Brown University
Brown University — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Brown University at a Glance
Brown University is a private Ivy League research university in the College Hill neighborhood of Providence, Rhode Island, United States. The university is the seventh-oldest institution of higher education in the United States, founded in 1764 as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. One of nine colonial colleges chartered before the American Revolution, it was the first American college to codify that admission and instruction of students was to be equal…
1764
262 years old
$8.0B
$8 billion (2025)
10,565
7,196 undergrad · 3,369 grad
848
6:1 student:faculty
81%
143 acres
Identity
How to Apply to Brown University
Official admissions pageJanuary 3
November 1 (Early Decision, binding)
$75
Fee waiver available
2 required
Testing policy
Recommendation letters
Essays
Fee waiver
Is Brown University Worth It?
Brown University is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $25,184/year net price and $93,487 median earnings, graduates earn 3.7× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.1 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
With a 96% graduation rate, the vast majority of students finish their degree and reach these earning outcomes.
The catch: admission is extremely selective at just 5%, making this an option only for top-tier applicants.
Median student debt of $11,428 is manageable at just 12% of first-year post-graduation earnings.
Bottom line: Brown University delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How Brown University compares to peer private nonprofit colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #12 of 21 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Yale University | 100 | $23,777 | $100,533 |
| #2 | University of Chicago | 100 | $14,860 | $91,885 |
| #3 | Johns Hopkins University | 100 | $18,809 | $87,555 |
| #4 | Harvard University | 100 | $19,066 | $101,817 |
| #5 | Princeton University | 100 | $6,128 | $110,066 |
| #6 | Columbia University in the City of New York | 100 | $21,590 | $102,491 |
| #12 | Brown University | 89 | $25,184 | $93,487 |
Peer group: private nonprofit colleges within ±60% of Brown University's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at Brown University
The highest-earning program at Brown University is Computer Science at $141,100/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Human Biology at $24,100/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Computer Science graduate from Brown University earns $141,100, while a Human Biology graduate earns $24,100. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Computer Science graduates carry $12,871 in median debt vs. $14,715 for Human Biology.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $25,184/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $141,100 | $141,100 | $12,871 |
| Applied Mathematics | $91,700 | $91,700 | $13,750 |
| Engineering, General | $73,500 | $73,500 | $14,500 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | $63,900 | $63,900 | $15,500 |
| Economics | $58,400 | $58,400 | $15,000 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $46,100 | $46,100 | $15,500 |
| Political Science and Government | $44,300 | $44,300 | $15,000 |
| History | $42,900 | $42,900 | $12,420 |
| Area Studies | $37,000 | $37,000 | $15,500 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $36,900 | $36,900 | $14,339 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $34,700 | $34,700 | $15,500 |
| Public Health | $34,400 | $34,400 | $16,580 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $32,500 | $32,500 | $13,432 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $31,800 | $31,800 | N/A |
| Biology, General | $30,500 | $30,500 | $13,500 |
| Human Biology | $24,100 | $24,100 | $14,715 |
Similar Colleges in RI
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- private
- Location
- Providence, RI
- Student Body
- 7,226 students
- Admission Rate
- 5%
- Graduation Rate
- 96%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $25,184
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $93,487
- Median Student Debt
- $11,428