Penn vs. Brown

Deciding between University of Pennsylvania 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.

University of Pennsylvania
Brown University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Penn Philadelphia, PA
  • Brown Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Penn Large City
  • Brown Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Penn 29,109
  • Brown 11,956
  • Type
  • Penn Private 4 Year
  • Brown Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Penn #23
  • Brown #11
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Penn -
  • Brown -
  • Status
  • Penn Non-profit
  • Brown Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Penn
  • Brown

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Penn $68,686
  • Brown $71,412
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Penn $68,686
  • Brown $71,412
  • Room & Board
  • Penn $19,174
  • Brown $17,444
  • Average Net Price
  • Penn $23,570
  • Brown $26,256
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Penn $65,458
  • Brown $61,392
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Penn 51%
  • Brown 52%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Penn 65,226
  • Brown 48,904
  • Admitted
  • Penn 3,523
  • Brown 2,638
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Penn 5.4%
  • Brown 5.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Penn 68%
  • Brown 65.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Penn 1540
  • Brown 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Penn 35
  • Brown 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Penn 3.95
  • Brown 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Penn A
  • Brown A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Penn Elite
  • Brown Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Penn Extreme
  • Brown Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Penn 34/36
  • Brown 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Penn 1510/1570
  • Brown 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Penn Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Brown Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Penn Jan 5, 2027
  • Brown Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Penn 8:1
  • Brown 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Penn
    • Business (26%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • Brown
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Penn 96%
  • Brown 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Penn $123,600
  • Brown $87,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Penn 84%
  • Brown 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Penn $20,633
  • Brown $15,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Penn $213
  • Brown $155

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Penn 44%
  • Brown 48%
  • % Women
  • Penn 56%
  • Brown 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Penn Very High
  • Brown Very High
  • HBCU
  • Penn No
  • Brown No
  • % White
  • Penn 45%
  • Brown 43%
  • % Asian
  • Penn 19%
  • Brown 13%
  • % Black
  • Penn 7%
  • Brown 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Penn 10%
  • Brown 11%
  • % Native American
  • Penn 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Penn 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Penn 4%
  • Brown 6%
  • % International
  • Penn 11%
  • Brown 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Penn 3%
  • Brown 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Penn 15%
  • Brown 3%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Penn 70%
  • Brown 79%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA with Brown University in Providence, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Pennsylvania is larger than Brown based on total student enrollment (29,109 students vs. 11,956 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Penn vs. Brown Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn 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 University of Pennsylvania than Brown ($23,570 vs. $26,256).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Brown University are 9% lower than at University of Pennsylvania ($17,444 vs. $19,174).
  • Brown University is 4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn (about $2,726 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $68,686.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4% higher at Brown than at University of Pennsylvania (about $2,726 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $68,686.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Brown University than at University of Pennsylvania (52% vs. 51%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Pennsylvania students is 6.6% larger than aid received by Brown University students ($65,458 vs. $61,392).

Penn vs. Brown Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn 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 Penn.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Brown University (1550) is 10 points higher than at Penn (1540).
  • Incoming Penn 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: University of Pennsylvania 1510/1570; Brown University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Pennsylvania 34/36; Brown University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn - 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: Penn Jan 5, 2027; Brown Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Penn students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at Brown (3.94).
  • Penn has a higher acceptance rate (5.4%) than Brown (5.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 68% at Penn vs. 65.2% at Brown.

Penn vs. Brown Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn 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).

  • University of Pennsylvania's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Brown University's (95%).
  • Graduates from University of Pennsylvania earn a median of about $36,000 more per year than Brown graduates about ten years after starting college ($123,600 vs. $87,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Brown University graduates have a $5,633 lower median loan debt than Penn graduates ($15,000 vs. $20,633).
  • Among borrowers, Brown graduates have an estimated $58 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn graduates ($155 vs. $213).
  • More Brown graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 84%)

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.