For individuals interested in Brown University, the article includes a comprehensive guide with all the necessary details about the Brown Acceptance Rate.
Unlike some of the Ivy League universities, students at Brown University prefer a more friendly and creative classroom environment over a competitive one. They value curiosity, arts, and progressiveness. Brown’s special Open Curriculum lets students explore their academic interests right from the start.
However, getting the chance to study for four years at Brown in Providence, Rhode Island, with renowned professors, is something you have to earn. Brown has always been quite picky about its students, but these days, the acceptance rates are much lower compared to ten or twenty years ago. Back in 2000, around 16.2% of applicants got in; for the Class of 2027, only 5% were accepted.
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Where is Brown University?
Brown University is located in the city of Providence in the state of Rhode Island. Campus rests in the heart of this diverse and vibrant city in the College Hill neighborhood.
Is Brown University an Ivy League School?
Yes, Brown is in fact a member of the Ivy League all the way back in 1769. At the time, it was the third college in New England and the seventh in the Colonies.
Brown University Early Decision Acceptance Rate – Class of 2027
Of the 6,770 early decision applications received for a place in the Class of 2027, Brown accepted just 879, a 13% acceptance rate. The previous cycle saw 14.6% of ED applicants accepted.
Brown Acceptance Rate – Class of 2027
Out of the largest applicant pool in school history—51,302 to be exact—only 2,609 emerged from the process with an acceptance letter in hand. The overall Brown acceptance rate was 5.1%. The last time that Brown’s acceptance rate was in double-digits was for the Class of 2013 when 11.2% were accepted.
Historical Brown acceptance rates are as follows:
- Class of 2026: 5.0%
- Class of 2025: 5.5%
Brown Admissions – SAT, ACT, and Class Rank
For the Class of 2026, the middle SAT score was 1520, and the middle ACT score was 34. Moreover, an impressive 92% achieved a combined ACT score higher than 32, and 95% scored over 700 in the math portion of the SAT. A remarkable 91% ranked in the highest 10% of their high school class, and 98% were in the top quarter.
Admissions Trends & Notes – (Class of 2027)
- The regular decision acceptance rate was 3.8%.
- Applications increased slightly for the Class of 2027.
- Only 1.7% were admitted to the Program in Liberal Medical Education and 2% to the Brown-RISD dual degree program.
- Brown admitted a similar number of men and women into the Class of 2027.
- 8% of admitted Brown freshmen were from rural areas.
Who Actually Gets Into Brown?
Let’s now turn our attention to the demographics of the Brown undergraduate student body.
Geography- National
The greatest number of admitted students hail from:
- 1) California
- 2) New York
- 3) Massachusetts
- 4) Connecticut
- 5) New Jersey
- 6) Rhode Island
- 7) Texas
- 8) Florida
- 9) Illinois
- 10) Pennsylvania
As at any Ivy League or other elite school, Brown is seeking geographic diversity. If you hail from the Deep South or a less-populated state like Wyoming or Idaho, your location is likely to help your cause.
Geography- International
The five countries from which the most current undergrads hail are:
- 1) China
- 2) UK
- 3) Canada
- 4) Ukraine
- 5) South Korea
Ethnicity
Looking at ethnic identity, the breakdown of the current Brown undergraduate student body is as follows (percentages do not add up to 100% as applicants can list multiple races):
- White: 41%
- Asian: 18%
- Hispanic: 11%
- African American: 8%
- Two or more races: 7%
- Unknown: 3%
The top intended concentrations of last year’s freshmen are:
- Computer Science
- Economics
- Political science
- Engineering
- International and Public Affairs
Brown’s Yield Rate
Brown University has a yield rate of 67%, positioning it below esteemed institutions like Harvard, Stanford, Penn, and Yale. Nonetheless, Brown surpasses Cornell (64%), Notre Dame (60%), and Northwestern (60%) in terms of its yield rate.
This statistic indicates that a significant portion of applicants consider Brown as their top preference. This sentiment is reinforced by the increasing trend of students opting for binding early decision applications each year.
How Brown Evaluates Applicants
Brown University seeks students who display a strong sense of curiosity and a desire to create meaningful contributions. To select the top 5% from a pool of talented applicants, Brown employs a holistic approach to admissions, avoiding rigid formulas.
According to the Brown admissions office, this method involves understanding how each applicant can enrich the dynamic academic, social, and extracurricular environment at the university. They evaluate individual talents, achievements, energy, inquisitiveness, perspective, and identity in the context of the evolving fabric of Brown University.
Brown prioritizes eight aspects as “very important” in the admissions process: challenging high school courses, class ranking, GPA, test scores, application essay, recommendations, unique skills, and personal qualities. Authentic excellence in specific extracurricular activities is valued over merely listing many activities. This might include accomplishments like winning international competitions, showcasing musical prowess, publishing academic work or fiction, initiating impactful charitable endeavors, or excelling as an athletic recruit for one of Brown’s 34 varsity sports teams.
Tips for Applying to Brown
If you plan on joining the 50,000+ Brown hopefuls for the next admissions cycle, you should know the following:
1) Brown gives applicants the option of an alumni interview which can be conducted in-person or over the phone/Skype, or through the submission of a two-minute video portfolio. Those electing for the latter option can upload a video into their Applicant Portal on whatever topic they choose. Popular topics include:
- Why you chose Brown
- Your academic interests
- An individual who has influenced you
- Your community
For those opting for the interview, advice on what types of questions you should be prepared to answer/ask can be found in our blog—College Interview Tips.
2) According to the university, a typical class includes 10-12% of students who can be classified as “legacies” meaning that they have an immediate relative (usually a parent) who attended the school. Those with Brown lineage will enjoy an advantage in the admissions process.
3. At Brown University, you don’t need to worry about showing “demonstrated interest,” so visiting the campus or using social media to prove your commitment isn’t necessary.
4. Teacher recommendations are important at Brown. As we mentioned before in our blog about asking for teacher recommendations, it’s best to approach teachers in core subjects who can strongly support your exceptional abilities.
Think about whether any of your teachers could confidently say things like, “She’s one of the best math students I’ve taught in my career,” or “He’s one of the top students in American Literature I’ve seen in my many years of teaching.” These strong endorsements are exactly what Brown’s admissions officers are looking for.
5) Make sure to dedicate sufficient time and effort to the supplemental essays and short answers required by Brown:
a) Brown’s Open Curriculum allows students to explore broadly while also diving deeply into their academic pursuits. Tell us about an academic interest (or interests) that excites you, and how you might use the Open Curriculum to pursue it. (250 words)
b) Brown’s culture fosters a community in which students challenge the ideas of others and have their ideas challenged in return, promoting a deeper and clearer understanding of the complex issues confronting society. This active engagement in dialogue is as present outside the classroom as it is in academic spaces. Tell us about a time you were challenged by a perspective that differed from your own. How did you respond? (200-250 words)
c) 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. (200-250 words)
These essays are EXTREMELY important in the admissions process. Brown sincerely wants to know a great deal about each student offered a place in their freshman class. Do your research, be sincere in what you express, and convince the admissions readers that you will be an active member of the community who takes full advantage of the Open Curriculum.
Summary of Brown University Acceptance Rate
If you have the necessary academic qualifications, there’s no harm in applying to Brown University, as long as you can afford the $75 application fee. However, it’s important to understand that, like many other prestigious and highly competitive schools in the 2023-24 academic year, Brown University is considered a “Reach” school for almost all applicants. This includes those who have excellent academic records and perfect scores on standardized tests. It’s crucial to remember that even strong applicants should have a mix of “Target” and “Safety” schools in their list of options
