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Brown University
Brown University admits 5 of every 100 applicants — a reach school for nearly everyone applying to Brown University, whatever the rest of the profile says.
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Brown University sits in Providence proper — a private campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it. International students are a visible presence here — 12.7% of undergraduates come from outside the U.S.
Its highest-earning path is Computer Science, where graduates median $214,479 four years out. Faculty pay averages $214,068 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 7,226 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 98.8% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1500 and 1570 — above the RI middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Brown University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
You can apply to Brown University without scores. Among admitted students who did submit, the middle half landed between 1500 and 1570; applicants below that range often simply apply without them.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 740 | 760 | 770 |
| SAT Math | 760 | 780 | 800 |
| ACT Composite | 34 | 35 | 35 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Brown University received 51,316 applications and admitted 2,686 (5.2%), with 1,695 enrolling.
How Brown University compares
| Brown University | Rhode Island median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 5.4% | 70.2% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $71,412 | $44,418 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $93,487 | $70,005 | $53,781 |
Ten years after enrolling, the median Brown University student earns $93,487 — 34% above the Rhode Island median of $70,005 for college-goers.
Cost, size & completion
Brown University lists tuition at $71,412 for everyone — private schools don't do residency pricing. Brown University's sticker and net price can differ sharply after aid; treat $71,412 as the ceiling, not the bill.
Brown University enrolls 7,226 undergraduates — mid-sized, with the trade-offs Brown University's scale implies: more programs than a small college, more anonymity too.
95.7% of Brown University students finish a bachelor's within six years — 40.8 points above the national 54.9% — and the single best predictor that the $71,412 price above buys a degree, not just enrollment.
Top majors by earnings at Brown University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer Science | $214,479 |
| Applied Mathematics | $157,822 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | $125,955 |
| Economics | $124,508 |
| Engineering, General | $108,550 |
| Public Policy Analysis | $94,962 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $91,674 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $86,780 |
| History | $85,520 |
| Political Science and Government | $85,388 |
| Public Health | $74,496 |
| Urban Studies/Affairs | $73,905 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $73,497 |
| Human Biology | $69,802 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $63,415 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $60,985 |
| Biology, General | $60,508 |
| Area Studies | $59,808 |
Median earnings for these 18 Brown University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $93,487 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 41 additional Brown University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Brown University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1500–1570 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 5.4% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Brown University's acceptance rate?
5.2% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 2,686 admitted from 51,316 applicants.
How much does Brown University cost?
At Brown University, published tuition is $71,412 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is Brown University's ceiling, not a quote.
What do Brown University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $93,487 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Rhode Island
- Bryant University — 65.5% admitted
- Johnson & Wales University-Providence — 88.4% admitted
- New England Institute of Technology — 66.7% admitted
- Providence College — 50.9% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.