Fordham vs. Brown

Deciding between Fordham 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.

Fordham University
Brown University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Fordham Bronx, NY
  • Brown Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Fordham Large City
  • Brown Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Fordham 16,150
  • Brown 11,956
  • Type
  • Fordham Private 4 Year
  • Brown Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Fordham #133
  • Brown #11
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Fordham Roman Catholic
  • Brown -
  • Status
  • Fordham Non-profit
  • Brown Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Fordham
  • Brown

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Fordham $64,915
  • Brown $71,412
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Fordham $64,915
  • Brown $71,412
  • Room & Board
  • Fordham $24,090
  • Brown $17,444
  • Average Net Price
  • Fordham $48,190
  • Brown $26,256
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Fordham $35,988
  • Brown $61,392
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Fordham 95%
  • Brown 52%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Fordham 43,364
  • Brown 48,904
  • Admitted
  • Fordham 25,719
  • Brown 2,638
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Fordham 59.3%
  • Brown 5.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Fordham 9.7%
  • Brown 65.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Fordham 1400
  • Brown 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Fordham 31
  • Brown 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Fordham 3.67
  • Brown 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Fordham A-
  • Brown A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Fordham Exceptional
  • Brown Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Fordham Low
  • Brown Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Fordham 30/33
  • Brown 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Fordham 1320/1480
  • Brown 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Fordham Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Brown Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Fordham Jan 1, 2027
  • Brown Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Fordham 14:1
  • Brown 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Fordham
    • Business (26%)
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Communication (13%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
  • Brown
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Fordham 78%
  • Brown 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Fordham $64,200
  • Brown $87,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Fordham 77%
  • Brown 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Fordham $26,000
  • Brown $15,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Fordham $268
  • Brown $155

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Fordham 39%
  • Brown 48%
  • % Women
  • Fordham 61%
  • Brown 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Fordham High
  • Brown Very High
  • HBCU
  • Fordham No
  • Brown No
  • % White
  • Fordham 59%
  • Brown 43%
  • % Asian
  • Fordham 10%
  • Brown 13%
  • % Black
  • Fordham 4%
  • Brown 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Fordham 14%
  • Brown 11%
  • % Native American
  • Fordham 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Fordham 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Fordham 3%
  • Brown 6%
  • % International
  • Fordham 7%
  • Brown 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Fordham 2%
  • Brown 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Fordham 38%
  • Brown 3%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Fordham 51%
  • Brown 79%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Fordham University is larger than Brown based on total student enrollment (16,150 students vs. 11,956 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Fordham University is located in Bronx, NY (Large City setting); Brown University is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Fordham University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Brown University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Fordham University 14:1; Brown University 6:1.

Fordham vs. Brown Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fordham 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 Brown University than Fordham ($26,256 vs. $48,190).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Brown University are 27.6% lower than at Fordham University ($17,444 vs. $24,090).
  • Brown University is 10% more expensive for in-state tuition than Fordham (about $6,497 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $64,915.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 10% higher at Brown than at Fordham University (about $6,497 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $64,915.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fordham University than at Brown University (95% vs. 52%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Brown University students is 70.6% larger than aid received by Fordham University students ($61,392 vs. $35,988).

Fordham vs. Brown Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Fordham 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 Fordham.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Brown University (1550) is 150 points higher than at Fordham (1400).
  • Incoming Brown students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 31 at Fordham).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Fordham University 1320/1480; Brown University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Fordham University 30/33; Brown University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Fordham - 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: Fordham Jan 1, 2027; Brown Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Brown students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Fordham (3.67).
  • Fordham has a higher acceptance rate (59.3%) than Brown (5.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.7% at Fordham vs. 65.2% at Brown.

Fordham vs. Brown Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Fordham 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 Fordham University's (78%).
  • Graduates from Brown University earn a median of about $23,400 more per year than Fordham graduates about ten years after starting college ($87,600 vs. $64,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Brown University graduates have a $11,000 lower median loan debt than Fordham graduates ($15,000 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, Brown graduates have an estimated $113 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Fordham graduates ($155 vs. $268).
  • More Brown graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fordham students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 77%)

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.