At schools with acceptance rates below 10%, nearly every applicant has near-perfect grades and test scores. Admissions decisions are driven by essays, extracurriculars, recommendations, and institutional priorities — factors no stats-based model can predict. Our likelihood labels reflect academic competitiveness only.
Brown University is an Ivy League research university in Providence, Rhode Island, best known for its Open Curriculum, which allows students to design their own course of study with no required classes. Its partnership with the Rhode Island School of Design enables a unique dual-degree program bridging liberal arts and fine arts.
Mascot: Bear
Notable Alumni
Emma Watson (actress and activist)•John Krasinski (actor and director)•Janet Yellen (U.S. Secretary of the Treasury)
At a Glance
Cost
Published sticker prices for 2025-2026. Actual cost after aid varies.
Top Programs & National Ranking
Approximate national ranking based on departmental rankings, research output, and program reputation.
Highlights
Campus Experience
Brown's open curriculum — no core requirements, universal S/NC option — creates a campus culture that's genuinely collaborative rather than competitive; students take classes they're passionate about, and it shows. Greek life is minimal and culturally irrelevant; the social scene runs on student orgs, a cappella, art collectives, and a proudly quirky Providence community. This is the Ivy where 'weird' is a compliment and academic exploration is valued over pre-professional grinding.
Georgian and Victorian buildings line the hilltop campus on College Hill, with the historic Van Wickle Gates, University Hall from 1770, and sweeping views over Providence giving it distinguished New England charm.
Based on Niche reviews, Princeton Review surveys, student forums, and institutional data.
Safety
Brown has enhanced security following the December 2025 campus shooting. The university hired a new public safety chief, added surveillance cameras campus-wide, and maintains a visible security presence across College Hill.
College Hill is one of Providence's safer neighborhoods with a residential, walkable feel. Downtown Providence and areas south of campus have higher crime rates.
Based on Clery Act data, student surveys, and local crime statistics.
Plan Your Visit
Schedule: Most weekdays during the academic year
Duration: About 60 minutes
Pre-registration required, limit 3 visitors per registration. Check in at Galen V. Henderson Admission Welcome Center, 21 Prospect Street. Arrive 15 minutes early. Engineering tours available separately (~30 min, from Hazeltine Commons). Accessible tours available by calling (401) 863-2379.
Book a TourCampus is open for self-guided walking. Maps available from the Admission Welcome Center.
Tour ResourcesSeptember-October (beautiful fall on College Hill) or April-May. Spring Weekend (late April) brings concerts and campus-wide energy. Avoid winter break and summer. WaterFire Providence, an award-winning public art installation on the downtown rivers, runs on select evenings from May-November -- try to time your visit to catch one.
Power Street Parking Garage (111 Power St, entrance at Power & Thayer) is the main visitor lot -- pay stations accept credit cards and cash. Street parking available via the Passport app (no cash or cards at meters). From T.F. Green Airport (PVD, ~10 miles south): Line 66 bus ($2, 31 min) or rideshare (~$25). From Boston: ~1 hr drive via I-95 South. MBTA commuter rail to Providence Station is also an option.
Location
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