Ivy League · Providence, Rhode Island
Brown University
Most selective in the country. 5.4% acceptance rate.
Calculate your Brown oddsHow hard is it to get into Brown?
Brown is most selective in the country, with a 5.4% acceptance rate. Admitted students typically score 1500–1570 on the SAT and 34–35 on the ACT. The application is read holistically, so essays, recommendations, activities, and demographic context all factor into the decision alongside test scores and GPA.
Quick Facts
| Acceptance rate | 5.4% |
| SAT (mid-50%) | 1500–1570 |
| ACT (mid-50%) | 34–35 |
| Cost of attendance | $90,160 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $25,184 |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 7,639 |
| 6-year graduation rate | 95.7% |
| Median earnings (10 yrs after entry) | $93,487 |
| Type | Private · Ivy League |
| Setting | Midsize urban |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Last verified May 2026.
Getting In
Brown's 5.4% acceptance rate reflects 2,638 admits from 48,907 applications. The mid-50% SAT range of 1500–1570 means a quarter of admitted students scored above 1570, and a quarter scored below 1500. Scores in that range don't guarantee admission. Scores outside it don't rule it out. The application is read holistically.
That number doesn't tell you your odds. A 1550 SAT and a 4.0 GPA put you in the academic conversation. They don't put you in the admit pile. Your actual probability depends on your full profile: coursework rigor, activities, recommendations, demographic context, and what your essays accomplish. The pool average is a starting point, not a forecast.
Personalized estimate
What are your actual odds at Brown?
Enter your SAT/ACT, GPA, activities, and target schools. Get a probability calibrated to real admit data, not a headline acceptance rate.
Run the calculatorBrown Test Score Profile
Admitted students score in the following ranges across SAT sections:
SAT Reading
740–780
25th–75th percentile
SAT Math
770–800
25th–75th percentile
Strong applicants tend to score above the 75th percentile in their stronger section and at or above the 25th percentile in their weaker one. Both numbers are descriptive, not prescriptive. Plenty of admitted students score below the 25th percentile in one section, especially with strong context elsewhere.
Beyond the Numbers
Brown is best known for the Open Curriculum, S/NC grade option, and the PLME and Brown-RISD dual degree programs. Admissions readers are looking for applicants whose specific interests and ways of working would actually thrive in that environment. Not generic “passion.” Concrete curiosity that already shows up in what you do.
Brown admits roughly 5 percent. The Open Curriculum is Brown's defining structural feature: there are no general education requirements, and students can take any course Satisfactory/No Credit. Brown's three supplemental essays all test whether you'd actually use that freedom.
Class Profile
The undergraduate population at Brown breaks down as follows according to federal IPEDS data:
Race & ethnicity
These percentages reflect the enrolled student body, not the applicant pool. Admit rates by demographic differ from the headline rate, and the school's composition is the result of its full holistic review process.
Cost & Financial Aid
The published cost of attendance at Brown is $90,160 per year before aid. After grants and scholarships, the average student pays $25,184per year. The sticker price isn't the number that matters for most families.
Net price by family income
What the average student actually pays per year, after grants:
| Family income $0–30K | $-420 |
| Family income $30K–48K | $2,031 |
| Family income $48K–75K | $5,858 |
| Family income $75K–110K | $16,219 |
| Family income $110K+ | $44,937 |
Highly selective private universities tend to meet 100% of demonstrated financial need, often without loans, for families below specific income thresholds. The number that matters for your family is your net price, which can be estimated using the school's own net price calculator before applying.
Outcomes
Federal data on what happens after enrollment at Brown:
Graduation rate
95.7%
6-year (federal IPEDS)
Median earnings
$93,487
10 yrs after entry
Median debt
$11,428
Among completers
13.8% of students receive a Pell Grant (federal need-based aid), and 9.6%take federal loans. These rates are useful proxies for the school's socioeconomic mix and how much most families end up borrowing.
Brown Supplemental Essays
Brown requires supplemental essays beyond the Common App personal statement. The most recent prompts include:
- “Brown's Open Curriculum allows students to explore broadly while also diving deeply into their academic pursuits. Tell us about any academic interests that excite you, and how you might use the Open Curriculum to pursue them while also embracing topics with which you are unfamiliar.”
- “Students entering Brown often find that making their home on College Hill naturally invites reflection on where they came from. Share how an aspect of your growing up has inspired or challenged you, and what unique contributions this might allow you to make to the Brown community.”
- “Brown students care deeply about their work and the world around them. Students find contentment, satisfaction, and meaning in daily interactions and major discoveries. Whether big or small, mundane or spectacular, tell us about something that brings you joy.”
The “Why Brown” supplemental is capped at roughly 200 words. At that length, every sentence has to do real work. List-making and adjective-stacking get cut by readers in the first pass.
What tends to go wrong
- Writing the Open Curriculum essay as 'I want to explore.' Everyone applying to Brown wants to explore. The prompt asks how, with what courses.
- Treating the identity essay as a hardship essay. Brown asks how your background will shape your contribution, not how you overcame it.
- Making the joy essay too ambitious (end world hunger, meet Obama). The prompt rewards a real, smaller-scale joy.
Stronger ways to open
- For the Open Curriculum essay, name two or three specific courses (with codes if you know them) you'd take in your first year and explain what makes the combination interesting. Avoid listing one course per department.
- For the 'where you came from' essay, open in a specific place (a kitchen, a drive to school, a weekly family ritual). Don't lead with a thesis about your background.
- For the 'joy' essay, pick something small and strange. Brown rewards specificity over importance.
Application Timeline
- ED deadline: November 1. Historically 13.9% acceptance rate.
- Regular Decision deadline: January 3
- Testing: SAT/ACT optional. Submit if your scores fall within or above the mid-50% range.
Brown essay tools
Score, brainstorm, or revise Brown essays with tools tuned to Brown's prompts.
Brown vs. Peer Schools
Side-by-side comparison with similar Ivy League schools applicants typically consider.
| School | Accept | SAT mid-50 | Net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brown This page | 5.4% | 1500–1570 | $25,184 |
| Harvard | 3.6% | 1500–1580 | $19,066 |
| Yale | 3.7% | 1500–1580 | $23,777 |
| Princeton | 4.5% | 1500–1580 | $6,128 |
| Columbia | 3.9% | 1490–1570 | $21,590 |
| Penn | 5.4% | 1500–1570 | $28,699 |
FAQ
How hard is it to get into Brown?
Brown is most selective in the country. The most recently published acceptance rate is 5.4%. Admitted students score in the 1500–1570 SAT range. Test scores are necessary but not sufficient. Holistic review weighs essays, activities, recommendations, and demographic context.
What SAT score do I need for Brown?
Admitted students at Brown typically score between 1500 and 1570 on the SAT. A quarter of admits scored above 1570, and a quarter scored below 1500. Scores in this range are competitive but do not guarantee admission.
How much does Brown cost?
The published cost of attendance at Brown is $90,160 per year before financial aid. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $25,184. Most highly selective schools meet 100% of demonstrated need for families below specific income thresholds.
What is the graduation rate at Brown?
95.7% of students at Brown graduate within 6 years (the standard federal graduation rate metric).
What is the Brown Open Curriculum?
Brown has no general education requirements. Students design their own course of study and can take any class Satisfactory/No Credit instead of for a letter grade. This is Brown's defining academic feature.
How long are Brown's supplemental essays?
Three essays, each around 200 to 250 words. The Open Curriculum essay usually runs a bit longer than the other two.
What is PLME at Brown?
The Program in Liberal Medical Education, an 8-year combined BS/MD program with its own separate application essays and one of the most selective admit rates in the country.
Can I apply to Brown-RISD Dual Degree?
Yes. The Brown-RISD Dual Degree is a 5-year program requiring separate applications to both Brown and RISD, plus a distinct set of essays. The admit rate is extremely low.
Should I mention S/NC grading in my Brown essay?
Only if you have a specific reason it matters to you (exploring a subject outside your major, balancing a heavy course load). Mentioning it as a generic perk reads as surface-level.
Sources
All numerical data on this page is sourced from official, primary sources. Admissions stats reflect the most recent publicly published cycle. Verify current figures with Brown's admissions office before applying.
- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard — federally maintained dataset on admissions, cost, demographics, and post-graduation outcomes (IPEDS-derived).
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) — the underlying federal data collection that all U.S. accredited institutions report into annually.
- Brown University official admissions site — for the most current published figures and application requirements.
- Brown Common Data Set — the standardized annual data document published by the school.
Last verified May 2026. Stats reflect Brown's most recent publicly published admit cycle.