Brown Admissions 2024-2025

Brown University recently released their Common Data Set for 2024-2025, and the numbers tell a fascinating story about who gets into one of the world's most selective universities. Let's dive into the data to understand Brown’s admission landscape.

Admissions Statistics: Extraordinarily Selective

Brown's selectivity has reached new heights, with the data painting a stark picture of the challenge applicants face:

• Total applicants: 48,904

• Admitted students: 2,638

• Acceptance rate: 5.4%

• Enrolled students: 1,719

• Yield rate: 65.2% (percentage of admitted students who chose to enroll)

With acceptance rates hovering around 5%, Brown has solidified its position as one of the most competitive universities in the world.

Geographic Distribution

Brown's applicant pool represents a global community. Of the 48,904 total applications:

• 591 were from Rhode Island residents (1.2%)

• 37,382 were from out-of-state students (76.4%)

• 10,919 were from international students (22.3%)

The enrolled class reflects a similar pattern:

• 52 in-state students (3%)

• 1,362 out-of-state students (79.2%)

• 304 international students (17.7%)

This data shows Brown's tremendous national and international appeal, with 94% of undergraduates coming from outside Rhode Island.

Academic Profile of Admitted Students

Brown enrolls some of the most academically accomplished students in the world:

• Class Rank:

  • 89% ranked in the top tenth of their high school class

  • 98% ranked in the top quarter

  • 100% ranked in the top half

• SAT Scores (25th-75th percentiles):

  • SAT Composite: 1510-1560

  • Evidence-Based Reading & Writing: 740-780

  • Math: 770-800

• ACT Scores (25th-75th percentiles):

  • ACT Composite: 34-35

  • English: 35-36

  • Math: 32-35

  • Science: 33-36

  • Reading: 34-36

These numbers demonstrate Brown's exceptionally high academic standards, with median test scores placing admitted students in the 99th percentile nationally. Notably, 61% of enrolled first-year students submitted SAT scores, while 24% submitted ACT scores.

Factors in Admission Decisions

Brown provides clear guidance on which factors matter most in their holistic review process:

Very Important Factors:

• Rigor of secondary school record: Taking the most challenging curriculum available

• Academic GPA: Excellence in those challenging courses

• Application Essay: Your writing ability and personal perspective

• Recommendations: What teachers and counselors say about you

• Character/personal qualities: Who you are beyond grades and scores

• Extracurricular activities: How you engage outside the classroom

• Talent/ability: Special skills or aptitudes you bring to campus

Important Factors:

• Class rank: Your academic standing relative to peers

• Standardized test scores: SAT or ACT performance

• First generation status: Being the first in your family to attend college

Considered Factors:

• Interview: Impression made during optional alumni interviews

• Alumni/ae relation: Family connections to Brown

• Geographical residence: Where you come from

• State residency: In-state or out-of-state status

• Volunteer work: Community service involvement

• Work experience: Jobs or internships

• Level of applicant's interest: Demonstrated interest in Brown

Not Considered:

• Religious affiliation/commitment: Faith background has no impact

This breakdown illustrates Brown's commitment to evaluating applicants holistically, with the heaviest emphasis on academic excellence paired with personal qualities and contributions.

Early Decision at Brown

Brown offers an Early Decision program for students who identify it as their clear first choice:

• ED deadline: November 1

• Notification date: Mid-December

• ED applications received: 6,251

• ED applicants admitted: 898

• ED acceptance rate: 14.4%

The Early Decision acceptance rate is substantially higher than the overall rate, suggesting a potential strategic advantage for qualified students who apply ED. However, remember that ED is binding—students must attend if admitted.

Class Sizes and Faculty Interaction

Brown prides itself on providing an intimate academic experience:

• Student-to-faculty ratio: 6 to 1

• Class size distribution:

  • 34.4% of classes have 2-9 students

  • 33.3% of classes have 10-19 students

  • 67.7% of classes have fewer than 20 students

These small class sizes foster close relationships with professors and create opportunities for mentorship and collaborative learning.

Financial Aid and Cost of Attendance

For the 2025-2026 academic year:

• Tuition: $71,700

• Required fees: $2,850

• Room and board: $18,514

• Books and supplies: $1,300

• Other expenses: $2,820

• Total cost of attendance: approximately $97,184

Brown offers generous financial aid:

• Average need-based scholarship/grant for first-year students: $65,370

• Percentage of need met: 100% of demonstrated financial need

• Loan expectations: Minimal, with average need-based self-help award of just $3,045

This demonstrates Brown's commitment to making its education accessible to talented students regardless of financial circumstances.

Student Life and Campus Culture

The CDS reveals interesting aspects of Brown's campus life:

• 75% of undergraduates live in college-owned housing

• Only 4% of men join fraternities and 2% of women join sororities

• 1% of students are 25 or older

• Average age of full-time students is 20

These statistics reflect Brown's residential campus culture with limited Greek life participation compared to some peer institutions.

Success Rates

Brown boasts impressive retention and graduation statistics:

• First-year retention rate: 98.8%

• Six-year graduation rate: 95.7%

These extraordinary rates indicate both student satisfaction and the effectiveness of Brown's academic environment and support systems.

Most Popular Majors

The most common fields of study for recent Brown graduates (percentage of degrees conferred):

• Social Sciences: 25.2%

• Computer and Information Sciences: 12.7%

• Mathematics and Statistics: 9.9%

• Biological/Life Sciences: 9.3%

• Interdisciplinary Studies: 5.6%

• English: 5.1%

• Engineering: 4.5%

• Visual and Performing Arts: 4.5%

This distribution highlights Brown's particular strengths in the social sciences, computer science, and STEM fields, while also demonstrating the intellectual diversity of its student body.

What This Means For Applicants

If you're considering applying to Brown, here's what you should focus on:

1. Academic excellence: Pursue the most challenging courses available at your school and excel in them. With nearly 90% of admitted students in the top tenth of their class, academic performance is crucial.

2. Test preparation: While high test scores alone won't guarantee admission, with 75% of admitted students scoring above 1510 on the SAT or 34 on the ACT, strong scores are important for competitive consideration.

3. Personal qualities: Brown values character deeply. Focus on developing and articulating what makes you unique beyond your academic achievements.

4. Engagement: Pursue extracurricular activities with depth and impact rather than accumulating a long list of superficial involvements.

5. Compelling essays: With application essays rated "very important," invest significant time crafting authentic, reflective writing that showcases your intellectual curiosity and how you'll contribute to Brown's community.

6. Early Decision consideration: If Brown is your absolute first choice, applying Early Decision could provide a strategic advantage, though the standards remain extremely high.

7. Financial considerations: Don't let costs deter you—Brown meets 100% of demonstrated need for all admitted students.

Conclusion

Brown University continues to be among the most selective institutions in the world, seeking academically brilliant students who also demonstrate character, passion, and engagement beyond the classroom. Their holistic admissions process evaluates a wide range of factors, with academic rigor, personal qualities, and extracurricular involvement at the forefront.

The striking aspect of Brown's admissions is the extraordinary academic profile of admitted students—nearly 90% were in the top tenth of their class, with median test scores at the 99th percentile nationally. Yet Brown clearly values much more than just numbers, placing equal importance on personal qualities, essays, and recommendations.

For prospective applicants, the message is clear: true excellence across multiple dimensions—intellectual, personal, and extracurricular—is expected. However, Brown's commitment to meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need ensures this elite education remains accessible to qualified students from all economic backgrounds.

At Cosmic College Consulting, we're here to help you navigate this incredibly competitive landscape and develop the strongest possible application to Brown. Feel free to reach out if you have questions about crafting your Brown application strategy!