Brown vs. Rice

Deciding between Brown University and Rice 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.

Brown University
Rice University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Brown Providence, RI
  • Rice Houston, TX
  • Setting
  • Brown Midsize City
  • Rice Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Brown 11,956
  • Rice 8,961
  • Type
  • Brown Private 4 Year
  • Rice Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Brown #11
  • Rice #9
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Brown -
  • Rice -
  • Status
  • Brown Non-profit
  • Rice Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Brown
  • Rice

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Brown $71,412
  • Rice $64,144
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Brown $71,412
  • Rice $64,144
  • Room & Board
  • Brown $17,444
  • Rice $18,100
  • Average Net Price
  • Brown $26,256
  • Rice $23,589
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Brown $61,392
  • Rice $56,199
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Brown 52%
  • Rice 56%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Brown 48,904
  • Rice 32,473
  • Admitted
  • Brown 2,638
  • Rice 2,597
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Brown 5.4%
  • Rice 8%
  • Enrolled
  • Brown 65.2%
  • Rice 44.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Brown 1550
  • Rice 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • Brown 34
  • Rice 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Brown 3.94
  • Rice 3.96
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Brown A
  • Rice A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Brown Elite
  • Rice Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Brown Extreme
  • Rice Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Brown 34/35
  • Rice 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Brown 1510/1580
  • Rice 1510/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Brown Required
  • Rice Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Brown Jan 5, 2027
  • Rice Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Brown 6:1
  • Rice 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Brown
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Rice
    • Social Sciences (18%)
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Brown 95%
  • Rice 92%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Brown $87,600
  • Rice $86,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Brown 89%
  • Rice 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Brown $15,000
  • Rice $10,227
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Brown $155
  • Rice $105

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Brown 48%
  • Rice 56%
  • % Women
  • Brown 52%
  • Rice 44%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Brown Very High
  • Rice Very High
  • HBCU
  • Brown No
  • Rice No
  • % White
  • Brown 43%
  • Rice 37%
  • % Asian
  • Brown 13%
  • Rice 24%
  • % Black
  • Brown 7%
  • Rice 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Brown 11%
  • Rice 14%
  • % Native American
  • Brown 0%
  • Rice 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Brown 0%
  • Rice 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Brown 6%
  • Rice 4%
  • % International
  • Brown 12%
  • Rice 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Brown 7%
  • Rice 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Brown 3%
  • Rice 38%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Brown 79%
  • Rice 46%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Brown University in Providence, RI with Rice University in Houston, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Brown University is larger than Rice based on total student enrollment (11,956 students vs. 8,961 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Brown University is located in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting); Rice University is in Houston, TX (Large City setting).
  • Brown University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rice University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Brown University 6:1; Rice University 6:1.

Brown vs. Rice Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Brown or Rice? 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 Rice University than Brown ($23,589 vs. $26,256).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Brown University are 3.6% lower than at Rice University ($17,444 vs. $18,100).
  • Brown University is 11.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rice (about $7,268 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $64,144.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 11.3% higher at Brown than at Rice University (about $7,268 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $64,144.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rice University than at Brown University (56% vs. 52%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Brown University students is 9.2% larger than aid received by Rice University students ($61,392 vs. $56,199).

Brown vs. Rice Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Brown or Rice? 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 Rice and Brown.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Brown University (1550) is 10 points higher than at Rice (1540).
  • Incoming Brown students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Rice (34).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Brown University 1510/1580; Rice University 1510/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Brown University 34/35; Rice University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Brown - Required; Rice - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Brown Jan 5, 2027; Rice Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Rice students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at Brown (3.94).
  • Rice has a higher acceptance rate (8%) than Brown (5.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 65.2% at Brown vs. 44.2% at Rice.

Brown vs. Rice Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Brown and Rice? 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 Rice University's (92%).
  • Graduates from Brown University earn a median of about $1,200 more per year than Rice graduates about ten years after starting college ($87,600 vs. $86,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rice University graduates have a $4,773 lower median loan debt than Brown graduates ($10,227 vs. $15,000).
  • Among borrowers, Rice graduates have an estimated $50 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Brown graduates ($105 vs. $155).
  • More Brown graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rice students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 87%)

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.