Brown University

Providence, RI · Private nonprofit · Midsize city · Website

Admission rate: 5.4%; Extremely selective
Average net price: $26,976; per year, after aid
Graduation rate: 96%
Median earnings: $99,974; 10 years after enrolling

Brown University is a private nonprofit college in Providence, RI with 7,226 undergraduates. It admits 5.4% of applicants, and admitted students average 1546 on the SAT. The average net price after aid is $26,976 per year ($39 for families earning under $30,000). 96% of students graduate, and graduates earn a median of $99,974 ten years after enrolling.

private nonprofit college

Admissions

Admission rate: 5.4%; Fall 2024
Testing policy: Test optional; Fall 2024
Applicants: 51,316; Fall 2023
Admitted: 2,686; Fall 2023
Yield: 63%; of admitted students enrolled

Middle 50% of admitted students (Fall 2024). A quarter scored below the band and a quarter above.

SAT Reading & Writing740–780

200800

SAT Math770–800

200800

ACT Composite34–35

136

What Brown University looks at

As reported by the college to IPEDS (Fall 2023).

High school recordRequired
High school GPAConsidered
College-prep courseworkRequired
Class rankConsidered
Essay or personal statementRequired
RecommendationsRequired
Demonstrated competenciesNot considered
Legacy statusConsidered
Work experienceConsidered
English proficiency testConsidered

Cost

Cost of attendance: $91,676; sticker price, per year
Tuition & fees: $74,650

Net price by family income

Average yearly cost after grants and scholarships for students receiving federal aid.

$0–30k$39
$30–48k$228
$48–75k$10,079
$75–110k$24,827
$110k+$48,459

Get a personal estimate with Brown University's net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation rate: 96%
Freshman retention: 99%
Median earnings: $99,974; 10 yrs after enrolling
Median debt: $14,567; at graduation

Students

Undergraduates: 7,226
Student–faculty ratio: 6:1
Receive Pell grants: 17%

White33%
Hispanic12%
Black8%
Asian23%

Brown University FAQ

What is Brown University's acceptance rate?+

Brown University admits 5.4% of applicants, which makes it extremely selective.

What SAT score do you need for Brown University?+

The middle 50% of admitted students scored 740–780 on SAT Reading and Writing and 770–800 on SAT Math; the average total is 1546.

What ACT score do you need for Brown University?+

The middle 50% ACT composite range for admitted students is 34–35.

Is Brown University test optional?+

Test optional (considered if submitted).

How many students apply to Brown University?+

In Fall 2023, 51,316 students applied to Brown University and 2,686 were admitted; 1,695 enrolled.

Does Brown University consider legacy status?+

Yes. Brown University reported that legacy status is considered in admissions (Fall 2023).

Does Brown University require an essay?+

Brown University reported that an essay or personal statement is required for admission (Fall 2023).

How much does Brown University cost?+

The sticker cost of attendance is $91,676 per year, but the average net price after grants and scholarships is $26,976.

What is Brown University's graduation rate?+

96% of full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.

Sources

Admission rate, test scores, cost, students, and outcomes: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (Most Recent Institution-Level Data), released 2026-10-15. Admissions figures are for Fall 2024, costs for 2024-25, and earnings are measured in 2023.
Applicants, admitted, yield, and admission factors: IPEDS Admissions survey (ADM2023), Fall 2023.
IPEDS unit ID 217156 · How we use this data