UMass vs. Brown

Deciding between University of Massachusetts Amherst 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.

University of Massachusetts Amherst
Brown University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UMass Amherst, MA
  • Brown Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • UMass Town Fringe
  • Brown Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • UMass 31,726
  • Brown 11,956
  • Type
  • UMass Public 4 Year
  • Brown Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UMass #169
  • Brown #11
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UMass -
  • Brown -
  • Status
  • UMass Non-profit
  • Brown Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UMass
  • Brown

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UMass $17,772
  • Brown $71,412
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UMass $40,449
  • Brown $71,412
  • Room & Board
  • UMass $16,710
  • Brown $17,444
  • Average Net Price
  • UMass $22,948
  • Brown $26,256
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UMass $13,110
  • Brown $61,392
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UMass 81%
  • Brown 52%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UMass 50,261
  • Brown 48,904
  • Admitted
  • UMass 30,020
  • Brown 2,638
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UMass 59.7%
  • Brown 5.4%
  • Enrolled
  • UMass 17.9%
  • Brown 65.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UMass 1410
  • Brown 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • UMass 31
  • Brown 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • UMass 3.99
  • Brown 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UMass A
  • Brown A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UMass Exceptional
  • Brown Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • UMass Low
  • Brown Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • UMass 30/33
  • Brown 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • UMass 1310/1500
  • Brown 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UMass Test optional
  • Brown Required
  • Application Deadline
  • UMass Jan 15, 2027
  • Brown Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UMass 17:1
  • Brown 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UMass
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • Brown
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UMass 67%
  • Brown 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UMass $55,200
  • Brown $87,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UMass 76%
  • Brown 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UMass $24,000
  • Brown $15,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UMass $248
  • Brown $155

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UMass 48%
  • Brown 48%
  • % Women
  • UMass 52%
  • Brown 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UMass Medium
  • Brown Very High
  • HBCU
  • UMass No
  • Brown No
  • % White
  • UMass 67%
  • Brown 43%
  • % Asian
  • UMass 9%
  • Brown 13%
  • % Black
  • UMass 4%
  • Brown 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • UMass 5%
  • Brown 11%
  • % Native American
  • UMass 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UMass 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UMass 3%
  • Brown 6%
  • % International
  • UMass 4%
  • Brown 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UMass 8%
  • Brown 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UMass 69%
  • Brown 3%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UMass 22%
  • Brown 79%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Massachusetts Amherst in Amherst, MA with Brown University in Providence, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Massachusetts Amherst is larger than Brown based on total student enrollment (31,726 students vs. 11,956 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Massachusetts Amherst is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); Brown University is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Brown University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Massachusetts Amherst 17:1; Brown University 6:1.

UMass vs. Brown Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMass 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 University of Massachusetts Amherst than Brown ($22,948 vs. $26,256).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Massachusetts Amherst are 4.2% lower than at Brown University ($16,710 vs. $17,444).
  • Brown University is 301.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than UMass (about $53,640 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $17,772.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 76.5% higher at Brown than at University of Massachusetts Amherst (about $30,963 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $40,449.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Massachusetts Amherst than at Brown University (81% vs. 52%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Brown University students is 368.3% larger than aid received by University of Massachusetts Amherst students ($61,392 vs. $13,110).

UMass vs. Brown Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UMass 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 UMass.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Brown University (1550) is 140 points higher than at UMass (1410).
  • Incoming Brown students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 31 at UMass).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Massachusetts Amherst 1310/1500; Brown University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Massachusetts Amherst 30/33; Brown University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UMass - Test optional; Brown - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UMass Jan 15, 2027; Brown Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UMass students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.99) than students at Brown (3.94).
  • UMass has a higher acceptance rate (59.7%) than Brown (5.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.9% at UMass vs. 65.2% at Brown.

UMass vs. Brown Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UMass 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 University of Massachusetts Amherst's (67%).
  • Graduates from Brown University earn a median of about $32,400 more per year than UMass graduates about ten years after starting college ($87,600 vs. $55,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Brown University graduates have a $9,000 lower median loan debt than UMass graduates ($15,000 vs. $24,000).
  • Among borrowers, Brown graduates have an estimated $93 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UMass graduates ($155 vs. $248).
  • More Brown graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMass students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 76%)

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.