Brown University Admissions: What Is Brown University’s Acceptance Rate?

Brown University is one of the best institutions in the world that offers high-quality university education and produces some of the most successful professionals within various industries. It’s a highly sought-after university by students across the world. However, you might be wondering what are Brown University’s acceptance rates.

The article discusses various statistics like the percentage of students that get accepted, the process for international applicants, as well as the various interdisciplinary approach within the university. The guide also covers Brown University’s acceptance rates, admission requirements, and scholarship options.

Is Brown University Easy to Get Into?

No, getting into Brown University is hard. Brown University has an incredibly low acceptance rate of 8 percent. Prospective students must meet high GPA requirements and standardized test scores to get past the first steps of the application. The institution provides admission to students who display an eagerness to learn.

What Is Brown University’s Acceptance Rate?

The acceptance rate for Brown University is 8 percent, according to the College Scorecard. While the school considers standardized test scores, it doesn’t require them. Accepted students typically have admission test scores in the ranges of 710 to 790 on the SAT and 33 to 35 on the ACT. Typically, you’ll need straight A’s in nearly all your high school classes to be considered for the applicant pool.

What Is Brown University’s Transfer Acceptance Rate?

Brown Univerity’s transfer acceptance rate is 4.3 percent based on 2021 statistics. Out of 2,746 applicants, only 118 were admitted and 68.6 percent of those admitted students enrolled in the school.

The school is selective with transfer applications. You need a current GPA of at least 4.0 to be considered for admission to the university as a transfer student. To be eligible for transfer, you need a full year of college study before your planned matriculation.

What Is Brown University’s Early Decision Acceptance Rate?

Brown University’s early decision acceptance rate is 14.6 percent based on the most recent statistics. Out of 6,146 early decision applications for the class of 2026, 896 were accepted. In the preceding year, the university received 5,540 applications for early decision and accepted 885 students, translating to around a 16 percent acceptance rate.

Brown University Admissions: An Overview

• Number of Applicants at Brown University per year: 46,568
• Brown University Acceptance Rate: 6%

Brown University extended its test-optional policy to first years, transfer, and resumed undergraduate education applicants in the 2022 to 2023 admission cycle. This allows aspiring Brown students who have no test scores to apply before the application deadline. The assessment and preparation for the academic year entail course grades and insights from teachers.

The College Hill institution also recognized the transition of high schools to virtual learning, curricula, and grading policies. In response, it promised to review the results of students in the context of each individual high school record with no preference for the choice of pass or fail or letter grades.

Who Gets Into Brown University?

Brown University’s total student enrollment was 9,948 students in 2020. The student population was 39 percent white, 15.8 percent Asian, 10.2 percent Hispanic, 7.04 percent Black, 5.39 percent Multiracial, 0.312 percent American Indian and 0.131 percent Pacific Islanders. Of all students, 335 enrolled on a part-time basis meaning 96.6 percent were full-time students.

Brown University Enrollment by Ethnicity

• White – 39%
• Asian – 15.8%
• Hispanic – 10.2%
• Black/African American – 7.04%
• Multiracial – 5.39 %
• American Indian – 0.312%
• Pacific Islanders – 0.131%

Brown University Acceptance Rate by Major

Brown University is known as a major research university where undergraduate education depends on the college. There are several colleges in the Rhode Island institution including the School of Engineering, School of Professional Studies, School of Public Health, and the Warren Alpert Medical School.

All these schools follow a standard admission process but may have different specifications, requirements, and acceptance rates. For instance, the Warren Alpert Medical School is one of the most globally competitive medical schools with an acceptance rate of only 3.2 percent.

Acceptance Rate by Major at Brown University

• Warren Alpert Medical School: 3.2%
• School of Engineering: 9.6%
• School of Public Health: 8%

Brown University Application Deadline: When Is Brown University’s Application Due?

The deadlines to apply to Brown University are the first of November for early decision applicants and the fifth of January for regular decision applicants. Application is conducted through Common App which comes with a $75 application fee.

Students must submit supplemental essays through the platform. Those applying to the Liberal Medical Education or Brown-RISD Dual Degree program must provide special program essays.

Brown University Application Deadlines

• Early Decision Deadline:  November 1
• Early Action Deadline: January 5
• Application Fee: $75
• Common App: Yes

What are the Major Reasons to Go to Brown University?

Brown University is an Ivy League institution offering the highest standard of education across the globe. Below are some of the main reasons why this university is a great option for your university professional study.

Explore Your Interests

Brown University offers an open curriculum that gives students the freedom to explore their desired majors and subjects. Students can experiment with different subjects and do it on a pass or fail basis rather than a standard grade scale. This takes away the stress allowing them to explore and discover their interests.

Diverse Student Body

Brown University has a long history of attracting students from across the globe. In fact, only about 10 percent of the student body is made up of Rhode Islanders. If you’re big on meeting new people to explore different perspectives, challenging ideas, and endless opportunities to learn, then this university fits the bill.

Open and Liberating Culture

The university’s culture is one that upholds open-mindedness and exploration. The open curriculum has a diverse student body full of creative, hardworking, and intelligent students.

There’s a rich culture of participation in extracurricular activities including sports, clubs, and events.

Tips for Applying to Brown University

Here are some tips for you when applying to this prestigious institution. These tips are great for both local and international students. You need to check various methods and offers of admission to make sure you properly cover the ground. Make sure you’re aware of the admissions cycle and deadlines.

Network With Alumni

The school had an alumni interview program where interested students could speak with alumni and get insights into how life was in the institution. While they did away with this program, you can take a personal initiative to speak with undergraduate alumni to get an accurate idea of what it’s like to apply or be a student there.

Get Teacher Recommendations

The university focuses a lot on your recommendation letters. These letters give the admission committee a general idea of who you are as a student. It’s not enough that they mention you’re a good student, they should dive deeper into specifics. You should approach your teacher beforehand and let them know the kind of recommendation you need.

Submit a Video Portfolio

The admissions process allows students to submit a two-minute video portfolio to give admissions staff some additional information about them that isn’t covered in the application. While it’s not a requirement, it’s definitely one of the things you can take advantage of to help you stand out. Some topics you can cover include why you’re choosing the university, your academic interests, and the people who inspire you.

Brown University Admissions Requirements: First-Year Applicant Checklist

Applications for undergraduate students are conducted online through the Common App which guides you through the process of providing the appropriate credentials as a first-time applicant or transferee. The application is divided into three sections, which are the general information for all institutions you’re applying to, university-specific quotes, and school documents provided by former schools.

• Complete your application via the Common App.
• Submit the $75 application fee.
• Upload an official copy of your high school transcript.
• School report with academic scores provided by your school counselor or official.
• Counselor recommendation.
• Two letters of recommendation from your teachers.
• Standardized test scores (optional for 2022-2023 academic year).

Brown University SAT Requirements

Below we show you the SAT scores required to get accepted into Brown University. A 25th percentile figure shows that 25 percent of students scored at or below that number, while a 75th percentile figure tells us that 25 percent scored above that number.

• Students Submitting SAT Scores: 51%
• SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 720 (25th percentile); 770 (75th percentile)
• SAT Math: 740 (25th percentile); 800 (75th percentile)

Brown University ACT Requirements

Below we show you the ACT scores required to get accepted into Brown University. A 25th percentile figure shows that 25 percent of students scored at or below that number, while a 75th percentile figure tells us that 25 percent scored above that number. On average, the middle 50 percent of admitted students score between 33 and 36.

• Students Submitting SAT Scores: 30%
• ACT Composite: 33 (25th percentile); 35 (75th percentile)
• ACT English:35 (25th percentile); 36 (75th percentile)
• ACT Math: 31 (25th percentile); 35 (75th percentile)

Acing Your Brown University Application: What Is the Best Way to Prepare for the SAT and ACT?

Start Early

It’s important to plan your schedule of examinations ahead of time. It’s best to choose a date that can give you adequate time to prepare. It’s recommended for at least 3 months to allow you to study and gain enough knowledge on the various sections of the test.

Use Official Practice Materials

College Board, which offers the SAT exam, partnered with Khan Academy to offer a new and improved approach to the SAT test preparation. As a result, they came up with the most comprehensive official SAT study resource available. On the other hand, you can find the official ACT prep guide on their official website which is designed to help students improve their scores.

Take Full-Length Practice Exams

Another effective way to prepare for tests is by taking full-length practice tests. The College Board provides several full-length practice tests on the official SAT practice platform while ACT.org has sample-free ACT Test Preps. These tests can give a good indication of what you’ll expect within these examinations. They also show you the areas where you’re struggling. It also familiarizes you with the test structure.

Brown University GPA Requirements: What GPA Do I Need to Get In?

You need a GPA of around 4.00 to get into Brown University. The school has exceptionally high academic scores requirements, generally admitting students who rank in the top 10 percent of their high school class. You’ll need straight A’s in nearly all your classes to compete with a significant percentage of applicants.

The U.S. News & World Report puts Brown University at 14 in the national ranking and it ranks number one in the Rhode Island ranking. The institution also has the highest average GPA in the state.

Brown University Tuition: How Much Does it Cost to Attend Brown University?

The cost of attending Brown University is $62,680 per year for tuition alone. When other fees such as accommodation, meals, and personal expenses are included, the cost totals around $83,683. This is a considerable investment that you have to be prepared for regardless of your family’s financial situation.

The costs are divided into two. Direct or build costs are charged directly to students’ accounts each semester. They include tuition, accommodation, meals, and mandatory fees. Indirect estimated costs vary based on individual students. They include books, personal expenses, and travel costs. Furthermore, a student’s health insurance plan and individual expenses are not included in the cost of attendance.

Common Majors at Brown University

There are over 80 programs offered at Brown University. With its culture of open academic study that’s unique among national universities, the school gives students opportunities to explore a wide range of interests before settling on a program. Some of the most popular undergraduate and graduate programs are computer science, econometrics, quantitative economics, and general applied mathematics.

Computer Science

The program is designed to provide bread training in practical and theoretical computer science and an opportunity to specialize in the subject. It covers traditional topics such as operating systems, programming languages, and mobile computing. Upon completion, students can test their chances of admission to graduate school to pursue advanced degrees.

Best Jobs for Computer Science Graduates

• Software Architect
• Cloud Engineer
• Data Scientist

Econometrics & Quantitative Economics

The economics program equips you with the tools to understand important public policy issues while the econometrics course gives you a set of statistical tools to enable you to test hypotheses using real-world data. The university also offers a number of concentrations including computer science, mathematics, and applied mathematics.

Best Jobs for Econometrics & Quantitative Economics Graduates

• Financial Analyst
• Market Research Analyst
• Economic Consultant

General Applied Mathematics

The applied mathematics degree gives you an opportunity to study mathematical problems arising in life, physical and social sciences, as well as in engineering. The program appeals to students with a variety of interests. Students can choose to pursue a joint program with biology or computer science and thereafter join the graduate school.

Best Jobs for General Applied Mathematics Graduates

• Data Analyst
• Statistical Analyst
• Business Analyst

Brown University Attendance Outcomes

Brown University graduates find success across many job opportunities, postgraduate studies, and other endeavors. The university collects employment and post-school education data of its alumni to ascertain the impact on people’s career lives. From this data, several jobs stand out as the most common roles the graduates pursue.

They include teaching, judicial work, and management roles. Moreover, some of the highest paying jobs that graduates pursue include physicians and surgeons, financial service agents, and business managers.

Most Common Jobs for People Who Attended Brown University

Position	Median Salary	Job Outlook
Postsecondary teachers	$79,640	12%
Lawyers, judges, magistrates, and other judicial workers	$128,710	3%
Financial managers	$131,710	17%
Secondary school teachers	$61,820	8%
Elementary & middle school teachers	$61,320	7%

Brown University Alumni Highest-Paying Jobs

Position	Median Salary	Job Outlook
Surgeons	$208,000	3%
Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents	$60,550	10%
Financial specialists	$81,410	6%
Agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes	$78,410	46%
Physicians	$208,000	3%

Should I Apply to Brown University?

Yes, you should apply to Brown University. The school distinguishes itself from other national universities by giving students freedom and autonomy. As a student, you’re completely free to take any classes you want besides a few easily attainable standard requirements.

In addition, the school is known for its medical and engineering school, both of which are highly  ranked across the country. Furthermore, 92 percent of graduates secure employment within 6 months after completing their programs. While the application process can be long and arduous, it’ll be worth it when you get accepted.

Brown University Acceptance Rate FAQ