Rutgers vs. Brown

Deciding between Rutgers University New Brunswick 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.

Rutgers University New Brunswick
Brown University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • Brown Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Rutgers Small City
  • Brown Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • Brown 11,956
  • Type
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • Brown Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Rutgers #114
  • Brown #11
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Rutgers -
  • Brown -
  • Status
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • Brown Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Rutgers
  • Brown

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • Brown $71,412
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • Brown $71,412
  • Room & Board
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • Brown $17,444
  • Average Net Price
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • Brown $26,256
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • Brown $61,392
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Rutgers 50%
  • Brown 52%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • Brown 48,904
  • Admitted
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • Brown 2,638
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • Brown 5.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • Brown 65.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Rutgers 1410
  • Brown 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Rutgers 30
  • Brown 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • Brown 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Rutgers B+
  • Brown A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • Brown Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Rutgers Low
  • Brown Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • Brown 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • Brown 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Rutgers Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Brown Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Rutgers
  • Brown Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • Brown 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
  • Brown
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Rutgers 77%
  • Brown 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • Brown $87,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Rutgers 68%
  • Brown 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • Brown $15,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Rutgers $229
  • Brown $155

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Rutgers 46%
  • Brown 48%
  • % Women
  • Rutgers 54%
  • Brown 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Rutgers Very High
  • Brown Very High
  • HBCU
  • Rutgers No
  • Brown No
  • % White
  • Rutgers 42%
  • Brown 43%
  • % Asian
  • Rutgers 26%
  • Brown 13%
  • % Black
  • Rutgers 7%
  • Brown 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Rutgers 13%
  • Brown 11%
  • % Native American
  • Rutgers 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Rutgers 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Rutgers 3%
  • Brown 6%
  • % International
  • Rutgers 7%
  • Brown 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Rutgers 2%
  • Brown 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Rutgers 75%
  • Brown 3%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Rutgers 13%
  • Brown 79%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than Brown based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 11,956 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is located in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting); Brown University is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Brown University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1; Brown University 6:1.

Rutgers vs. Brown Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rutgers 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick than Brown ($20,522 vs. $26,256).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 9.9% lower than at Brown University ($15,714 vs. $17,444).
  • Brown University is 298.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rutgers (about $53,483 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $17,929.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 90.7% higher at Brown than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (about $33,971 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $37,441.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Brown University than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (52% vs. 50%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Brown University students is 266.7% larger than aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students ($61,392 vs. $16,742).

Rutgers vs. Brown Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rutgers 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 Rutgers.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Brown University (1550) is 140 points higher than at Rutgers (1410).
  • Incoming Brown students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at Rutgers).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500; Brown University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33; Brown University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Rutgers - 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 0.64 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than Brown (5.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.5% at Rutgers vs. 65.2% at Brown.

Rutgers vs. Brown Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rutgers 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick's (77%).
  • Graduates from Brown University earn a median of about $21,400 more per year than Rutgers graduates about ten years after starting college ($87,600 vs. $66,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Brown University graduates have a $7,215 lower median loan debt than Rutgers graduates ($15,000 vs. $22,215).
  • Among borrowers, Brown graduates have an estimated $74 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rutgers graduates ($155 vs. $229).
  • More Brown graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 68%)

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.