Brown University
Private nonprofit four-year university in Providence, RI that costs an average of $26,976 a year after financial aid, admits 5.4% of applicants and graduates 96% of full-time students.
Net price / year
$26,976
Acceptance rate
5.4%
Graduation rate
96%
Earnings after 10 yrs
$99,974
Private nonprofitMidsize city7,226 undergraduates
Cost of Brown University
| Total cost of attendance (per year) | $91,676 |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $74,650 |
| Housing and food (on campus) | $18,514 |
| Books and supplies | $0 |
| Average net price after aid | $26,976 |
Net price by family income
| Family income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0–30,000 | $39 |
| $30,001–48,000 | $228 |
| $48,001–75,000 | $10,079 |
| $75,001–110,000 | $24,827 |
| $110,001+ | $48,459 |
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships. Get your own estimate with Brown University's net price calculator ↗.
Admissions
| Acceptance rate | 5.4% |
|---|---|
| Average SAT | 1,546 |
| SAT reading (25th–75th percentile) | 740–780 |
| SAT math (25th–75th percentile) | 770–800 |
| ACT composite (25th–75th percentile) | 34–35 |
| Test scores | Considered but not required |
Graduation, earnings and debt
| Graduation rate | 96% |
|---|---|
| First-year retention | 99% |
| Median earnings 6 years after enrolling | $80,094 |
| Median earnings 10 years after enrolling | $99,974 |
| Rank in Rhode Island (earnings) | 2nd of 10 similar colleges |
| Median debt of graduates | $14,567 |
| Typical monthly loan payment | $166 (10-year plan) |
| Students with Pell grants | 17% |
| Students with federal loans | 11% |
Majors and programs at Brown University
Earnings one year after graduation and median debt, by program. Click a program for details and comparisons.
Bachelor's degree programs (59)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | 523 | $141,816 | $15,000 |
| Applied Mathematics | 390 | $135,449 | $8,125 |
| Economics | 409 | $108,964 | $12,000 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | 42 | $93,627 | — |
| Engineering | 160 | $87,175 | $19,000 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | 315 | $67,921 | $11,750 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 105 | $63,016 | — |
| Political Science and Government | 121 | $62,332 | $16,050 |
| History | 127 | $60,823 | — |
| Public Policy Analysis | 16 | $60,280 | — |
| English Language and Literature | 167 | $56,050 | $11,539 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 149 | $49,920 | $9,438 |
| Area Studies | 125 | $47,927 | $12,375 |
| Education | 54 | $43,467 | — |
| Music | 64 | $42,515 | — |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | 80 | $42,487 | — |
| Biology | 221 | $42,441 | $12,000 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 72 | $35,637 | — |
| Human Biology | 108 | $29,431 | $12,500 |
| Anthropology | 51 | — | — |
| Archeology | 13 | — | — |
| Architecture | 37 | — | — |
| Astronomy and Astrophysics | 2 | — | — |
| Behavioral Sciences | 64 | — | — |
| Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology | 33 | — | — |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 60 | — | — |
| Chemistry | 39 | — | — |
| Classical and Ancient Studies | — | — | — |
| Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 43 | — | — |
| Cognitive Science | 25 | — | — |
| Communication and Media Studies | 90 | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 77 | — | — |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 22 | — | — |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | — | — | — |
| Engineering Physics | — | — | — |
| Engineering, Other | — | — | — |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | 24 | — | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 133 | — | $17,420 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 36 | — | — |
| Human Resources Management and Services | — | — | — |
| Industrial Engineering | 2 | — | — |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | 59 | — | — |
| Mathematics | 57 | — | — |
| Medieval and Renaissance Studies | 5 | — | — |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies | 38 | — | — |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 2 | — | — |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 151 | — | $13,565 |
| Philosophy | 55 | — | — |
| Physics | 66 | — | — |
| Psychology | — | — | — |
| Public Health | — | — | — |
| Religion/Religious Studies | 26 | — | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 23 | — | — |
| Science, Technology and Society | 28 | — | — |
| Social Sciences | 144 | — | — |
| Social Sciences, Other | 21 | — | — |
| Sociology | 62 | — | — |
| Statistics | 13 | — | — |
| Urban Studies/Affairs | 47 | — | — |
Master's degree programs (62)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Science, Technology and Society | 78 | $211,740 | $55,000 |
| Computer Science | 274 | $128,750 | — |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 60 | $86,813 | $41,000 |
| Public Policy Analysis | 111 | $77,601 | $41,468 |
| Public Health | 82 | $76,516 | $65,732 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 34 | $74,914 | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 46 | $52,833 | — |
| Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies | 88 | $32,122 | $80,109 |
| Anthropology | 7 | — | — |
| Applied Mathematics | 17 | — | — |
| Archeology | — | — | — |
| Area Studies | 25 | — | — |
| Behavioral Sciences | 19 | — | — |
| Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education | — | — | — |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | — | — | — |
| Biology | 4 | — | — |
| Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology | 52 | — | — |
| Biotechnology | 66 | — | $52,602 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 73 | — | — |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | 2 | — | — |
| Chemistry | 15 | — | — |
| Classical and Ancient Studies | 3 | — | — |
| Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 3 | — | — |
| Cognitive Science | 13 | — | — |
| Communication and Media Studies | 8 | — | — |
| Computational Science | 13 | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | — | — | — |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | 42 | — | — |
| Data Science | 45 | — | — |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 29 | — | — |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | 4 | — | — |
| Economics | 29 | — | — |
| Engineering | 224 | — | — |
| English Language and Literature | 4 | — | — |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | — | — | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 3 | — | — |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 21 | — | — |
| Historic Preservation and Conservation | 9 | — | — |
| History | 14 | — | — |
| Industrial Engineering | 44 | — | — |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | 2 | — | — |
| Mathematics | 4 | — | — |
| Mathematics and Computer Science | 48 | — | — |
| Molecular Medicine | — | — | — |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies | 6 | — | — |
| Museology/Museum Studies | — | — | — |
| Music | 10 | — | — |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | — | — | — |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 4 | — | — |
| Pharmacology and Toxicology | 1 | — | — |
| Philosophy | 3 | — | — |
| Physics | 88 | — | — |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | 2 | — | — |
| Political Science and Government | 5 | — | — |
| Psychology | — | — | — |
| Religion/Religious Studies | 2 | — | — |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 2 | — | — |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | 33 | — | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | — | — | — |
| Social Sciences | 228 | — | $66,000 |
| Sociology | 11 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | — | — | — |
Doctoral degree programs (59)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | 18 | $120,287 | — |
| Anthropology | 7 | — | — |
| Applied Mathematics | 19 | — | — |
| Archeology | 3 | — | — |
| Area Studies | 24 | — | — |
| Astronomy and Astrophysics | — | — | — |
| Behavioral Sciences | 4 | — | — |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | — | — | — |
| Biology | — | — | — |
| Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology | 17 | — | — |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 15 | — | — |
| Biotechnology | 2 | — | — |
| Chemistry | 44 | — | — |
| Classical and Ancient Studies | 2 | — | — |
| Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 2 | — | — |
| Cognitive Science | 10 | — | — |
| Communication and Media Studies | 3 | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | — | — | — |
| Computer Science | 31 | — | — |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 5 | — | — |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | 11 | — | — |
| Economics | 40 | — | — |
| Education | — | — | — |
| Engineering | 29 | — | — |
| Engineering Physics | — | — | — |
| English Language and Literature | 11 | — | — |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | — | — | — |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | 5 | — | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 6 | — | — |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 17 | — | — |
| History | 10 | — | — |
| Human Biology | — | — | — |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | — | — | — |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | 7 | — | — |
| Mathematics | 12 | — | — |
| Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies | — | — | — |
| Molecular Medicine | — | — | — |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies | 1 | — | — |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | — | — | — |
| Music | 2 | — | — |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | — | — | — |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 31 | — | — |
| Pharmacology and Toxicology | 9 | — | — |
| Philosophy | 9 | — | — |
| Physics | 20 | — | — |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | 18 | — | — |
| Political Science and Government | 12 | — | — |
| Psychology | — | — | — |
| Public Health | — | — | — |
| Public Policy Analysis | — | — | — |
| Religion/Religious Studies | 6 | — | — |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 4 | — | — |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | — | — | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 1 | — | — |
| Science, Technology and Society | — | — | — |
| Social Sciences | 11 | — | — |
| Social Sciences, Other | — | — | — |
| Sociology | 19 | — | — |
| Urban Studies/Affairs | — | — | — |
Professional degree programs (1)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medicine | 269 | $69,273 | $156,421 |
Graduate certificate programs (2)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economics | 1 | — | — |
| Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies | 6 | — | — |
Similar colleges in Rhode Island
| College | City | Net price / yr | Acceptance | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Providence College | Providence | $49,594 | 51% | $90,260 |
| Roger Williams University | Bristol | $37,645 | 88% | $77,127 |
| Johnson & Wales University-Providence | Providence | $29,952 | 88% | $53,928 |
| Bryant University | Smithfield | $39,186 | 65% | $104,456 |
| Salve Regina University | Newport | $36,528 | 68% | $73,336 |
| Rhode Island School of Design | Providence | $50,513 | 19% | $69,341 |
| Johnson & Wales University-Online | Providence | $22,071 | 91% | $53,928 |
| College Unbound | Providence | $20,804 | — | — |
About Brown University
| Type | Private nonprofit four-year university |
|---|---|
| Location | Providence, RI |
| Setting | Midsize city |
| Undergraduates | 7,226 |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 6 to 1 |
| Accreditor | New England Commission on Higher Education |
| Website | brown.edu ↗ |
Frequently asked questions
What is Brown University's acceptance rate?
Brown University admits 5.4% of applicants, making it highly selective. Admitted students average 1,546 on the SAT.
How much does Brown University cost per year?
The full cost of attendance is $91,676 a year (tuition and fees: $74,650). After grants and scholarships the average student pays $26,976 a year, and students from families earning under $30,000 pay about $39.
How much do Brown University graduates earn?
Former students earn a median of $99,974 a year, 10 years after first enrolling — 2nd of 10 similar colleges in Rhode Island. The best-paid bachelor's program is computer science ($141,816 a year after graduation).
What is Brown University's graduation rate?
96% of full-time students graduate within six years, and 99% of first-year students return for a second year.