NYU vs. Brown

Deciding between New York University and Brown University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,500 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

New York University
Brown University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • NYU New York, NY
  • Brown Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • NYU Large City
  • Brown Midsize City
  • Enrollment
  • NYU 56,832
  • Brown 11,956
  • Type
  • NYU Private 4 Year
  • Brown Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • NYU #43
  • Brown #11
  • Religious Affiliation
  • NYU -
  • Brown -
  • Status
  • NYU Non-profit
  • Brown Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • NYU
  • Brown

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • NYU $62,796
  • Brown $71,412
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • NYU $62,796
  • Brown $71,412
  • Room & Board
  • NYU $23,530
  • Brown $17,444
  • Average Net Price
  • NYU $30,325
  • Brown $26,256
  • Average Grant Aid
  • NYU $53,901
  • Brown $61,392
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • NYU 37%
  • Brown 52%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • NYU 110,807
  • Brown 48,904
  • Admitted
  • NYU 10,232
  • Brown 2,638
  • Acceptance Rate
  • NYU 9.2%
  • Brown 5.4%
  • Enrolled
  • NYU 55.4%
  • Brown 65.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • NYU 1520
  • Brown 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • NYU 34
  • Brown 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • NYU 3.79
  • Brown 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • NYU A-
  • Brown A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • NYU Elite
  • Brown Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • NYU Extreme
  • Brown Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • NYU 34/35
  • Brown 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • NYU 1480/1560
  • Brown 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • NYU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Brown Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • NYU
  • Brown Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • NYU 8:1
  • Brown 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • NYU
    • Business (19%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (18%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
    • Communication (9%)
  • Brown
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • NYU 86%
  • Brown 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • NYU $76,000
  • Brown $87,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • NYU 77%
  • Brown 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • NYU $23,250
  • Brown $15,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • NYU $240
  • Brown $155

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • NYU 21%
  • Brown 16%
  • % Women
  • NYU 28%
  • Brown 18%
  • Racial Diversity
  • NYU Very High
  • Brown Very High
  • HBCU
  • NYU No
  • Brown No
  • % White
  • NYU 34%
  • Brown 43%
  • % Asian
  • NYU 20%
  • Brown 13%
  • % Black
  • NYU 5%
  • Brown 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • NYU 12%
  • Brown 11%
  • % Native American
  • NYU 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • NYU 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • NYU 4%
  • Brown 6%
  • % International
  • NYU 17%
  • Brown 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • NYU 8%
  • Brown 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • NYU 26%
  • Brown 3%
  • % Out-of-State
  • NYU 49%
  • Brown 79%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

New York University is larger than Brown based on total student enrollment (56,832 students vs. 11,956 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • New York University is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); Brown University is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • New York University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Brown University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: New York University 8:1; Brown University 6:1.

NYU vs. Brown Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NYU 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 NYU ($26,256 vs. $30,325).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Brown University are 25.9% lower than at New York University ($17,444 vs. $23,530).
  • Brown University is 13.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than NYU (about $8,616 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $62,796.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 13.7% higher at Brown than at New York University (about $8,616 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $62,796.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Brown University than at New York University (52% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Brown University students is 13.9% larger than aid received by New York University students ($61,392 vs. $53,901).

NYU vs. Brown Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NYU 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 NYU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Brown University (1550) is 30 points higher than at NYU (1520).
  • Incoming NYU 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: New York University 1480/1560; Brown University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: New York University 34/35; Brown University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: NYU - 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: Brown Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Brown students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at NYU (3.79).
  • NYU has a higher acceptance rate (9.2%) than Brown (5.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 55.4% at NYU vs. 65.2% at Brown.

NYU vs. Brown Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NYU 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 New York University's (86%).
  • Graduates from Brown University earn a median of about $11,600 more per year than NYU graduates about ten years after starting college ($87,600 vs. $76,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Brown University graduates have a $8,250 lower median loan debt than NYU graduates ($15,000 vs. $23,250).
  • Among borrowers, Brown graduates have an estimated $85 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NYU graduates ($155 vs. $240).
  • More Brown graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NYU 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.