Brown vs. Stanford

Deciding between Brown University and Stanford 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.

Brown University
Stanford University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Brown Providence, RI
  • Stanford Stanford, CA
  • Setting
  • Brown Midsize City
  • Stanford Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Brown 11,956
  • Stanford 18,625
  • Type
  • Brown Private 4 Year
  • Stanford Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Brown #11
  • Stanford #3
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Brown -
  • Stanford -
  • Status
  • Brown Non-profit
  • Stanford Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Brown
  • Stanford

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Brown $71,412
  • Stanford $65,910
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Brown $71,412
  • Stanford $65,910
  • Room & Board
  • Brown $17,444
  • Stanford $21,315
  • Average Net Price
  • Brown $26,256
  • Stanford $25,078
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Brown $61,392
  • Stanford $62,755
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Brown 52%
  • Stanford 61%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Brown 48,904
  • Stanford 57,326
  • Admitted
  • Brown 2,638
  • Stanford 2,067
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Brown 5.4%
  • Stanford 3.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Brown 65.2%
  • Stanford 81.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Brown 1550
  • Stanford 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Brown 34
  • Stanford 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Brown 3.94
  • Stanford 3.96
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Brown A
  • Stanford A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Brown Elite
  • Stanford Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Brown Extreme
  • Stanford Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Brown 34/35
  • Stanford 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Brown 1510/1580
  • Stanford 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Brown Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Stanford Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Brown Jan 5, 2027
  • Stanford Jan 2, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Brown 6:1
  • Stanford 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Brown
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Stanford
    • Social Sciences (21%)
    • General Studies (16%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Brown 95%
  • Stanford 96%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Brown $87,600
  • Stanford $122,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Brown 89%
  • Stanford 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Brown $15,000
  • Stanford $12,475
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Brown $155
  • Stanford $128

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Brown 48%
  • Stanford 52%
  • % Women
  • Brown 52%
  • Stanford 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Brown Very High
  • Stanford Very High
  • HBCU
  • Brown No
  • Stanford No
  • % White
  • Brown 43%
  • Stanford 37%
  • % Asian
  • Brown 13%
  • Stanford 20%
  • % Black
  • Brown 7%
  • Stanford 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Brown 11%
  • Stanford 15%
  • % Native American
  • Brown 0%
  • Stanford 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Brown 0%
  • Stanford 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Brown 6%
  • Stanford 10%
  • % International
  • Brown 12%
  • Stanford 9%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Brown 7%
  • Stanford 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Brown 3%
  • Stanford 38%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Brown 79%
  • Stanford 45%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Stanford University is larger than Brown based on total student enrollment (18,625 students vs. 11,956 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Brown vs. Stanford Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Brown or Stanford? 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 Stanford University than Brown ($25,078 vs. $26,256).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Brown University are 18.2% lower than at Stanford University ($17,444 vs. $21,315).
  • Brown University is 8.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Stanford (about $5,502 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $65,910.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 8.3% higher at Brown than at Stanford University (about $5,502 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $65,910.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Stanford University than at Brown University (61% vs. 52%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Stanford University students is 2.2% larger than aid received by Brown University students ($62,755 vs. $61,392).

Brown vs. Stanford Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Brown or Stanford? 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 Stanford and Brown.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Brown University (1550) is the same as at Stanford (1550).
  • Incoming Brown students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Stanford (34).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Brown University 1510/1580; Stanford University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Brown University 34/35; Stanford University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Brown - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Stanford - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: Brown Jan 5, 2027; Stanford Jan 2, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Stanford students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at Brown (3.94).
  • Brown has a higher acceptance rate (5.4%) than Stanford (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 65.2% at Brown vs. 81.9% at Stanford.

Brown vs. Stanford Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Brown and Stanford? 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).

  • Stanford University's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Brown University's (95%).
  • Graduates from Stanford University earn a median of about $35,300 more per year than Brown graduates about ten years after starting college ($122,900 vs. $87,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Stanford University graduates have a $2,525 lower median loan debt than Brown graduates ($12,475 vs. $15,000).
  • Among borrowers, Stanford graduates have an estimated $27 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Brown graduates ($128 vs. $155).
  • More Brown graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Stanford students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 88%)

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.