What makes Brown different
- The Open Curriculum. There are no general education requirements. You take what interests you and complete a concentration (Brown's word for a major).
- Grade options. You can take courses Satisfactory/No Credit instead of for a letter grade, which encourages trying unfamiliar subjects.
- A combined medical path. The Program in Liberal Medical Education links undergraduate study with Brown's medical school for a small group of students admitted straight from high school.
What the admissions office says (as of October 2026)
- Testing: Brown requires the SAT or ACT. Its provost, Francis J. Doyle III, said scores "are among the key indicators that help predict a student's ability to succeed and thrive in Brown's demanding academic environment" (March 2024).
- What they look for: Dean of Admission Logan Powell described Brown's latest early-decision admits as "a remarkable blend of intellectual curiosity, creativity and resilience," and praised their "willingness to challenge themselves, to risk failure and to learn from those experiences" (December 2025).
- Takeaway: Brown's Open Curriculum rewards students who direct their own learning, and its dean emphasizes curiosity and risk-taking.
See all eight side by side: Ivy League testing policies · What Ivy admissions officers look for.
What Brown students study
The most common bachelor's degrees at Brown (class of 2024): computer science (243), economics (174), applied math (159), international relations (111), biology (102) and neuroscience (76). Source: IPEDS Completions, first majors only.
You may thrive at Brown if…
- You're self-directed and like choosing your own path more than following a set one.
- You want to explore several fields before committing, or combine unusual subjects.
- You'd enjoy a mid-sized city with a walkable, hilltop campus.
Worth asking about
- How do advisors help students build a coherent plan without requirements?
- If you like structure, how do students create it for themselves?
How Brown compares with the other Ivies
Brown sits at the "most freedom" end of the Ivies; Columbia's Core Curriculum is the opposite. See how the 8 Ivy League schools differ.
FAQ
Is Brown an Ivy League school? Yes. Brown is one of the eight Ivy League schools, an athletic conference with Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Penn, Princeton and Yale.
What is Brown University known for? Its Open Curriculum, which has no general course requirements.
How hard is it to get into Brown? Brown admitted 5.4% of applicants for fall 2024.
How much does Brown cost? Published tuition and fees are $71,412 a year and the total cost of attendance is $87,648, before any aid.
How much is Brown tuition per semester? About $35,706 a semester, half the published $71,412 a year, before aid.
Is Brown an R1 university? Yes. In the 2025 Carnegie Classifications, Brown University is an R1 university, the group with the highest research spending and doctoral degrees. What R1 means →
How many students go to Brown? About 7,200 undergraduates (fall 2024).
Not sure if Brown's freedom fits you?
Lens's assessments show whether you lean toward structure or flexibility, and which kinds of colleges fit. Start with Lens →