Brown University
A good fit for high-achieving applicants seeking a top-tier program and students focused on high earning potential. no major red flags in the data. graduates earn a median of $89,100 within 10 years; exceptional 96% graduation rate.
About This School
Brown University is a private nonprofit institution located in Providence, Rhode Island with approximately 7,226 undergraduate students enrolled. Admissions are highly selective, with an acceptance rate of 5%. The average net price after financial aid is $25,184 per year. The graduation rate is 96%, and the typical graduate earns $89,100 within 10 years of enrollment.
Brown University is a private Ivy League research university in the College Hill neighborhood of Providence, Rhode Island, United States. The university is the seventh-oldest institution of higher education in the United States, founded in 1764 as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. One of nine colonial colleges chartered before the American Revolution, it was the first American college to codify that admission and instruction of students was to be equal regardless of the religious affiliation of students.
This is a strong option for self-directed students who thrive with academic freedom — Brown's open curriculum is genuinely distinctive, not just a talking point, and a 99% freshman retention rate suggests students who get in tend to love it. At a 5% acceptance rate, the real question is whether you can get in at all, but if you do, the financial picture is surprisingly manageable: median debt of just $10,000 at graduation against median earnings of $89,100 a decade out is one of the better return-on-investment stories among Ivies. The main concern isn't outcomes — it's access, so apply if it fits, but build a realistic list around it.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 29% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
Brown University graduates earn most above the national rate in Computer Science ($214,479 vs $107,009 nationally).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | 236 | $214,479 | $107,009 | +$107,470 |
| Economics | 179 | $124,508 | $82,686 | +$41,822 |
| Applied Mathematics | 173 | $157,822 | $91,532 | +$66,290 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | 137 | $86,780 | $66,596 | +$20,184 |
| Biology, General | 110 | $60,508 | $57,214 | +$3,294 |
| Engineering, General | 80 | $108,550 | $89,359 | +$19,191 |
| English Language and Literature, General | 77 | $73,497 | $48,590 | +$24,907 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 65 | $63,415 | $55,695 | +$7,720 |
| History | 63 | $85,520 | $50,680 | +$34,840 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 59 | $60,985 | $41,367 | +$19,618 |
| Political Science and Government | 58 | $85,388 | $63,293 | +$22,095 |
| Human Biology | 53 | $69,802 | $64,732 | +$5,070 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Strong return. Graduates earn well above their debt load.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (7,226 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
Schools Like This in Rhode Island
Johnson & Wales University-Providence
Providence, RI · Private nonprofit
Roger Williams University
Bristol, RI · Private nonprofit
Providence College
Providence, RI · Private nonprofit
Bryant University
Smithfield, RI · Private nonprofit
Johnson & Wales University-Online
Providence, RI · Private nonprofit
Rhode Island College
Providence, RI · Public
See How Colleges Compare
Brown University is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Brown University?
Brown University has an acceptance rate of 5%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is Brown University hard to get into?
Yes. With an acceptance rate of 5%, Brown University is highly selective, so strong grades, a rigorous course load, and a standout application matter.
How much does Brown University cost?
The average net price at Brown University is about $25,184 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at Brown University?
Brown University has a graduation rate of 96%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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