About Brown University

Founded in 1764, Brown University. is a Private college. Located in Rhode Island, which is a city setting in Rhode Island, the campus itself is Urban. The campus is home to 6,926 full time undergraduate students, and 2,855 full time graduate students.

The Brown University Academic calendar runs on a Semester basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 7:1. There are 803 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at Brown University include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.

Quick Facts

Acceptance Rate9%
Application Deadline1-Nov
Application Fee75
SAT Range1370-1570
ACT Range31-34

Admissions at are considered Most Selective, with ,98% of all applicants being admitted.

In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 5 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.

100% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 99% were in the top quarter, and 91% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.

STUDENT LIFE

We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at Brown University.

1%
“We”re apathetic”
5%
“We know about current events and vote”
48%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
46%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
1%
“We save it for the classroom”
9%
“Sometimes, but not often”
42%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
48%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
4%
“I only go out in groups”
49%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
46%
“I feel extremely safe”
28%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
63%
“We bought the gear”
9%
“We live for the big game”
1%
“It”s not really our thing”
7%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
57%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
35%
“We”re a very artistic group”
0%
“Haven”t met them”
8%
“Available in class”
63%
“They keep regular office hours”
29%
“They”re always available”
10%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
74%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
15%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
1%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
1%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
4%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
69%
“We only party on weekends”
25%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
1%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
22%
“There might be people who do”
70%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
7%
“There”s a huge drug scene”
1%
“We”re apathetic”
5%
“We know about current events and vote”
48%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
46%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
1%
“We save it for the classroom”
9%
“Sometimes, but not often”
42%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
48%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
4%
“I only go out in groups”
49%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
46%
“I feel extremely safe”
28%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
63%
“We bought the gear”
9%
“We live for the big game”
1%
“It”s not really our thing”
7%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
57%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
35%
“We”re a very artistic group”
0%
“Haven”t met them”
8%
“Available in class”
63%
“They keep regular office hours”
29%
“They”re always available”
10%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
74%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
15%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
1%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
1%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
4%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
69%
“We only party on weekends”
25%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
1%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
22%
“There might be people who do”
70%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
7%
“There”s a huge drug scene”

Brown University REVIEWS

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  • How would you rate on-campus housing?

    158 Students rated on-campus housing 3.7 stars. 11 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate off-campus housing?

    108 Students rated off-campus housing 3.5 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus food?

    159 Students rated campus food 3.3 stars. 9 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus facilities?

    158 Students rated campus facilities 4 stars. 27 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate class size?

    158 Students rated class size 4.2 stars. 39 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate school activities?

    158 Students rated school activities 4.5 stars. 62 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate local services?

    160 Students rated local services 4.1 stars. 34 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate academics?

    158 Students rated academics 4.2 stars. 53 % gave the school a 5.0.

What's your overall opinion of Brown University?

40 Students rated Brown University

Ariana - 11/25/2023

I am very thankful for my Alma Mater because this institution has given me the platform where I was able to maximize my potential and be the best I can be both as a Student and as a contributing member of the society. I was an active student because they gave me the chance to be productive and developing especially in what I do best.

Elizabeth - 07/10/2023

I cannot picture myself anywhere other than Brown. Campus culture is the most important factor for me and I think Brown students are some of the most genuine, caring, supportive people. There is always someone I feel comfortable calling at 2am when I am in distress!

Anthony - 01/01/2023

Brown University can serve a purpose. If you know what you want to achieve and will get a degree in a field with a high return on investment it is worth it. However, do not go to find yourself or pursue a liberal arts degree that you can do at a less expensive university. Brown University has its positives, but overall it is a corporation. Brown does not care about or improve student life because it knows students will still apply and attend due to the name. The housing is just livable and residential life is horribly unuseful. On the other hand, Brown does provide a good infrastructure for pursuing professional development such as research. The highlight of Brown University is its approach to classes. The first two weeks of classes each semester is shopping period where you can attend, register for, and drop any class. Further, you can audit or take any class pass/fail (which you can take advantage of depending on your post-graduate goals). There are classes in a wide variety of fields; for example I have taken classes from The Structure of the Nervous System to The Science and Medicine of Ancient Egypt. Professors are generally knowledgeable, responsive, and supportive; although there will be exceptions like anything. If you know how to take advantage of it, you can pretty much find advising for whatever you need. Food: 2/5 Housing: 2/5 Athletics: 3/5 Social Life: 3/5 Tolerance: 2/5 Classes: 4/5 Professors: 4/5 Advising: 4/5 Research: 4/5 Student Support: 3/5 Campus: 4/5

Sally - 04/10/2022

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Brown University FAQS

  1. What is the Acceptance Rate at Brown University?

    The fall 2020 acceptance rate for Brown University is 9%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020 , _____ students were offered admission. The number of males who applied was _____ vs the number of females which was _____.

  2. What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

    Anticipate change. Be prepared to sacrifice anything in order to achieve what you came for, be ready to sacrifice that extra hour of sleep, that night out with friends, that phone call back home, because you will have to change in order to adapt to this extremely different environment that resembles nothing from the one you come from. Be ready to question yourself, but don?t think doubt mean you are wrong, it simply means it is time to change and redefine that aspect of your life. Be willing to put aside your pride, and acquire that humbleness that you will need when you go ask for help, because you will not know everything when you get there. Be open to many challenges that you know might seem tough, but that ultimately will provide you with a greater understanding of yourself. Do not think that this is all a clich?, do not minimize this opportunity, and do not think that you are only here to study, because you are here to start a new part of your life, and ultimately to build intellect, character, morals, values, and social skills; all of which are tools for you to function in society.

    Read all  159 answers
  3. Describe the students at your school.

    Brown students are typically dynamic, open-minded individuals who make up for there slight social awkwardness with a high level of intellect in addition to a tolerant outlook regarding a wide variety of issues.

    Read all  120 answers
  4. What is your overall opinion of this school?

    The best, most defining quality of Brown is the freedom that the students have due to the open curriculum. It really sets Brown apart from all other schools, cause students can really design their own academic plan because they dont have to worry about so many requirements.

    Read all  89 answers
  5. Is the stereotype of students at your school accurate?

    Some yes, some no. We are not all hippies. We are rather laid-back.

    Read all  86 answers
  6. What are the academics like at your school?

    For the most part ive only taken pretty small classes at brown which has allowed me to get to know the majority of my professors. as far as my experience has gone, the professors for the most part seem very eager and open to interacting with the students and helping us when necessary. The modern culture and media department, especially, is very small and intimate and therefore everyone knows eachother and is really eager to help everyone have a great learning experience.

    Read all  81 answers
  7. What is the stereotype of students at your school?

    LIBERAL, fun, smart

    Read all  80 answers
  8. What are the most popular student activities/groups?

    the performance groups such as accapella and dance groups are the most dominant activity groups on campus. athletics make up a good amount of the student body, but in my opinion there doesnt seem to be a lot of school spirit surrounding the athletic teams. the social life/party scene is pretty laid back. nothing like a state school, but definitely lively and exciting enough to keep us entertained.

    Read all  75 answers
  9. Here's your chance: Say anything about your college!

    VERY liberal-minded student body. Not much academic competition.

    Read all  59 answers
  10. What do you consider the worst thing about your school? Why?

    I'm a little discouraged by the size of the school, I wish I went to a smaller school. As a result of the size, if you don't meet people in the beginning you're not likely to meet many people later on.

    Read all  38 answers
  11. Describe how your school looks to someone who's never seen it.

    It has an amazing environment.

    Read all  36 answers
  12. What's unique about your campus?

    The large amount of racial/ethnic diversity, the international students, the open-minded campus culture, the open curriculum, the types of courses that are offered, the offbeat social scene.

    Read all  31 answers
  13. What kind of person should attend this school?

    Brown University is well known for its liberalistic tendencies. It has been said that it has the happiest college students known across the nation. This sense of elation does not happen by chance, your positive attitude will contribute to this amazing atmosphere, so your personality is important. Furthermore, in order to attend Brown, you need to be someone who can respect any part of the opinion spectrum, but who also intelligently defends their own opinion. People who love to live for, learn from, and be part of the community should attend Brown University.

    Read all  29 answers
  14. What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about freshman year?

    I wish I had known that academic exploration should really be limited to freshman year and that some definite direction is helpful when first enrolling, or at least by the end of one's sophomore year.

    Read all  29 answers
  15. Describe your favorite campus traditions.

    Its open curriculum (no distribution requirements)

    Read all  26 answers
  16. What do you brag about most when you tell your friends about your school?

    Brown's prides in its open curriculam. Without any general requirements, undgraduates are allowed to explore their interests freely. With a huge array of majors and the ability to create your own major, literally anything is possible at Brown. And as Brown students, we take advatage of that allow our futures to be fashion themselves any way we choose.

    Read all  23 answers
  17. What kind of person should not attend this school?

    A student who is not flexible in thinking or who is not adventurous would probably not enjoy Brown University. The open curriculum program differs greatly from distribution requirements that are the core of many colleges. You have to be willing to try new things and keep an open mind. If you are a person who likes to follow set standards and requirements this would probably not be for you, unless you are studying the sciences, engineering or pre-med.

    Read all  18 answers
  18. What's the most frustrating thing about your school?

    Charges for getting locked out of dormrooms.

    Read all  16 answers
  19. What is the stereotype of students at your school? Is this stereotype accurate?

    People often think of Brown students as hippie activists and stoners. While there are probably a larger proportion of these students here than others, Brown is super diverse and so it's easy to find students who are not interested in activism and drugs. Despite the varying kinds of people, I think that generally most Brown students are liberal, open-minded, and interested in new perspectives and opinions outside their own.

    Read all  13 answers
  20. Why did you decide to go to this school?

    In the end, it came down to either Brown or a big well-known school in my state. I visited Brown and researched it and decided that it was a better fit for my personality and interests. I also wanted to experience living in a different part of the country, so the distance was a plus for me.

    Read all  10 answers
  21. Tell us about the food and dining options.

    There's a large variety of dining options on campus. There are two main buffet-style cafeterias, the Ratty and the Vdub. For a meal credit, you get access to a lot of different foods, including fresh fruit and cereal and soup and salad bars and vegan/vegetarian options. The downside to these two is that the food isn't too great, but there's always something to be had. Besides these are the smaller eateries, like Jo's, the Gate, the Blue Room, and the Ivy Room. These tend to serve better, restaurant-quality food although they have less options since each has its own specialties. Besides the university eateries, there's always restaurants on Thayer Street, which is practically on-campus and very accessible. There are some cheap restaurants as well as more up-scale ones, depending on your tastes. Basically, there's a lot of options for food on campus, and if you get bored even with that you can always take a bus or walk down to Providence for more choices.

    Read all  8 answers

Student Body

Students

53%

female

47%

male

6,926

Total Undergrad Enrollment

2,855

Total Grad Students

82%

Out-Of-State

4%

In-State

14%

International

Organizations

350

Student Organizations

13

Fraternities

5

Sororities

Housing

Yes

On-Campus Housing

54%

of students living on campus

Student Diversity

% American Indian/Alaskan Native
N/A
% Asian/Pacific Islander
14%
% Black or African-American
6%
% Hispanic/Latino
11%
% White or Caucasian
42%

TUITION & AID

All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA. Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.

57% of students attending Brown University receive some sort of financial aid. 13% were awarded federal grants. While 22% received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.

Cost Out of State

$51,366

Tuition and fees(Out of state)

$1,540

Books and Supplies

$13,200

Room and Board

66,106

Total On Campus

Actual Cost By Income Level(W/Financial Aid)

Family Income
Cost
$0 - $30K
$5,849
$30 - $48K
$7,164
$48 - $75K
$12,697
$75 - $110K
$22,308
$110K & UP
$44,695

We use student reviews and the most current publicly available data on our school pages. As such, we don't typically remove or edit college information. Sources for school statistics and data include the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. Portions of college data include copyrighted material, which is reproduced on this website by permission of Wintergreen Orchard House, a division of Carnegie Communications. © 2009-2016 by Wintergreen Orchard House. All rights reserved.

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