242 a year; tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid: Published data end at $110K; use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Merit aid: 24% · avg $25K; of first-years got a grant without federal aid (a proxy: at most colleges that's merit aid)

Aid generosity

Moderate

grants cover 31% of full price

Federal loans

28%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits

Cost rising · +10% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $77,231 ten years after enrolling, more than at 89% of colleges; 88% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 3.1 years of that salary.

88%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$77.2K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$25.6K

≈ $272/month for 10 years

Retention

87%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 91% → 86% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 7% after inflation, and what the average first-year paid moved with it. Applications rose 5% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 35% to 41%.

Cost
Rising
+10% after inflation
Applications
Steady
+5%
Selectivity
Less selective
admit rate 35% → 41%
Diversity
More diverse
index 0.70 → 0.75

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

University of Rochester

42% admit · SAT 1455 · 5.9K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresAlso Northeast

Compare side-by-side

Dartmouth College

6.0% admit · SAT 1500 · 4.5K undergrads

Similar scoresSimilar sizeAlso Northeast

Compare side-by-side

Case Western Reserve University

37% admit · SAT 1485 · 6.4K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresAlso private

Compare side-by-side

Babson College

17% admit · SAT 1460 · 2.7K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size

Compare side-by-side

Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

1
IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
2
College Scorecard
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12
3
IPEDS Admissions survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
4
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
5
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
6
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
7
IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12
8
College Scorecard Field of Study data
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
9
IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
10
IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
11
Common Data Set
Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
12
IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12
13
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
14
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
15
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
16
IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
17
IPEDS Outcome Measures survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

IPEDS unit ID 165015 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything