BU vs. Brown

Deciding between Boston University and Brown University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Boston University
Brown University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • BU Boston, MA
  • Brown Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • BU Large City
  • Brown Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • BU 37,737
  • Brown 11,956
  • Type
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • Brown Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BU #73
  • Brown #11
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BU -
  • Brown -
  • Status
  • BU Non-profit
  • Brown Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BU
  • Brown

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Brown $71,412
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Brown $71,412
  • Room & Board
  • BU $19,020
  • Brown $17,444
  • Average Net Price
  • BU $24,420
  • Brown $26,256
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BU $61,848
  • Brown $61,392
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BU 49%
  • Brown 52%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BU 78,769
  • Brown 48,904
  • Admitted
  • BU 8,749
  • Brown 2,638
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BU 11.1%
  • Brown 5.4%
  • Enrolled
  • BU 37.4%
  • Brown 65.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BU 1480
  • Brown 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • BU 33
  • Brown 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • BU 3.79
  • Brown 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BU A-
  • Brown A
  • Admissions Standards
  • BU Exceptional
  • Brown Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • BU Very High
  • Brown Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • BU 32/34
  • Brown 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • BU 1420/1530
  • Brown 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Brown Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • BU Jan 4, 2027
  • Brown Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BU 10:1
  • Brown 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
  • Brown
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BU 85%
  • Brown 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BU $72,000
  • Brown $87,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BU 82%
  • Brown 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BU $27,000
  • Brown $15,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BU $279
  • Brown $155

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BU 42%
  • Brown 48%
  • % Women
  • BU 58%
  • Brown 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BU Very High
  • Brown Very High
  • HBCU
  • BU No
  • Brown No
  • % White
  • BU 43%
  • Brown 43%
  • % Asian
  • BU 14%
  • Brown 13%
  • % Black
  • BU 4%
  • Brown 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • BU 11%
  • Brown 11%
  • % Native American
  • BU 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BU 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BU 4%
  • Brown 6%
  • % International
  • BU 20%
  • Brown 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BU 5%
  • Brown 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BU 15%
  • Brown 3%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BU 62%
  • Brown 79%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • BU Yes
  • Brown Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • BU No
  • Brown Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • BU Yes
  • Brown Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • BU Yes
  • Brown No
  • Daycare Facility
  • BU No
  • Brown No

Comparable Facts

Compare Boston University in Boston, MA with Brown University in Providence, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Boston University is larger than Brown based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 11,956 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Boston University is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Brown University is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Boston University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Brown University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Boston University 10:1; Brown University 6:1.

BU vs. Brown Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BU or Brown? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Boston University than Brown ($24,420 vs. $26,256).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Brown University are 8.3% lower than at Boston University ($17,444 vs. $19,020).
  • Brown University is 4.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than BU (about $3,310 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $68,102.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.9% higher at Brown than at Boston University (about $3,310 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $68,102.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Brown University than at Boston University (52% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 0.7% larger than aid received by Brown University students ($61,848 vs. $61,392).

BU vs. Brown Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BU or Brown? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Brown and BU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Brown University (1550) is 70 points higher than at BU (1480).
  • Incoming Brown students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at BU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 1420/1530; Brown University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 32/34; Brown University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BU - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Brown - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: BU Jan 4, 2027; Brown Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Brown students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at BU (3.79).
  • BU has a higher acceptance rate (11.1%) than Brown (5.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 37.4% at BU vs. 65.2% at Brown.

BU vs. Brown Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BU and Brown? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Brown University's six-year graduation rate (95%) is higher than Boston University's (85%).
  • Graduates from Brown University earn a median of about $15,600 more per year than BU graduates about ten years after starting college ($87,600 vs. $72,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Brown University graduates have a $12,000 lower median loan debt than BU graduates ($15,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Brown graduates have an estimated $124 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BU graduates ($155 vs. $279).
  • More Brown graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BU students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 82%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.