Harvard vs. Brown

Deciding between Harvard 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.

Harvard University
Brown University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Brown Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Brown Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Brown 11,956
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • Brown Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • Brown #11
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • Brown -
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Brown Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • Brown

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Brown $71,412
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Brown $71,412
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Brown $17,444
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Brown $26,256
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • Brown $61,392
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • Brown 52%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Brown 48,904
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Brown 2,638
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Brown 5.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Brown 65.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • Brown 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • Brown 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Brown 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Brown A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • Brown Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • Brown Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • Brown 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Brown 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required to be considered for admission
  • Brown Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • Brown Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Brown 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • Brown
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • Brown 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Brown $87,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • Brown 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Brown $15,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • Brown $155

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • Brown 48%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • Brown 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • Brown Very High
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • Brown No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • Brown 43%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • Brown 13%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • Brown 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • Brown 11%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • Brown 6%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • Brown 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • Brown 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • Brown 3%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • Brown 79%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Harvard University is larger than Brown based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 11,956 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvard University is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Brown University is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Brown University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Harvard University 7:1; Brown University 6:1.

Harvard vs. Brown Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard 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 Harvard University than Brown ($17,525 vs. $26,256).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Brown University are 17.7% lower than at Harvard University ($17,444 vs. $21,190).
  • Brown University is 15.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harvard (about $9,736 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 15.8% higher at Brown than at Harvard University (about $9,736 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Harvard University than at Brown University (56% vs. 52%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 10.8% larger than aid received by Brown University students ($68,015 vs. $61,392).

Harvard vs. Brown Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Harvard 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 Harvard.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is the same as at Brown (1550).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 34 at Brown).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; Brown University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36; Brown University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required to be considered for admission; Brown - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; Brown Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Brown (3.94).
  • Brown has a higher acceptance rate (5.4%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 65.2% at Brown.

Harvard vs. Brown Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard 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).

  • Harvard University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than Brown University's (95%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $49,100 more per year than Brown graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $87,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $8,500 lower median loan debt than Brown graduates ($6,500 vs. $15,000).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $88 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Brown graduates ($67 vs. $155).
  • More Brown graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 70%)

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.