Brown vs. Vanderbilt

Deciding between Brown University and Vanderbilt 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
Vanderbilt University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Brown Providence, RI
  • Vanderbilt Nashville, TN
  • Setting
  • Brown Midsize City
  • Vanderbilt Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Brown 11,956
  • Vanderbilt 13,575
  • Type
  • Brown Private 4 Year
  • Vanderbilt Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Brown #11
  • Vanderbilt #16
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Brown -
  • Vanderbilt -
  • Status
  • Brown Non-profit
  • Vanderbilt Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Brown
  • Vanderbilt

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Brown $71,412
  • Vanderbilt $67,498
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Brown $71,412
  • Vanderbilt $67,498
  • Room & Board
  • Brown $17,444
  • Vanderbilt $22,054
  • Average Net Price
  • Brown $26,256
  • Vanderbilt $25,186
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Brown $61,392
  • Vanderbilt $64,404
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Brown 52%
  • Vanderbilt 67%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Brown 48,904
  • Vanderbilt 45,409
  • Admitted
  • Brown 2,638
  • Vanderbilt 2,662
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Brown 5.4%
  • Vanderbilt 5.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Brown 65.2%
  • Vanderbilt 61.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Brown 1550
  • Vanderbilt 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • Brown 34
  • Vanderbilt 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Brown 3.94
  • Vanderbilt 3.89
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Brown A
  • Vanderbilt A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Brown Elite
  • Vanderbilt Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Brown Extreme
  • Vanderbilt Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Brown 34/35
  • Vanderbilt 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Brown 1510/1580
  • Vanderbilt 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Brown Required
  • Vanderbilt Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Brown Jan 5, 2027
  • Vanderbilt Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Brown 6:1
  • Vanderbilt 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Brown
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Vanderbilt
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Engineering (13%)
    • General Studies (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (6%)
    • Psychology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Brown 95%
  • Vanderbilt 92%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Brown $87,600
  • Vanderbilt $83,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Brown 89%
  • Vanderbilt 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Brown $15,000
  • Vanderbilt $14,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Brown $155
  • Vanderbilt $144

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Brown 48%
  • Vanderbilt 44%
  • % Women
  • Brown 52%
  • Vanderbilt 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Brown Very High
  • Vanderbilt High
  • HBCU
  • Brown No
  • Vanderbilt No
  • % White
  • Brown 43%
  • Vanderbilt 55%
  • % Asian
  • Brown 13%
  • Vanderbilt 12%
  • % Black
  • Brown 7%
  • Vanderbilt 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Brown 11%
  • Vanderbilt 8%
  • % Native American
  • Brown 0%
  • Vanderbilt 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Brown 0%
  • Vanderbilt 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Brown 6%
  • Vanderbilt 5%
  • % International
  • Brown 12%
  • Vanderbilt 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Brown 7%
  • Vanderbilt 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Brown 3%
  • Vanderbilt 13%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Brown 79%
  • Vanderbilt 73%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Brown University in Providence, RI with Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Vanderbilt University is larger than Brown based on total student enrollment (13,575 students vs. 11,956 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Brown University is located in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting); Vanderbilt University is in Nashville, TN (Large City setting).
  • Brown University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Vanderbilt University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Brown University 6:1; Vanderbilt University 8:1.

Brown vs. Vanderbilt Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Brown or Vanderbilt? 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 Vanderbilt University than Brown ($25,186 vs. $26,256).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Brown University are 20.9% lower than at Vanderbilt University ($17,444 vs. $22,054).
  • Brown University is 5.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Vanderbilt (about $3,914 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $67,498.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5.8% higher at Brown than at Vanderbilt University (about $3,914 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $67,498.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Vanderbilt University than at Brown University (67% vs. 52%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Vanderbilt University students is 4.9% larger than aid received by Brown University students ($64,404 vs. $61,392).

Brown vs. Vanderbilt Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Brown University (1550) is 10 points higher than at Vanderbilt (1540).
  • Incoming Brown students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Vanderbilt (34).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Brown University 1510/1580; Vanderbilt University 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Brown University 34/35; Vanderbilt University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Brown - Required; Vanderbilt - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Brown Jan 5, 2027; Vanderbilt Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Brown students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Vanderbilt (3.89).
  • Vanderbilt has a higher acceptance rate (5.9%) than Brown (5.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 65.2% at Brown vs. 61.2% at Vanderbilt.

Brown vs. Vanderbilt Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Brown and Vanderbilt? 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 Vanderbilt University's (92%).
  • Graduates from Brown University earn a median of about $4,500 more per year than Vanderbilt graduates about ten years after starting college ($87,600 vs. $83,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Vanderbilt University graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Brown graduates ($14,000 vs. $15,000).
  • Among borrowers, Vanderbilt graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Brown graduates ($144 vs. $155).
  • More Brown graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Vanderbilt students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 83%)

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.