RIT vs. Brown

Deciding between Rochester 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.

Rochester Institute of Technology
Brown University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • RIT Rochester, NY
  • Brown Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • RIT Large Suburban
  • Brown Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • RIT 17,098
  • Brown 11,956
  • Type
  • RIT Private 4 Year
  • Brown Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • RIT #175
  • Brown #11
  • Religious Affiliation
  • RIT -
  • Brown -
  • Status
  • RIT Non-profit
  • Brown Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • RIT
  • Brown

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • RIT $59,274
  • Brown $71,412
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • RIT $59,274
  • Brown $71,412
  • Room & Board
  • RIT $16,142
  • Brown $17,444
  • Average Net Price
  • RIT $39,534
  • Brown $26,256
  • Average Grant Aid
  • RIT $35,077
  • Brown $61,392
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • RIT 98%
  • Brown 52%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • RIT 27,911
  • Brown 48,904
  • Admitted
  • RIT 18,682
  • Brown 2,638
  • Acceptance Rate
  • RIT 66.9%
  • Brown 5.4%
  • Enrolled
  • RIT 16.3%
  • Brown 65.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • RIT 1380
  • Brown 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • RIT 31
  • Brown 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • RIT 3.7
  • Brown 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • RIT A-
  • Brown A
  • Admissions Standards
  • RIT Very High
  • Brown Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • RIT Low
  • Brown Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • RIT 29/33
  • Brown 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • RIT 1300/1460
  • Brown 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • RIT Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Brown Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • RIT Jan 15, 2027
  • Brown Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • RIT 13:1
  • Brown 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • RIT
    • Visual and Performing Arts (16%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (14%)
    • Engineering (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Engineering Technology (11%)
  • Brown
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • RIT 64%
  • Brown 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • RIT $64,900
  • Brown $87,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • RIT 75%
  • Brown 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • RIT $28,000
  • Brown $15,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • RIT $289
  • Brown $155

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • RIT 64%
  • Brown 48%
  • % Women
  • RIT 36%
  • Brown 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • RIT Medium
  • Brown Very High
  • HBCU
  • RIT No
  • Brown No
  • % White
  • RIT 66%
  • Brown 43%
  • % Asian
  • RIT 8%
  • Brown 13%
  • % Black
  • RIT 5%
  • Brown 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • RIT 7%
  • Brown 11%
  • % Native American
  • RIT 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • RIT 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • RIT 3%
  • Brown 6%
  • % International
  • RIT 6%
  • Brown 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • RIT 5%
  • Brown 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • RIT 44%
  • Brown 3%
  • % Out-of-State
  • RIT 51%
  • Brown 79%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Rochester Institute of Technology is larger than Brown based on total student enrollment (17,098 students vs. 11,956 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rochester Institute of Technology is located in Rochester, NY (Large Suburban setting); Brown University is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Rochester 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: Rochester Institute of Technology 13:1; Brown University 6:1.

RIT vs. Brown Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RIT 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 RIT ($26,256 vs. $39,534).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rochester Institute of Technology are 7.5% lower than at Brown University ($16,142 vs. $17,444).
  • Brown University is 20.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than RIT (about $12,138 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $59,274.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 20.5% higher at Brown than at Rochester Institute of Technology (about $12,138 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $59,274.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rochester Institute of Technology than at Brown University (98% vs. 52%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Brown University students is 75% larger than aid received by Rochester Institute of Technology students ($61,392 vs. $35,077).

RIT vs. Brown Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, RIT 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 RIT .

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Brown University (1550) is 170 points higher than at RIT (1380).
  • Incoming Brown students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 31 at RIT ).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rochester Institute of Technology 1300/1460; Brown University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rochester Institute of Technology 29/33; Brown University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: RIT - 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: RIT Jan 15, 2027; Brown Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Brown students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at RIT (3.7).
  • RIT has a higher acceptance rate (66.9%) than Brown (5.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.3% at RIT vs. 65.2% at Brown.

RIT vs. Brown Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for RIT 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 Rochester Institute of Technology's (64%).
  • Graduates from Brown University earn a median of about $22,700 more per year than RIT graduates about ten years after starting college ($87,600 vs. $64,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Brown University graduates have a $13,000 lower median loan debt than RIT graduates ($15,000 vs. $28,000).
  • Among borrowers, Brown graduates have an estimated $134 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RIT graduates ($155 vs. $289).
  • More Brown graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RIT students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 75%)

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.