Brown University Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)

Last updated: June 29, 2026 Source: College Scorecard

Brown University is a highly selective private research university in Providence, Rhode Island, serving roughly 7,226 students. Admission is highly selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 5.39% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $93,487 among students who received federal aid.

Key Facts

  • 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $71,412
  • 2024 Average Net Price: $25,184 After Financial Aid
  • 2024 Acceptance Rate: 5.39% Highly Selective
  • 2024 Enrolled Students: 7,226 99.4% Full-Time
  • 2024 Graduation Rate: 95.69%
  • Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity
  • First-Generation Students: 17.0%
  • Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 4.7% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
  • Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 2.2% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
  • Full-Time Faculty: 92.4%
  • Average SAT Score: 1546
  • Undergraduate Enrollment: 8,534
  • Applicants (IPEDS): 51,316
  • Room & Board: $17,444 annual estimate

Brown University: what the data shows

Common questions about Brown University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.

Where is Brown University?

Brown University is located in Providence, RI (ZIP 02912).

NCES locale classification: Suburb.

Is Brown University public or private?

Brown University is a Private Non-profit institution.

How much does Brown University cost?

Published tuition: $71,412.

Average net price after aid: $25,184.

Family income bandAvg. net price
Family income $0–$30,000$-420
$30,001–$48,000$2,031
$48,001–$75,000$5,858
$75,001–$110,000$16,219
$110,001+$44,937

Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $285,648.

How hard is it to get into Brown University?

Admission rate: 5.39%.

Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1546 and midpoint ACT 34.

Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.

How big is Brown University?

Total enrollment: 7,226 students.

Undergraduate enrollment: 8,534 students.

Graduate enrollment: 4,046 students.

About 99% enroll full-time in our extract.

What is the graduation rate at Brown University?

150%-time completion rate: 95.69%.

First-year retention: 98.8%.

What do graduates of Brown University earn?

Median earnings: $79,131 six years after entry; $93,487 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).

How much debt do students have?

Median federal loan debt among completers: $11,428.

13.84% of students receive Pell grants.

What is Brown University known for?

Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:

See ROI & Programs for more.

Is Brown University a good school?

We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 5.39%; completion rate 95.69%; median earnings $93,487 at 10 years; net price $25,184. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.

Tuition & Cost

Tuition Costs

$71,412
2024 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2024, the cost of tuition at Brown University was $71,412.

Tuition comparison with similar institutions.

Average Net Price

$25,184
2024 Value

In 2024 Brown University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $25,184.

Average net price comparison with similar institutions.

Total Cost of Attendance

$100,736 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost

$25,184 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)

$285,648 4-Year Tuition

$17,444 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)

$88,856 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)

$355,424 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)

4-year total cost breakdown for Brown University.

Financial Aid by Income Level

13.84% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

9.59% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

Financial aid distribution by income level.

Student Loan Default Rate

0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)

The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Brown University was 0.00%.

Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.

Tuition tracker

Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Brown University in that year.

Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).

Year In-state tuition & fees Out-of-state tuition & fees Average net price
2013$45,612$45,612$25,005
2014$47,434$47,434$24,854
2015$49,346$49,346$27,496
2016$51,366$51,366$28,629
2017$53,419$53,419$30,205
2018$55,466$55,466$31,685
2019$58,404$58,404$29,392
2020$60,696$60,696$29,544
2021$62,304$62,304$26,308
2022$65,146$65,146$27,157
2023$68,230$68,230$26,572

Sticker tuition and net price over time

Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.

College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).

Net price by family income

Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).

Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.

Acceptance Rate & Admissions

Acceptance Rate

5.39% Acceptance Rate

51,316 Total Applicants

2,686 Students Admitted

1,695 First-Time Students Enrolled

63.10% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)

This institution is extremely selective, accepting fewer than 1 in 10 applicants.

Acceptance rate compared to national average.

Test Scores

SAT Average: 1546

ACT Average: 34

Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.

Academic Requirements

Estimated GPA Range: 3.9 - 4.0

Estimated Median GPA: 4.00

Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.

Estimated GPA and test score ranges.

Enrollment & Student Demographics

Brown University reported total enrollment of about 7,226 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 50% male and 50% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (32.9%), Asian (22.9%), and Non-Resident Alien (12.7%). About 13.84% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 17.0% of students are first-generation college students.

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

99.4% Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Brown University in 2024 is 7,226 students.

Undergraduate enrollment is about 8,534 students. Graduate enrollment is about 4,046 students.

Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.

Retention Rate over Time

98.8%
2024 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.

Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 32.9%.

Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).

College Scorecard student demographics.

Graduates & Outcomes

Time to Complete

77.11% 100% Completion Time

95.69% 150% Completion Time

In 2024, 77.11% of students graduating from Brown University completed their program within 100% "normal time".

Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.

Completions by Sex (Top Programs)

  • Computer Science: 67% male / 33% female
  • Econometrics and Quantitative Economics: 59% male / 41% female
  • Engineering, General: 57% male / 43% female

IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).

Completions by Race & Ethnicity

Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.

Summed across program completion records in our extract.

ROI & Programs

Financial value and program information for Brown University.

Return on Investment

$11,428 Median Student Debt

$93,487 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)

12.22% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio

828.04% Return on Investment

1.2 years Estimated Payback Period

Financial value analysis for Brown University.

Top Programs by Completions

10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 102 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).

1. Computer Science: 448 completions

2. Econometrics and Quantitative Economics: 264 completions

3. Engineering, General: 209 completions

4. Applied Mathematics, General: 201 completions

5. Research Methodology and Quantitative Methods: 189 completions

6. International Relations and Affairs: 178 completions

7. Medicine: 134 completions

8. Biology/Biological Sciences, General: 112 completions

9. English Language and Literature, General: 99 completions

Most popular programs at Brown University.

Employment Outcomes

Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.

Earnings outcomes for Brown University graduates.

Operations

Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Brown University from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).

Instructional Resources

  • Full-time faculty share: 92.4%
  • Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $17,839
  • Instructional expenditure per FTE: $42,520

Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.

Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.

About

Brown University is a private non-profit institution located in Providence, RI, classified as Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Computer Science, Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, Engineering, General. Enrollment is approximately 7,226 students. Student body composition includes White (32.9%), Asian (22.9%), Non-Resident Alien (12.7%). It is highly selective, with an admission rate of 5.39%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1546. The 150%-time completion rate is 95.69%. Approximately 13.84% of students receive Pell Grants. About 17.0% of students are first-generation college students.

Institution Type

Private Non-profit

Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity

Location

Providence, RI 02912

Region: New England

Insights and Analysis

Exceptional Graduation Rate: With a 95.69% graduation rate, Brown University demonstrates strong student retention and completion. This rate significantly exceeds the national average, indicating effective academic support and student services.

Strong Career Outcomes: Brown University graduates report median earnings of $93,487 ten years after entry, placing them among the higher-earning college graduates nationally. This strong earnings potential reflects both the quality of education and the career opportunities available to graduates.

Diverse Program Offerings: With over 102 distinct degree programs, Brown University provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Brown University located?

Brown University is located in Providence, RI.

What is Brown University's acceptance rate?

The acceptance rate at Brown University is 5.4% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 51,316 applicants and 2,686 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.

How much does Brown University cost?

Reported tuition is $71,412 and average net price is $25,184 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $17,444 annually.

What is the student body demographics at Brown University?

Brown University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 8,534 students, White (32.9%), Asian (22.9%) in federal College Scorecard data.

How many first-generation students attend Brown University?

About 17.0% of students at Brown University are first-generation college students.

What test scores do students need for Brown University?

Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Brown University reports midpoint SAT about 1546 and midpoint ACT about 34.

What do graduates of Brown University earn?

Median earnings are $79,131 six years after entry and $93,487 ten years after entry.

What is the graduation rate at Brown University?

The 150%-time completion rate is 95.7% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.

How much debt do Brown University students have?

Median federal loan debt among completers is $11,428.

Is Brown University public or private?

Brown University is a private nonprofit institution located in Providence, RI.

Is Brown University an HBCU?

No. Brown University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.

Is Brown University a tribal college?

No. Brown University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.

Data Sources

This page uses data from the following sources:

  • Providence, Rhode Island city profile
  • New England regional profile
  • All state profiles
  • Regional profiles
  • National benchmarks
  • School directory
  • All schools in Rhode Island

    • Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.

    Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.

    Methodology

    Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.

    All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.