MIT vs. Brown

Deciding between Massachusetts Institute of Technology 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.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Brown University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • MIT Cambridge, MA
  • Brown Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • MIT Midsize City
  • Brown Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • MIT 11,886
  • Brown 11,956
  • Type
  • MIT Private 4 Year
  • Brown Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MIT #8
  • Brown #11
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MIT -
  • Brown -
  • Status
  • MIT Non-profit
  • Brown Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MIT
  • Brown

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MIT $62,396
  • Brown $71,412
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MIT $62,396
  • Brown $71,412
  • Room & Board
  • MIT $20,280
  • Brown $17,444
  • Average Net Price
  • MIT $20,996
  • Brown $26,256
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MIT $61,734
  • Brown $61,392
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MIT 59%
  • Brown 52%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • MIT 28,232
  • Brown 48,904
  • Admitted
  • MIT 1,284
  • Brown 2,638
  • Acceptance Rate
  • MIT 4.5%
  • Brown 5.4%
  • Enrolled
  • MIT 85.8%
  • Brown 65.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • MIT 1550
  • Brown 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • MIT 35
  • Brown 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • MIT 3.96
  • Brown 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • MIT A-
  • Brown A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • MIT Elite
  • Brown Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • MIT Extreme
  • Brown Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • MIT 34/36
  • Brown 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • MIT 1520/1580
  • Brown 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • MIT Required to be considered for admission
  • Brown Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • MIT Jan 1, 2027
  • Brown Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MIT 3:1
  • Brown 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MIT
    • Engineering (41%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (13%)
    • Physical Sciences (10%)
    • Mathematics (8%)
    • Biology (8%)
  • Brown
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • MIT 93%
  • Brown 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MIT $142,100
  • Brown $87,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MIT 92%
  • Brown 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MIT $17,316
  • Brown $15,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MIT $179
  • Brown $155

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MIT 58%
  • Brown 47%
  • % Women
  • MIT 42%
  • Brown 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MIT Very High
  • Brown Very High
  • HBCU
  • MIT No
  • Brown No
  • % White
  • MIT 37%
  • Brown 43%
  • % Asian
  • MIT 25%
  • Brown 13%
  • % Black
  • MIT 6%
  • Brown 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • MIT 15%
  • Brown 11%
  • % Native American
  • MIT 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MIT 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MIT 6%
  • Brown 6%
  • % International
  • MIT 10%
  • Brown 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MIT 2%
  • Brown 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MIT 8%
  • Brown 3%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MIT 80%
  • Brown 79%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Brown University is larger than MIT based on total student enrollment (11,956 students vs. 11,886 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Brown University is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Brown University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 3:1; Brown University 6:1.

MIT vs. Brown Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MIT 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 Massachusetts Institute of Technology than Brown ($20,996 vs. $26,256).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Brown University are 14% lower than at Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($17,444 vs. $20,280).
  • Brown University is 14.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than MIT (about $9,016 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $62,396.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 14.4% higher at Brown than at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (about $9,016 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $62,396.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Massachusetts Institute of Technology than at Brown University (59% vs. 52%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Massachusetts Institute of Technology students is 0.6% larger than aid received by Brown University students ($61,734 vs. $61,392).

MIT vs. Brown Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MIT 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 MIT.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1550) is the same as at Brown (1550).
  • Incoming MIT 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: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1520/1580; Brown University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 34/36; Brown University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MIT - Required to be considered for admission; Brown - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: MIT Jan 1, 2027; Brown Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman MIT 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 MIT (4.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 85.8% at MIT vs. 65.2% at Brown.

MIT vs. Brown Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MIT 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 Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (93%).
  • Graduates from Massachusetts Institute of Technology earn a median of about $54,500 more per year than Brown graduates about ten years after starting college ($142,100 vs. $87,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Brown University graduates have a $2,316 lower median loan debt than MIT graduates ($15,000 vs. $17,316).
  • Among borrowers, Brown graduates have an estimated $24 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MIT graduates ($155 vs. $179).
  • More MIT graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Brown students, three years after graduation. (92% 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.