WUSTL vs. Brown

Deciding between Washington University in St Louis 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.

Washington University in St Louis
Brown University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • WUSTL St. Louis, MO
  • Brown Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • WUSTL Large Suburban
  • Brown Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • WUSTL 16,357
  • Brown 11,956
  • Type
  • WUSTL Private 4 Year
  • Brown Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • WUSTL #21
  • Brown #11
  • Religious Affiliation
  • WUSTL -
  • Brown -
  • Status
  • WUSTL Non-profit
  • Brown Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • WUSTL
  • Brown

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • WUSTL $65,790
  • Brown $71,412
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • WUSTL $65,790
  • Brown $71,412
  • Room & Board
  • WUSTL $21,854
  • Brown $17,444
  • Average Net Price
  • WUSTL $22,408
  • Brown $26,256
  • Average Grant Aid
  • WUSTL $66,080
  • Brown $61,392
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • WUSTL 49%
  • Brown 52%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • WUSTL 32,754
  • Brown 48,904
  • Admitted
  • WUSTL 3,951
  • Brown 2,638
  • Acceptance Rate
  • WUSTL 12.1%
  • Brown 5.4%
  • Enrolled
  • WUSTL 46.7%
  • Brown 65.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • WUSTL 1540
  • Brown 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • WUSTL 34
  • Brown 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • WUSTL 3.92
  • Brown 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • WUSTL A
  • Brown A
  • Admissions Standards
  • WUSTL Elite
  • Brown Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • WUSTL Very High
  • Brown Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • WUSTL 33/35
  • Brown 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • WUSTL 1500/1570
  • Brown 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • WUSTL Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Brown Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • WUSTL Jan 4, 2027
  • Brown Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • WUSTL 7:1
  • Brown 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • WUSTL
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • Brown
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • WUSTL 93%
  • Brown 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • WUSTL $82,800
  • Brown $87,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • WUSTL 88%
  • Brown 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • WUSTL $19,900
  • Brown $15,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • WUSTL $205
  • Brown $155

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • WUSTL 47%
  • Brown 48%
  • % Women
  • WUSTL 53%
  • Brown 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • WUSTL High
  • Brown Very High
  • HBCU
  • WUSTL No
  • Brown No
  • % White
  • WUSTL 55%
  • Brown 43%
  • % Asian
  • WUSTL 19%
  • Brown 13%
  • % Black
  • WUSTL 6%
  • Brown 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • WUSTL 7%
  • Brown 11%
  • % Native American
  • WUSTL 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • WUSTL 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • WUSTL 4%
  • Brown 6%
  • % International
  • WUSTL 8%
  • Brown 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • WUSTL 2%
  • Brown 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • WUSTL 15%
  • Brown 3%
  • % Out-of-State
  • WUSTL 73%
  • Brown 79%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Washington University in St Louis in St. Louis, MO with Brown University in Providence, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Washington University in St Louis is larger than Brown based on total student enrollment (16,357 students vs. 11,956 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Washington University in St Louis is located in St. Louis, MO (Large Suburban setting); Brown University is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Washington University in St Louis is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Brown University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Washington University in St Louis 7:1; Brown University 6:1.

WUSTL vs. Brown Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WUSTL 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 Washington University in St Louis than Brown ($22,408 vs. $26,256).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Brown University are 20.2% lower than at Washington University in St Louis ($17,444 vs. $21,854).
  • Brown University is 8.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than WUSTL (about $5,622 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $65,790.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 8.5% higher at Brown than at Washington University in St Louis (about $5,622 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $65,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Brown University than at Washington University in St Louis (52% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Washington University in St Louis students is 7.6% larger than aid received by Brown University students ($66,080 vs. $61,392).

WUSTL vs. Brown Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, WUSTL 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 WUSTL .

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Brown University (1550) is 10 points higher than at WUSTL (1540).
  • Incoming WUSTL 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: Washington University in St Louis 1500/1570; Brown University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Washington University in St Louis 33/35; Brown University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: WUSTL - 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: WUSTL Jan 4, 2027; Brown Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Brown students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at WUSTL (3.92).
  • WUSTL has a higher acceptance rate (12.1%) than Brown (5.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 46.7% at WUSTL vs. 65.2% at Brown.

WUSTL vs. Brown Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for WUSTL 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 Washington University in St Louis's (93%).
  • Graduates from Brown University earn a median of about $4,800 more per year than WUSTL graduates about ten years after starting college ($87,600 vs. $82,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Brown University graduates have a $4,900 lower median loan debt than WUSTL graduates ($15,000 vs. $19,900).
  • Among borrowers, Brown graduates have an estimated $50 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WUSTL graduates ($155 vs. $205).
  • More Brown graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WUSTL students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 88%)

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.