Brown: What the Numbers Actually Say
The open curriculum is the thing everyone knows about Brown, and its admissions filing turns out to rhyme with it. Seven of the nineteen factors Brown rates sit at weights fewer than a quarter of American colleges share — interviews, alumni ties, first-generation status, demonstrated interest, talent, class rank, activities. It is an office that says, on the record, that it is reading for more of you than the transcript.
Brown admitted 5.4% of 48,904 applicants. The average net price after aid is $25,184, the median graduate leaves owing $11,428 — lower than 95% of US colleges — and 98.8% of first-years return.
At a glance
| Brown University | US median | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Providence, RI | |
| Undergraduates | 7,910 | |
| Acceptance rate | 5.4% | |
| Applicants / admits | 48,904 / 2,638 | |
| Middle 50% SAT | 1510–1580 | |
| Middle 50% ACT | 34–35 | |
| Student–faculty ratio | 6:1 | |
| Average net price after aid | $25,184 | $20,150 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs out | $93,487 | $53,038 |
| Median debt at graduation | $11,428 | $23,000 |
US medians are across every college reporting the figure to the College Scorecard — roughly 1,700 for net price and 1,800 for earnings.
Admissions: the widest set of unusual weights on this site
Brown drew 48,904 applications and admitted 2,638 — 5.4% — with 65.1% of admits enrolling. The early round is binding Early Decision.
| Application factor | Brown University says | How common that is |
|---|---|---|
| Academic GPA | Very important | 91% of schools say the same |
| Application Essay | Very important | 34% of schools say the same |
| Character/personal qualities | Very important | 27% of schools say the same |
| Class rank | Very important | only 17% of schools say the same |
| Extracurricular activities | Very important | only 18% of schools say the same |
| Recommendation(s) | Very important | 32% of schools say the same |
| Rigor of secondary school record | Very important | 87% of schools say the same |
| Standardized test scores | Very important | 26% of schools say the same |
| Talent/ability | Very important | only 14% of schools say the same |
| Alumni/ae relation | Important | only 3% of schools say the same |
| First generation | Important | only 7% of schools say the same |
| Interview | Important | only 11% of schools say the same |
| Level of applicant's interest | Important | only 10% of schools say the same |
| Geographical residence | Considered | 34% of schools say the same |
| Volunteer work | Considered | 66% of schools say the same |
| Work experience | Considered | 69% of schools say the same |
| Religious affiliation/commitment | Not considered | 89% of schools say the same |
| State residency | Not considered | 57% of schools say the same |
The school’s own ratings from its Common Data Set filing, set against the 362 filings in our dataset. Bold rows are ratings fewer than a quarter of schools share — the places this school’s process is genuinely unusual. Declared weight is not submission policy; requirements change year to year and should be checked directly.
Count the bold rows: seven, more than any other school profiled here. Brown rates alumni relation important (3% of schools say that), first-generation status important (7%), demonstrated interest important (10%), the interview important (11%), and talent, class rank and extracurriculars all at the top of its scale. The practical reading: almost every part of a Brown application is load-bearing, and engagement — visits, interviews, a genuine case for the open curriculum — counts in a way it does not at most peers.
The admitted middle 50% runs 740–780 on SAT reading and 770–800 on maths, with 61% of enrolled first-years having submitted an SAT score — a share that describes the class, not the current submission rules.
Cost
The sticker is about $94,464; the average net price after grants is $25,184. Brown meets 100% of demonstrated need with an average first-year grant of $65,370.
| Family income | Brown University | US median |
|---|---|---|
| $30,000 – $48,000 | $2,031 / year | $15,431 |
| $48,000 – $75,000 | $5,858 / year | $17,510 |
| $75,000 – $110,000 | $16,219 / year | $21,308 |
| Over $110,000 | $44,937 / year | $25,893 |
Average net price actually paid by aided US students at each income level, from the College Scorecard. Sticker price is what almost nobody at these income levels pays.
Only 18% of students borrow, and the median graduate leaves owing $11,428 — one of the lowest debt figures of any college in the country, and lower than 95% of them.
Outcomes
Median earnings, 10 years after entry · US median $53,038
Earnings of students from the lowest-income third · US median $42,600
Average net price after aid · US median $20,150
Median debt at graduation · US median $23,000
Bar length is the share of US colleges this school beats on each measure; the tick marks the national median. Price and debt are inverted, so a longer bar is always the better outcome. Source: College Scorecard.
Median earnings reach $93,487 ten years after enrolling, and students from the lowest-income third of families are earning a mean $96,800 a decade after they started. 98.8% of first-years return and 95.7% graduate within six years.
The classroom: a 6:1 student–faculty ratio with 67.4% of course sections under 20 students, across 7,910 undergraduates. Greek life is marginal — 4% of men and 2% of women — and 99% of first-years live on campus.
How Brown University compares
Frequently asked questions
What is Brown’s acceptance rate?
5.4%. Brown received 48,904 applications and admitted 2,638 students; 65.1% of those admitted enrolled.
How much does Brown actually cost?
An average $25,184 a year after grants, against a sticker of about $94,464. A family earning $75,000–$110,000 typically pays $16,219. Brown meets 100% of demonstrated need.
Does demonstrated interest matter at Brown?
Yes — Brown rates an applicant’s level of interest important, a weight only about one school in ten declares, alongside important ratings for interviews and alumni relation. Engagement genuinely counts here.
What SAT scores do you need for Brown?
The admitted middle 50% scored 740–780 on reading and 770–800 on maths. A quarter of admitted students scored below those ranges.
Do Brown graduates take on much debt?
Very little. Only 18% of students borrow at all, and the median graduate leaves owing $11,428 — lower than 95% of American colleges.
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