Brown University — Full Profile & Ranking 2026

Founded in 1764, Brown’s College Hill campus overlooks downtown Providence, blending historic 18th-century buildings with modern academic facilities. Brown is best known for its Open Curriculum, which removes nearly all general education requirements and lets students design their own academic path; students are not required to declare a concentration (major) until the end of their sophomore year. Brown is particularly strong in biology and life sciences, computer science, and international and public affairs.

Brown is ranked 66th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, published by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) in June 2026.

QS ranks universities using academic reputation, employer reputation, citations per faculty, student-to-faculty ratio, and measures of international faculty and students. This is a QS-specific result, not a universal ranking — Times Higher Education, U.S. News, and ARWU use different methods and can order the same universities differently.

Source: QS TopUniversities, QS World University Rankings 2027 (released June 2026).

• Warren Alpert Medical School — Brown’s medical school
• Computer Science — a rapidly growing, highly selected department
• Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs — a major centre for policy and diplomacy studies
• Engineering — School of Engineering, spanning multiple disciplines

For the full list of departments and the Open Curriculum, see Brown’s official website.

Brown admission details below were checked in October 2026. Confirm them on Brown’s admissions site before applying.

Undergraduate Admissions

Graduate Admissions

Graduate admission requirements are set independently by each department, with their own deadlines and, for some programs, standardised test requirements.

Official source: Brown Undergraduate Admission.

Brown’s undergraduate acceptance rate is commonly reported at around 5%, based on recent admission cycles, making it one of the most selective universities in the United States.

Figures are aggregated third-party estimates; always check current entry requirements on Brown’s official admissions pages.

• Choose between Early Decision (Nov 1, binding) or Regular Decision (Jan 5)
• Prepare essays that reflect genuine intellectual curiosity, given the Open Curriculum’s emphasis on self-directed learning
• Request two teacher recommendations and a counsellor recommendation well in advance
• Book a TOEFL/IELTS test early if you are a non-native English speaker
• Apply for need-based financial aid at the same time as your admission application — Brown is need-blind for both domestic and international applicants
• Plan for the full cost of attendance, including housing in Providence
• Check U.S. student visa (F-1) requirements
• Verify every date, fee, and requirement on Brown’s official website before submitting

Brown’s official 2026–2027 undergraduate tuition is $74,568, with a total estimated cost of attendance of $99,984 (including required fees of $3,084, room and board of $19,464, and personal expenses of $2,878).

Source: Brown official Student Financial Services page, checked October 2026. Always confirm the current figure, since fees are reviewed annually.

• Need-blind, no-loan financial aid — Brown meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for admitted students without including loans in standard aid packages
• Need-blind for international applicants — starting with the Class of 2029 (Fall 2025 entry), Brown became need-blind for international undergraduate applicants as well as domestic, one of only a handful of U.S. universities to offer this combination
• Families earning $125,000 or less with typical assets generally pay no tuition

Scholarship and aid policy can change year to year — confirm current details on Brown’s Financial Aid page. Funding is not automatic or guaranteed for every applicant.

Pakistani applicants apply to Brown through the same Common Application process as other international applicants; there is no separate country-specific quota. Practical points:

• Intermediate/A-Level or equivalent results are assessed holistically alongside essays and recommendations
• IELTS and similar English tests are available in major Pakistani cities, including Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad
• Because Brown is need-blind for international applicants and meets full demonstrated need, strong applicants with limited financial resources can still be considered for a full-need aid package — this is assessed individually
• A U.S. student visa (F-1) is required only after formal admission and enrollment confirmation; visa decisions are made solely by U.S. immigration authorities, not by Brown
• Applicants do not need a paid agent to apply — applications are submitted directly through the Common Application portal
• Always verify current deadlines, fees, and requirements on Brown’s official website before applying

• Brown’s College Hill campus overlooks downtown Providence, Rhode Island
• Close relationship with the adjacent Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) for dual-degree students
• International undergraduates matriculate from around 98 countries, reflecting Brown’s growing global student body
• On-campus accommodation is available for most undergraduates

• Brown is a major research university with particular strength in biology, computer science, and international affairs
• The Watson Institute connects students to international diplomacy and policy networks
• Brown does not guarantee employment, salary, or visa outcomes after graduation

• Numerous authors and creative writers
• Prominent figures in international diplomacy through the Watson Institute network

Brown University
Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States
Admissions email: admission@brown.edu
Official website: brown.edu

Contact details can change year to year — check the official website for the most current information.