Barnard vs. Brown

Deciding between Barnard College 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.

Barnard College
Brown University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Barnard New York, NY
  • Brown Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Barnard Large City
  • Brown Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Barnard 3,487
  • Brown 11,956
  • Type
  • Barnard Private 4 Year
  • Brown Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Barnard #35
  • Brown #11
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Barnard -
  • Brown -
  • Status
  • Barnard Non-profit
  • Brown Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Barnard
  • Brown

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Barnard $69,888
  • Brown $71,412
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Barnard $69,888
  • Brown $71,412
  • Room & Board
  • Barnard $21,714
  • Brown $17,444
  • Average Net Price
  • Barnard $26,407
  • Brown $26,256
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Barnard $63,131
  • Brown $61,392
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Barnard 33%
  • Brown 52%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Barnard 11,836
  • Brown 48,904
  • Admitted
  • Barnard 1,046
  • Brown 2,638
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Barnard 8.8%
  • Brown 5.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Barnard 68.6%
  • Brown 65.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Barnard 1520
  • Brown 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Barnard 33
  • Brown 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Barnard 3.85
  • Brown 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Barnard A
  • Brown A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Barnard Elite
  • Brown Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Barnard Extreme
  • Brown Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Barnard 32/34
  • Brown 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Barnard 1470/1560
  • Brown 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Barnard Test optional
  • Brown Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Barnard Jan 4, 2027
  • Brown Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Barnard 10:1
  • Brown 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Barnard
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)
  • Brown
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Barnard 92%
  • Brown 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Barnard $66,900
  • Brown $87,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Barnard 89%
  • Brown 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Barnard $17,847
  • Brown $15,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Barnard $184
  • Brown $155

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Barnard 2%
  • Brown 48%
  • % Women
  • Barnard 98%
  • Brown 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Barnard High
  • Brown Very High
  • HBCU
  • Barnard No
  • Brown No
  • % White
  • Barnard 53%
  • Brown 43%
  • % Asian
  • Barnard 14%
  • Brown 13%
  • % Black
  • Barnard 7%
  • Brown 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Barnard 12%
  • Brown 11%
  • % Native American
  • Barnard 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Barnard 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Barnard 6%
  • Brown 6%
  • % International
  • Barnard 8%
  • Brown 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Barnard 0%
  • Brown 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Barnard 20%
  • Brown 3%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Barnard 62%
  • Brown 79%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Barnard College in New York, NY with Brown University in Providence, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Brown University is larger than Barnard based on total student enrollment (11,956 students vs. 3,487 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Barnard College is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); Brown University is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Barnard College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Brown University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Barnard College 10:1; Brown University 6:1.

Barnard vs. Brown Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Barnard 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 Brown University than Barnard ($26,256 vs. $26,407).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Brown University are 19.7% lower than at Barnard College ($17,444 vs. $21,714).
  • Brown University is 2.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Barnard (about $1,524 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $69,888.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.2% higher at Brown than at Barnard College (about $1,524 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $69,888.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Brown University than at Barnard College (52% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Barnard College students is 2.8% larger than aid received by Brown University students ($63,131 vs. $61,392).

Barnard vs. Brown Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Barnard 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 Barnard.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Brown University (1550) is 30 points higher than at Barnard (1520).
  • Incoming Brown students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at Barnard).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Barnard College 1470/1560; Brown University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Barnard College 32/34; Brown University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Barnard - Test optional; Brown - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Barnard Jan 4, 2027; Brown Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Brown students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Barnard (3.85).
  • Barnard has a higher acceptance rate (8.8%) than Brown (5.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 68.6% at Barnard vs. 65.2% at Brown.

Barnard vs. Brown Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Barnard 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 Barnard College's (92%).
  • Graduates from Brown University earn a median of about $20,700 more per year than Barnard graduates about ten years after starting college ($87,600 vs. $66,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Brown University graduates have a $2,847 lower median loan debt than Barnard graduates ($15,000 vs. $17,847).
  • Among borrowers, Brown graduates have an estimated $29 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Barnard graduates ($155 vs. $184).
  • More Brown graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Barnard students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 89%)

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.