Drexel vs. Brown

Deciding between Drexel University 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.

Drexel University
Brown University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Drexel Philadelphia, PA
  • Brown Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Drexel Large City
  • Brown Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Drexel 21,153
  • Brown 11,956
  • Type
  • Drexel Private 4 Year
  • Brown Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Drexel #118
  • Brown #11
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Drexel -
  • Brown -
  • Status
  • Drexel Non-profit
  • Brown Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Drexel
  • Brown

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Drexel $62,412
  • Brown $71,412
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Drexel $62,412
  • Brown $71,412
  • Room & Board
  • Drexel $18,096
  • Brown $17,444
  • Average Net Price
  • Drexel $42,801
  • Brown $26,256
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Drexel $35,051
  • Brown $61,392
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Drexel 100%
  • Brown 52%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Drexel 37,314
  • Brown 48,904
  • Admitted
  • Drexel 29,642
  • Brown 2,638
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Drexel 79.4%
  • Brown 5.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Drexel 8.1%
  • Brown 65.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Drexel 1340
  • Brown 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Drexel 29
  • Brown 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Drexel 3.67
  • Brown 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Drexel A-
  • Brown A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Drexel Very High
  • Brown Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Drexel
  • Brown Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Drexel 27/32
  • Brown 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Drexel 1240/1440
  • Brown 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Drexel Test optional
  • Brown Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Drexel Jan 15, 2027
  • Brown Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Drexel 9:1
  • Brown 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Drexel
    • Health Professions (22%)
    • Business (21%)
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
  • Brown
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Drexel 68%
  • Brown 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Drexel $77,400
  • Brown $87,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Drexel 77%
  • Brown 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Drexel $26,243
  • Brown $15,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Drexel $271
  • Brown $155

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Drexel 46%
  • Brown 48%
  • % Women
  • Drexel 54%
  • Brown 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Drexel High
  • Brown Very High
  • HBCU
  • Drexel No
  • Brown No
  • % White
  • Drexel 54%
  • Brown 43%
  • % Asian
  • Drexel 14%
  • Brown 13%
  • % Black
  • Drexel 7%
  • Brown 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Drexel 6%
  • Brown 11%
  • % Native American
  • Drexel 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Drexel 1%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Drexel 3%
  • Brown 6%
  • % International
  • Drexel 13%
  • Brown 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Drexel 2%
  • Brown 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Drexel 46%
  • Brown 3%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Drexel 44%
  • Brown 79%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA with Brown University in Providence, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Drexel University is larger than Brown based on total student enrollment (21,153 students vs. 11,956 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Drexel University is located in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting); Brown University is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Drexel University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Brown University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Drexel University 9:1; Brown University 6:1.

Drexel vs. Brown Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Drexel 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 Drexel ($26,256 vs. $42,801).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Brown University are 3.6% lower than at Drexel University ($17,444 vs. $18,096).
  • Brown University is 14.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Drexel (about $9,000 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $62,412.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 14.4% higher at Brown than at Drexel University (about $9,000 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $62,412.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Drexel University than at Brown University (100% vs. 52%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Brown University students is 75.2% larger than aid received by Drexel University students ($61,392 vs. $35,051).

Drexel vs. Brown Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Drexel 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 Drexel.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Brown University (1550) is 210 points higher than at Drexel (1340).
  • Incoming Brown students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 29 at Drexel).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Drexel University 1240/1440; Brown University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Drexel University 27/32; Brown University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Drexel - Test optional; Brown - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Drexel Jan 15, 2027; Brown Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Brown students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Drexel (3.67).
  • Drexel has a higher acceptance rate (79.4%) than Brown (5.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8.1% at Drexel vs. 65.2% at Brown.

Drexel vs. Brown Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Drexel 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 Drexel University's (68%).
  • Graduates from Brown University earn a median of about $10,200 more per year than Drexel graduates about ten years after starting college ($87,600 vs. $77,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Brown University graduates have a $11,243 lower median loan debt than Drexel graduates ($15,000 vs. $26,243).
  • Among borrowers, Brown graduates have an estimated $116 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Drexel graduates ($155 vs. $271).
  • More Brown graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Drexel students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 77%)

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.