Brown University
Providence, Rhode Island · Private Nonprofit · 5.4% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 96/100 · Exceptional Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Brown University scores 96 (Exceptional Value). Median net price of $25,184 is the key: sticker tuition hits $71,412, but Brown's financial aid program means families in the lowest income bracket actually receive a net credit (the data shows -$420 per year, meaning aid exceeds costs). For those who qualify, Brown is effectively free. Median debt is only $11,428 and the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.176. The 95.7% completion rate is very high. Six-year average earnings of $64,800 reach a median $93,487 at ten years. Computer Science (236 graduates) and Applied Mathematics (173 graduates) are the top-volume technical programs, both producing A-grade ROI. Brown's open curriculum - no distribution requirements - means students self-direct their education, which produces outstanding outcomes for motivated self-starters and occasionally poor ones for students who drift.
The median graduate earns $93,487 ten years after entry - well above the roughly $53,600 median across the schools we score.
Brown University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $71,412/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $71,412/yr |
| Average net price | $25,184/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $100,736 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $93,487 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $64,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $11,428 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $121 |
| Estimated payback period | 4.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 95.7% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 7,226 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $71,412/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $25,184/year, or roughly $100,736 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of -$420/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $44,937/year. If money is tight, that matters: this school gives low-income students enough aid to land well below the sticker price.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $11,428, which works out to about $121 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($64,800) and comes to 0.18, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | -$420 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $2,031 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $5,858 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $16,219 |
| $110,001+ | $44,937 |
Low-income students may receive more in grants than the cost of attendance, resulting in a negative net price.
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 receive a net credit at Brown: the data shows -$420 per year, meaning financial aid exceeds total costs. In practical terms, Brown is free - or nearly free - for the lowest-income families. The $30-48k bracket pays just $2,031 per year, or about $8,000 for four years.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48-75k bracket pays $5,858 per year and the $75-110k range reaches $16,219. The jump from $48k to $75k ($7,361 more) and from $75k to $110k ($10,361 more) is steep. Middle-income families at Brown pay roughly $23,000-$65,000 for four years depending on their income band - extraordinary value at a school with these outcomes.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning over $110k pay $44,937 per year - close to $180,000 over four years for those at the very top. For high-income families paying full price, the ROI calculus is still strong: median debt is $11,428 (reflecting family contributions, not borrowing) and median 10-year earnings of $93,487 justify the investment, particularly in CS, Applied Mathematics, or Economics.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Brown University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $214,479 | A |
| Economics | $124,508 | A |
| Applied Mathematics | $157,822 | A |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $86,780 | B+ |
| Biology | $60,508 | B |
| Engineering, General | $108,550 | A |
| English Language and Literature | $73,497 | B+ |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $33,529 | B+ |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $63,415 | B |
| History | $85,520 | B+ |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Computer Science
Computer Science at Brown produces 236 graduates annually into the top tier of the technology job market. Early-career median earnings of $151,065 reach $214,479 by year four. The A-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.076 with $11,500 in median debt is extraordinary. Brown CS graduates enter the most competitive segments of the software industry: Silicon Valley, New York fintech, and the consulting firms that pay premium salaries. The combination of Brown's name recognition, strong networks, and Providence/Boston/NYC proximity creates a recruitment pipeline that translates consistently into strong starting salaries.
Applied Mathematics
Applied Mathematics produces 173 graduates annually. Early-career pay of $99,193 and four-year median of $157,822 (A grade) with $10,000 in median debt and a ratio of 0.101 rival CS in terms of financial outcomes. The four-year earnings figure of $157,822 reflects how rapidly these graduates accelerate in career tracks that value mathematical sophistication. The low debt load - $10,000 median - reflects Brown's financial aid generosity rather than program cost.
Economics
Economics produces 179 graduates annually. Early-career pay is $72,064, rising to $124,508 by year four (A grade), with $13,000 in median debt (ratio 0.180). Brown economics graduates enter consulting, investment banking, policy, and graduate economics programs at high rates. The $124,508 four-year median reflects graduates who have moved from analyst to associate roles in consulting and finance.
Engineering, General
Engineering at Brown produces 80 graduates annually. Early-career pay of $86,416 and four-year median of $108,550 (A grade) with just $14,500 in median debt (ratio 0.168) reflect strong engineering outcomes. Graduates enter consulting, defense, and technology roles, with a significant share pursuing graduate study. The Brown brand amplifies individual outcomes - employers at top firms actively recruit on campus.
Public Policy Analysis
Public Policy produces 15 graduates annually. Early-career pay of $58,161 reaching $94,962 by year four (A grade) with $10,345 in median debt (ratio 0.178) is unexpectedly strong for a policy program. Brown policy graduates enter government agencies, NGOs, and consulting firms with a credential that signals rigorous quantitative and policy analysis training. The four-year trajectory - from $58,000 to $95,000 - reflects rapid advancement in DC, New York, and international policy organizations where Brown's name opens doors. The A-grade ratio is partly a function of low debt, not just high earnings.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 87.9% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 90.7% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 89.9% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 91.9% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Brown University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 5.4% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 770-800 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 740-780 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 34-35 |
| Enrollment | 7,226 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 13.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $17,839 |
Brown admits 5.4% of applicants. The SAT math middle 50% of 770-800 and ACT 34-35 reflect near-perfect academic preparation. Beyond scores, Brown selects for intellectual distinctiveness and independent thinking. The admissions process favors students who have pursued unusual combinations of interests or who have made meaningful contributions outside the classroom.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brown University (this school) | 96 | $25,184 | $93,487 |
| Vanderbilt University | 97 | $15,846 | $91,565 |
| Harvard University | 96 | $19,066 | $101,817 |
| Duke University | 96 | $29,612 | $97,800 |
| Bryant University | 84 | $41,219 | $90,008 |
| Johnson & Wales University-Providence | 27 | $31,027 | $43,418 |
Who Thrives Here
Brown admits just 5.4% of applicants with SAT math 770-800, reading 740-780, and ACT 34-35. Students who thrive at Brown are intellectually autonomous, comfortable designing their own academic path, and ready to engage with faculty who view undergraduates as research collaborators. The open curriculum rewards initiative; students who need structured guidance find it less supportive.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
If you're asking whether Brown University is worth it, the short answer is yes - it's one of the strongest money decisions in higher education. Four years here run about $100,736 after aid, and the typical graduate earns $93,487 ten years out. That earnings head start covers the cost in roughly 4.1 years, well ahead of most schools.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 95.7% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
On debt, you can breathe a little easier here. Median debt of $11,428 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $64,800 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.18: well under 1.0, the point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings.
Brown University: Common Questions
Is Brown University worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students Brown University pays off. It scores 96/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $25,184 a year after aid ($100,736 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $93,487 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 4.1 years to earn back.
How much does Brown University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $25,184 a year, or roughly $100,736 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Brown University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $93,487 ten years after enrolling, roughly $51,687 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Brown University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 4.1 years for Brown University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Brown University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $11,428, against average earnings of $64,800 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.18. In our view that is very manageable: well under 1.0, the point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings.
What is the graduation rate at Brown University?
The six-year graduation rate is 95.7%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.