Brown University vs Vanderbilt
Brown University and Vanderbilt University, two prestigious private research universities, offer distinct educational experiences. Brown, located in Providence, Rhode Island, boasts an acceptance rate of 7.1% and is known for its open curriculum, allowing students to design their own academic paths. Vanderbilt, situated in Nashville, Tennessee, has a slightly higher acceptance rate of 10.3% and is renowned for its strong pre-professional programs, particularly in medicine, law, and business. While both universities attract talented students from diverse backgrounds, Brown's student body is slightly larger, with an undergraduate enrollment of 6,700 compared to Vanderbilt's 6,300. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more about these institutions' differences in popular majors, graduation rates, and other key aspects, helping you make an informed decision about your higher education journey.
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![]() Brown University |
![]() Vanderbilt University |
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Overview |
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Location | Providence, Rhode Island | Nashville, Tennessee |
Campus setting | City: Midsize | City: Large |
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% | 97.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 5.5% | 7.1% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$75
Graduate:
$75
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Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$95
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SAT range | 1460 - 1570 | 1480 - 1570 |
ACT range | 33 - 35 | 34 - 35 |
Students submitting SAT score | 51.0% | 25.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 30.0% | 32.0% |
Total number of applicants | 46,568 | 47,152 |
Total number of admissions given out | 2,568 | 3,368 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,705 | 1,626 |
Yield rate | 66.4% | 48.3% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $82,570 | $79,538 |
Average net price | $25,028 | $27,553 |
Tuition | $60,944 | $54,840 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$10,054
Meal plan:
$6,292
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Room/dormitory:
$12,000
Meal plan:
$6,376
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
46.0%
Average amount $55,420 |
64.0%
Average amount $49,730 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
9.0%
Average amount $5,159 |
10.0%
Average amount $4,979 |
Students taking out private loans |
2.0%
Average amount $27,008 |
2.0%
Average amount $27,798 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
7,349
Men 48.1% Women 51.9% |
7,111
Men 48.9% Women 51.1% |
Graduate students |
3,347
Men 50.0% Women 50.0% |
6,685
Men 39.5% Women 60.5% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | 96.5% | 89.5% |
International students | 18.6% | 11.7% |
Campus local/setting | City: Midsize | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 5,013 | 5,598 |
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 | Tennessee California New York Florida Texas |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 6:1 | 8:1 |
Institutional accreditation | New England Commission on Higher Education | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 95.8% | 93.4% |
Dropout rate | 3.7% | 6.4% |
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)
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Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies (Master's Degrees)
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Marketing (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (First Professional Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
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