A
Excellent
Score: 83/100
Overall (traditional)
A+
Outcome Rating
97/100 · earnings-weighted

Brown University

4-Year Private Non-Profit
📍 Providence, Rhode Island 02912
Brown University campus, Providence, RI
Brown University campus, Providence, RI. Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Dale182 assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Outcomes
A+
98/100
Affordability
F
26/100
Resources
A+
97/100
Experience
A+
98/100
Prestige
A+
94/100

Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology

Quick Stats

11,516
Total Enrollment
96%
Graduation Rate
99%
Retention Rate
6.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
5%
Acceptance Rate
N/A
Avg Net Price

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at Brown University, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$93,487
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$79,131
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$11,428
Median debt at graduation
95.7%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
1,546
Average SAT
34
Median ACT
13.8%
Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 12% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 97th percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (RI wage index 1.03). This drives the Outcome Rating.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.

Earnings by Major at Brown University

Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.

Major1 yr after4 yrs aftervs. nationalRank (pay)Rank (wage-adj.)Median debt
Computer Science$151,065$214,479+100%#7 of 349#3$11,500
Applied Mathematics$99,193$157,822+72%#2 of 45#1$10,000
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations$67,900$125,955+106%#2 of 67#1$18,000
Economics$72,064$124,508+51%#22 of 368#24$13,000
Engineering$86,416$108,550+21%#6 of 57#9$15,000
Public Policy Analysis$58,161$94,962+29%#4 of 34#6$10,000
Biomedical/Medical Engineering$74,180$91,674-2%#71 of 118#69—
International Relations and National Security Studies$46,284$86,780+30%#11 of 118#9$12,000
History$42,296$85,520+69%#8 of 459#8$13,491
Political Science and Government$54,634$85,388+35%#30 of 565#28$14,481
Public Health$75,909$74,496+27%#18 of 215#19$11,760
Urban Studies/Affairs$48,731$73,905+18%#5 of 30#4$14,000
English Language and Literature$50,437$73,497+51%#8 of 576#7$12,974
Human Biology$42,162$69,802+8%#4 of 9#4$16,500
Research and Experimental Psychology$39,493$63,415+14%#27 of 82#18$15,110
Fine and Studio Arts$23,180$60,985+47%#7 of 423#5$17,300
Biology$36,084$60,508+6%#316 of 841#364$13,000
Area Studies$39,165$59,808+6%#30 of 70#29$12,000
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology$43,637————$12,787
Education$33,866—————
Neurobiology and Neurosciences$33,529————$9,250
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies$30,741————$10,500
Communication and Media Studies$23,738————$10,000
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies$17,527—————

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.

For parents & investors

The Brown University Town Property Report

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🏆 Where Brown University Ranks

Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.

🥈
Engineering, General
of 100 schools
🥉
Research Methodology and Quantitative Methods
of 8 schools
#5
Applied Mathematics, General
of 33 schools
#8
International Relations and Affairs
of 92 schools
#11
Physics, General
of 100 schools
#12
English Language and Literature, General
of 100 schools
#13
Computer Science
of 100 schools
#15
Medicine
of 100 schools
#16
Econometrics and Quantitative Economics
of 100 schools
#16
Neuroscience
of 100 schools

Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $65,656 $65,656
Room $9,650
Board $6,948
Total Cost (On-Campus) $87,648 $87,648

Financial Aid

61%
Receive Any Aid
14%
Receive Pell Grants
10%
Take Out Loans
N/A
Avg Net Price

Student Demographics

11,516
Total Students
52%
Women
95%
Traditional Age (18-24)

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 32%
Hispanic 11%
Black 8%
Asian 17%
Two or More 6%
Non-Resident 20%

🏠 Living Arrangements

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 93%
Hybrid (Some Online) 3%
Fully Online 4%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 95%
25-64 (Adult) 2%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Brown University?
Brown University has an acceptance rate of 5%. This makes it a highly selective institution where admission is very competitive.
How much does it cost to attend Brown University?
Tuition at Brown University is $65,656 for in-state students and $65,656 for out-of-state students .
What is the graduation rate at Brown University?
The graduation rate at Brown University is 96%. This is considered an excellent graduation rate, indicating strong student success and support systems.
Is Brown University a good school?
Brown University has a Repit College Score of 83/100 (Grade: A). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (A+): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (F): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (A+): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (A+): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (A+): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend Brown University?
Brown University has a total enrollment of 11,516 students. Most students (95%) are traditional college-age (18-24).

Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Brown University — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →

🎓 Similar Colleges to Brown University

Compare with other 4-Year private non-profit institutions of similar size.

B
Providence College
Providence, RI · 4,635 students
C+
Bryant University
Smithfield, RI · 3,592 students
C
Roger Williams University
Bristol, RI · 4,344 students
C
Johnson & Wales University-Providence
Providence, RI · 4,372 students
B+
Rhode Island School of Design
Providence, RI · 2,540 students
B
University of Rhode Island
Kingston, RI · 17,351 students

Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology