Duke vs. Brown

Deciding between Duke 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.

Duke University
Brown University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Duke Durham, NC
  • Brown Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Duke Midsize City
  • Brown Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Duke 17,499
  • Brown 11,956
  • Type
  • Duke Private 4 Year
  • Brown Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Duke #2
  • Brown #11
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Duke United Methodist
  • Brown -
  • Status
  • Duke Non-profit
  • Brown Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Duke
  • Brown

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Duke $68,758
  • Brown $71,412
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Duke $68,758
  • Brown $71,412
  • Room & Board
  • Duke $18,128
  • Brown $17,444
  • Average Net Price
  • Duke $21,981
  • Brown $26,256
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Duke $65,522
  • Brown $61,392
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Duke 43%
  • Brown 52%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Duke 51,795
  • Brown 48,904
  • Admitted
  • Duke 2,957
  • Brown 2,638
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Duke 5.7%
  • Brown 5.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Duke 58.8%
  • Brown 65.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Duke 1540
  • Brown 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Duke 34
  • Brown 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Duke 3.94
  • Brown 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Duke A
  • Brown A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Duke Elite
  • Brown Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Duke Extreme
  • Brown Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Duke 34/35
  • Brown 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Duke 1500/1570
  • Brown 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Duke Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Brown Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Duke Jan 3, 2027
  • Brown Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Duke 5:1
  • Brown 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Duke
    • Social Sciences (24%)
    • Engineering (16%)
    • Human Services (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Brown
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Duke 94%
  • Brown 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Duke $108,900
  • Brown $87,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Duke 89%
  • Brown 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Duke $7,500
  • Brown $15,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Duke $77
  • Brown $155

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Duke 44%
  • Brown 48%
  • % Women
  • Duke 56%
  • Brown 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Duke Very High
  • Brown Very High
  • HBCU
  • Duke No
  • Brown No
  • % White
  • Duke 46%
  • Brown 43%
  • % Asian
  • Duke 22%
  • Brown 13%
  • % Black
  • Duke 10%
  • Brown 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Duke 7%
  • Brown 11%
  • % Native American
  • Duke 1%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Duke 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Duke 2%
  • Brown 6%
  • % International
  • Duke 10%
  • Brown 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Duke 2%
  • Brown 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Duke 15%
  • Brown 3%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Duke 73%
  • Brown 79%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Duke University is larger than Brown based on total student enrollment (17,499 students vs. 11,956 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Duke University is located in Durham, NC (Midsize City setting); Brown University is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Duke University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Brown University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Duke University 5:1; Brown University 6:1.

Duke vs. Brown Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Duke 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 Duke University than Brown ($21,981 vs. $26,256).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Brown University are 3.8% lower than at Duke University ($17,444 vs. $18,128).
  • Brown University is 3.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Duke (about $2,654 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $68,758.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.9% higher at Brown than at Duke University (about $2,654 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $68,758.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Brown University than at Duke University (52% vs. 43%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Duke University students is 6.7% larger than aid received by Brown University students ($65,522 vs. $61,392).

Duke vs. Brown Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Duke 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 Duke.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Brown University (1550) is 10 points higher than at Duke (1540).
  • Incoming Duke students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Brown (34).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Duke University 1500/1570; Brown University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Duke University 34/35; Brown University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Duke - 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: Duke Jan 3, 2027; Brown Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Duke students have the same average high school GPA (3.94) as students at Brown (3.94).
  • Duke has a higher acceptance rate (5.7%) than Brown (5.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 58.8% at Duke vs. 65.2% at Brown.

Duke vs. Brown Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Duke 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 Duke University's (94%).
  • Graduates from Duke University earn a median of about $21,300 more per year than Brown graduates about ten years after starting college ($108,900 vs. $87,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Duke University graduates have a $7,500 lower median loan debt than Brown graduates ($7,500 vs. $15,000).
  • Among borrowers, Duke graduates have an estimated $78 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Brown graduates ($77 vs. $155).
  • More Brown graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Duke students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 89%)

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.