Brown University campus
    Brown University logo
    Photo: Kenneth C. Zirkel · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons

    Brown University

    Providence, RI · Northeast

    Acceptance rate
    5.4%
    SAT mid-50
    1510-1580
    Cost after aid
    $25,184
    Graduation rate
    96%

    About Brown University

    Brown University is a small private university in Providence, RI, in a city setting.

    What Brown University looks for

    Acceptance is roughly 5%, so admitted students nearly always have stats above the bottom of the mid-50. That said, stats alone do not get anyone in here. The applications that work read as coherent applicants with a clear academic and personal narrative more than as resumes. Admissions officers are reading for specifics: what you actually did, what you cared enough to follow through on, and how you write when you sound like yourself rather than a candidate.

    Frequently asked

    • What SAT score do I need for Brown University?

      Brown University's middle 50% SAT range is 1510 to 1580. A score in or above that band keeps you in the conversation; below it, the rest of your application has to do more work.

    • What ACT score do I need for Brown University?

      Middle 50% ACT range is 34 to 35. The top of that range or above is what most admitted students submit when they choose to send a score.

    • What is the acceptance rate at Brown University?

      Brown University admits roughly 5% of applicants. That makes it a reach for nearly everyone, regardless of stats.

    • What does Brown University actually cost after financial aid?

      Average net cost (after institutional aid) is about $25,184 per year. Net cost varies enormously by family income; run the school's net price calculator for an estimate that reflects your situation.

    • Is Brown University a reach, match, or safety for me?

      Compare your stats to the middle 50% above. If you are at or below the 25th percentile, treat Brown University as a reach. If you are in the middle 50%, it is a match. Above the 75th percentile and the school accepts above 25% overall, it is closer to a safety. Selectivity below 20% should be treated as a reach for everyone, period.

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