Brown University vs Harvard
Brown University and Harvard University, two of the most prestigious institutions in the Ivy League, offer students a world-class education and a transformative college experience. While they share a commitment to academic excellence and a vibrant campus culture, there are some key differences between the two universities. Brown, known for its open curriculum and collaborative learning environment, boasts a lower acceptance rate and a more diverse student body compared to Harvard. Harvard, on the other hand, offers a wider range of academic programs, including more popular majors like Economics and Computer Science, and has a slightly higher graduation rate. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to delve deeper into these distinctions and discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
|
![]() Brown University |
![]() Harvard University |
---|---|---|
Overview |
||
Location | Providence, Rhode Island | Cambridge, Massachusetts |
Campus setting | City: Midsize | City: Midsize |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 98.0% | 96.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
|
||
Admission |
||
Acceptance rate | 5.5% | 4.0% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$75
Graduate:
$75
|
Undergraduate:
$75
Graduate:
$105
|
SAT range | 1460 - 1570 | 1480 - 1580 |
ACT range | 33 - 35 | 33 - 36 |
Students submitting SAT score | 51.0% | 54.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 30.0% | 31.0% |
Total number of applicants | 46,568 | 57,786 |
Total number of admissions given out | 2,568 | 2,318 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,705 | 1,951 |
Yield rate | 66.4% | 84.2% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Not required |
|
||
Tuition and Fees |
||
Sticker price | $82,570 | $78,028 |
Average net price | $25,028 | $13,910 |
Tuition | $60,944 | $51,143 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$10,054
Meal plan:
$6,292
|
Room/dormitory:
$11,705
Meal plan:
$7,236
|
Available payment plans |
|
|
|
||
Financial Aid |
||
Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
46.0%
Average amount $55,420 |
56.0%
Average amount $59,840 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
9.0%
Average amount $5,159 |
3.0%
Average amount $5,180 |
Students taking out private loans |
2.0%
Average amount $27,008 |
2.0%
Average amount $8,080 |
|
||
Students and Campus |
||
Undergraduate students |
7,349
Men 48.1% Women 51.9% |
9,579
Men 49.0% Women 51.0% |
Graduate students |
3,347
Men 50.0% Women 50.0% |
21,766
Men 46.3% Women 53.7% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
|
Moderate
|
Out-of-state students | 96.5% | N/A |
International students | 18.6% | 23.9% |
Campus local/setting | City: Midsize | City: Midsize |
Dormitory capacity | 5,013 | 12,874 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | Yes | Yes |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | New York California Mississippi New Jersey Texas | New York California Texas Illinois New Jersey |
|
||
Academics |
||
Popular study areas |
|
|
Students to faculty ratio | 6:1 | 7:1 |
Institutional accreditation | New England Commission on Higher Education | New England Commission on Higher Education |
|
||
Outcome |
||
Graduation rate | 95.8% | 96.7% |
Dropout rate | 3.7% | 2.0% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Applied Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Engineering, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Public Policy Analysis (Master's Degrees)
Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
International Relations and National Security Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
|
Statistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (First Professional Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
Public Health (Master's Degrees)
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology (Master's Degrees)
Applied Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Education, General (Doctoral Degrees)
Dentistry (First Professional Degrees)
|
Compare Similar Colleges
The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing
statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you
don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page.
There, you can search for the
specific colleges and initiate your comparison.



























































































































































