Brown vs. URI

Deciding between Brown University and University of Rhode Island? 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
University of Rhode Island

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Brown Providence, RI
  • URI Kingston, RI
  • Setting
  • Brown Midsize City
  • URI Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Brown 11,956
  • URI 17,210
  • Type
  • Brown Private 4 Year
  • URI Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Brown #11
  • URI #425
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Brown -
  • URI -
  • Status
  • Brown Non-profit
  • URI Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Brown
  • URI

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Brown $71,412
  • URI $16,942
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Brown $71,412
  • URI $37,146
  • Room & Board
  • Brown $17,444
  • URI $15,607
  • Average Net Price
  • Brown $26,256
  • URI $24,118
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Brown $61,392
  • URI $12,578
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Brown 52%
  • URI 96%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Brown 48,904
  • URI 26,987
  • Admitted
  • Brown 2,638
  • URI 19,475
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Brown 5.4%
  • URI 72.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Brown 65.2%
  • URI 15.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Brown 1550
  • URI 1150
  • Typical ACT score
  • Brown 34
  • URI
  • Average High School GPA
  • Brown 3.94
  • URI 3.58
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Brown A
  • URI A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Brown Elite
  • URI Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • Brown Extreme
  • URI Low
  • ACT Range
  • Brown 34/35
  • URI
  • SAT Range
  • Brown 1510/1580
  • URI 1020/1280
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Brown Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • URI Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Brown Jan 5, 2027
  • URI Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Brown 6:1
  • URI 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Brown
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • URI
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Brown 95%
  • URI 63%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Brown $87,600
  • URI $56,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Brown 89%
  • URI 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Brown $15,000
  • URI $23,438
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Brown $155
  • URI $242

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Brown 48%
  • URI 41%
  • % Women
  • Brown 52%
  • URI 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Brown Very High
  • URI Low
  • HBCU
  • Brown No
  • URI No
  • % White
  • Brown 43%
  • URI 71%
  • % Asian
  • Brown 13%
  • URI 3%
  • % Black
  • Brown 7%
  • URI 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Brown 11%
  • URI 9%
  • % Native American
  • Brown 0%
  • URI 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Brown 0%
  • URI 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Brown 6%
  • URI 3%
  • % International
  • Brown 12%
  • URI 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Brown 7%
  • URI 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Brown 3%
  • URI 42%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Brown 79%
  • URI 57%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Brown University in Providence, RI with University of Rhode Island in Kingston, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Rhode Island is larger than Brown based on total student enrollment (17,210 students vs. 11,956 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Brown University is located in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting); University of Rhode Island is in Kingston, RI (Large Suburban setting).
  • Brown University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Rhode Island is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Brown University 6:1; University of Rhode Island 17:1.

Brown vs. URI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Brown or URI? 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 University of Rhode Island than Brown ($24,118 vs. $26,256).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Rhode Island are 10.5% lower than at Brown University ($15,607 vs. $17,444).
  • Brown University is 321.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than URI (about $54,470 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $16,942.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 92.2% higher at Brown than at University of Rhode Island (about $34,266 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $37,146.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Rhode Island than at Brown University (96% vs. 52%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Brown University students is 388.1% larger than aid received by University of Rhode Island students ($61,392 vs. $12,578).

Brown vs. URI Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Brown University (1550) is 400 points higher than at URI (1150).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Brown University 1510/1580; University of Rhode Island 1020/1280.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Brown University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Brown - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); URI - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: Brown Jan 5, 2027; URI Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Brown students have a 0.36 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at URI (3.58).
  • URI has a higher acceptance rate (72.2%) than Brown (5.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 65.2% at Brown vs. 15.4% at URI.

Brown vs. URI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Brown and URI? 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 University of Rhode Island's (63%).
  • Graduates from Brown University earn a median of about $31,400 more per year than URI graduates about ten years after starting college ($87,600 vs. $56,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Brown University graduates have a $8,438 lower median loan debt than URI graduates ($15,000 vs. $23,438).
  • Among borrowers, Brown graduates have an estimated $87 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than URI graduates ($155 vs. $242).
  • More Brown graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former URI students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 69%)

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.