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Brown University

Providence, Rhode Island · Private nonprofit · 4-year · City

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At a glance

Average net price
$25,184What students typically pay per year after grants and scholarships.
Acceptance rate
5%
Graduation rate
96%Share of students who finish within 150% of the normal time.
Undergraduates
7,226
In-state tuition
$71,412Published price before aid.
Out-of-state tuition
$71,412
SAT midpoint
1,515
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$93,487Median earnings of former students ten years after they first enrolled.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Data year: 2022-23 academic year. Updated September 2026. Figures are averages across all students and will differ from what any individual pays.

How it compares to similar colleges

Each rating covers one measure against private nonprofit 4-year colleges nationally. Five stars means the top fifth on that measure. There is no overall score, because which of these matters is your call.

Affordability

$25,184

Better than 38% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1092 compared).

Completion

96%

Better than 99% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1063 compared).

Earnings

$93,487

Better than 96% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1087 compared).

Debt at graduation

$11,428

Better than 97% of private nonprofit 4-year colleges (1020 compared).

What these ratings are based on
Affordability
Based on average net price: what students receiving federal aid actually paid, after grants and scholarships. Your own cost depends on your family's finances.
Completion
Based on the share of first-time, full-time students who graduate within 150% of normal time. It excludes transfer and part-time students, which understates colleges serving many of them.
Earnings
Based on median earnings ten years after students first enrolled. It reflects the subjects a college teaches and the region it sits in as much as its teaching.
Debt at graduation
Based on median federal loan debt among students who completed. Private and parent loans are not included, so real totals are often higher.
Why there is no rating for selectivity
A lower acceptance rate is selectivity, not quality. Awarding stars for it would be us inventing a value judgement and hiding it behind a number.

What it actually costs

Published cost

$87,648

The sticker price: tuition, fees, housing, food and books for one academic year, before any aid.

Average net price

$25,184

What students receiving federal aid actually paid on average, after grants and scholarships. This is the more useful number, though your own figure depends on your family’s finances.

What would this cost me?
Use this college’s official net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation, retention, debt and earnings for Brown University
Graduation rateWithin 150% of normal time96%
Retention rateFirst-year students who return99%
Median debt at graduationFederal loans only, students who completed$11,428
Median earnings, 10 years after entryFormer students, working and not enrolled$93,487

What graduates of each major earn

Median earnings one year after finishing, for people who took that subject here. This is the figure a college-wide median hides: the spread between subjects at one college is usually far wider than the spread between colleges.

Bachelor’s programs at Brown University by graduate earnings
MajorEarnings, 1 yrDegrees awarded
Computer Science$151,065236
Applied Mathematics$99,193173
Engineering, General$86,41680
Public Health$75,909Not reported
Biomedical/Medical Engineering$74,18026
Economics$72,064179
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations$67,90037
Public Policy Analysis$58,16115
Political Science and Government$54,63458
English Language and Literature, General$50,43777
Urban Studies/Affairs$48,73121
International Relations and National Security Studies$46,284137
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology$43,63733
History$42,29663
Human Biology$42,16253
Research and Experimental Psychology$39,49365
Area Studies$39,16553
Biology, General$36,084110
Education, General$33,86625
Neurobiology and Neurosciences$33,52974
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies$30,74139
Communication and Media Studies$23,73834
Fine and Studio Arts$23,18059
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies$17,52711
Social Sciences, GeneralNot reported75
Natural Resources Conservation and ResearchNot reported41
Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralNot reported37
MusicNot reported34
AnthropologyNot reported28
PhilosophyNot reported27
Behavioral SciencesNot reported27
PhysicsNot reported26
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported25
MathematicsNot reported24
SociologyNot reported23
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational BiologyNot reported21
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, GeneralNot reported20
ChemistryNot reported20
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and ServicesNot reported18
Geological and Earth Sciences/GeosciencesNot reported16
ArchitectureNot reported16
Science, Technology and SocietyNot reported14
Religion/Religious StudiesNot reported13
Romance Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported11
Drama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftNot reported9
StatisticsNot reported8
Cognitive ScienceNot reported7
ArcheologyNot reported6
Social Sciences, OtherNot reported5
Medieval and Renaissance StudiesNot reported4
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesNot reportedNot reported
Psychology, GeneralNot reportedNot reported
Engineering PhysicsNot reportedNot reported
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population BiologyNot reportedNot reported
Classical and Ancient StudiesNot reportedNot reported
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, OtherNot reportedNot reported
Engineering, OtherNot reportedNot reported
Human Resources Management and ServicesNot reportedNot reported
Astronomy and AstrophysicsNot reportedNot reported

All 59 bachelor’s programs this college reported.

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