MHC vs. Brown

Deciding between Mount Holyoke 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.

Mount Holyoke College
Brown University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • MHC South Hadley, MA
  • Brown Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • MHC Large Suburban
  • Brown Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • MHC 2,275
  • Brown 11,956
  • Type
  • MHC Private 4 Year
  • Brown Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MHC #81
  • Brown #11
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MHC -
  • Brown -
  • Status
  • MHC Non-profit
  • Brown Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MHC
  • Brown

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MHC $67,018
  • Brown $71,412
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MHC $67,018
  • Brown $71,412
  • Room & Board
  • MHC $19,684
  • Brown $17,444
  • Average Net Price
  • MHC $32,526
  • Brown $26,256
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MHC $52,418
  • Brown $61,392
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MHC 77%
  • Brown 52%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • MHC 5,226
  • Brown 48,904
  • Admitted
  • MHC 1,883
  • Brown 2,638
  • Acceptance Rate
  • MHC 36%
  • Brown 5.4%
  • Enrolled
  • MHC 27.2%
  • Brown 65.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • MHC 1460
  • Brown 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • MHC 33
  • Brown 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • MHC 3.87
  • Brown 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • MHC A
  • Brown A
  • Admissions Standards
  • MHC Elite
  • Brown Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • MHC High
  • Brown Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • MHC 32/35
  • Brown 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • MHC 1380/1530
  • Brown 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • MHC Test optional
  • Brown Required
  • Application Deadline
  • MHC Jan 15, 2027
  • Brown Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MHC 9:1
  • Brown 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MHC
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • Brown
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • MHC 85%
  • Brown 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MHC $50,000
  • Brown $87,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MHC 77%
  • Brown 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MHC $21,206
  • Brown $15,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MHC $219
  • Brown $155

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MHC 1%
  • Brown 48%
  • % Women
  • MHC 99%
  • Brown 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MHC Very High
  • Brown Very High
  • HBCU
  • MHC No
  • Brown No
  • % White
  • MHC 45%
  • Brown 43%
  • % Asian
  • MHC 10%
  • Brown 13%
  • % Black
  • MHC 6%
  • Brown 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • MHC 8%
  • Brown 11%
  • % Native American
  • MHC 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MHC 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MHC 4%
  • Brown 6%
  • % International
  • MHC 26%
  • Brown 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MHC 1%
  • Brown 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MHC 19%
  • Brown 3%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MHC 63%
  • Brown 79%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA with Brown University in Providence, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Brown University is larger than MHC based on total student enrollment (11,956 students vs. 2,275 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Mount Holyoke College is located in South Hadley, MA (Large Suburban setting); Brown University is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Mount Holyoke College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Brown University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Mount Holyoke College 9:1; Brown University 6:1.

MHC vs. Brown Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MHC 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 MHC ($26,256 vs. $32,526).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Brown University are 11.4% lower than at Mount Holyoke College ($17,444 vs. $19,684).
  • Brown University is 6.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than MHC (about $4,394 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $67,018.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.6% higher at Brown than at Mount Holyoke College (about $4,394 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $67,018.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mount Holyoke College than at Brown University (77% vs. 52%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Brown University students is 17.1% larger than aid received by Mount Holyoke College students ($61,392 vs. $52,418).

MHC vs. Brown Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MHC 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 MHC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Brown University (1550) is 90 points higher than at MHC (1460).
  • Incoming Brown students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at MHC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mount Holyoke College 1380/1530; Brown University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mount Holyoke College 32/35; Brown University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MHC - Test optional; Brown - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: MHC Jan 15, 2027; Brown Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Brown students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at MHC (3.87).
  • MHC has a higher acceptance rate (36%) than Brown (5.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.2% at MHC vs. 65.2% at Brown.

MHC vs. Brown Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MHC 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 Mount Holyoke College's (85%).
  • Graduates from Brown University earn a median of about $37,600 more per year than MHC graduates about ten years after starting college ($87,600 vs. $50,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Brown University graduates have a $6,206 lower median loan debt than MHC graduates ($15,000 vs. $21,206).
  • Among borrowers, Brown graduates have an estimated $64 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MHC graduates ($155 vs. $219).
  • More Brown graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MHC 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.