Quad

Brown University

Providence, RIQuad's selectivityUltra selective
Known forUltra-selectiveTop test scoresDraws students nationallyBig endowment per studentVery diverseHigh earnersFew students borrowHigh graduation rate
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

1 in 19 applicants admitted

Brown admits about 1 in 19 applicants (5.4%). That puts it in the "Ultra selective" tier, more selective than 99% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

5.4%

5.4%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityUltra selective

Applied

48,904

Admitted

2,638

Yield

65%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

1510–1580

10001600
ACT middle 50%

34–35

1836
Applications +61% since fall 2014 · admit rate 8.7% → 5.4%Over time

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

Students

Who's on campus

A medium campus of 7,226 undergrads, where 14% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

7.2K

undergrads · larger than 84% of colleges

Diversity index

0.79

Pell Grant

14%

below the median

First generation

17%

below the median

Midsize cityFirst-years live on campusNCAA D-I FCS · Ivy GroupROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research
More diverse · index 0.75 → 0.79 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Computer Science (13% of graduates). 6 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 95% of colleges. 92% of faculty are full-time. Spends $42,520 a year on instruction per student.

6 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 95% of colleges

Most popular major

Computer Science

13% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Computer Science

$214.5K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

92%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$42.5K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $55,485 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $31.2K more than the national median. The 52% who received grants paid $26,256 on average; the other 48% paid the full sticker price of $87,648.

37%

$55.5K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $31.2K above the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price
$87,648 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
Aid generosity

Moderate

grants cover 37% of full price

Federal loans

10%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost steady · −0% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $93,487 ten years after enrolling, more than at 97% of colleges; 96% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 2.4 years of that salary.

96%

96%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$93.5K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$11.4K

≈ $121/month for 10 years

Retention

99%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 96% → 96% 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 10% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid held about steady, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 61% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 8.7% to 5.4%.

  • Cost

    Steady

    0% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +61%

  • Selectivity

    More selective

    admit rate 9% → 5%

  • Diversity

    More diverse

    index 0.75 → 0.79

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

Duke University

4.7% admit · SAT 1540 · 6.4K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
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University of Chicago

4.5% admit · SAT 1530 · 7.6K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
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Carnegie Mellon University

11% admit · SAT 1535 · 7.3K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
Compare side-by-side

Harvard University

4.2% admit · SAT 1505 · 7.6K 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. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 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. 3
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  4. 4
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    Brown University (2026–27)

    Brown University · 2026–27 · retrieved 2026-10-10

  12. 12
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  19. 19
    Brown University (2026)

    Brown University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 217156 · 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