Wellesley vs. Brown

Deciding between Wellesley 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.

Wellesley College
Brown University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Wellesley Wellesley, MA
  • Brown Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Wellesley Large Suburban
  • Brown Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Wellesley 2,407
  • Brown 11,956
  • Type
  • Wellesley Private 4 Year
  • Brown Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Wellesley #18
  • Brown #11
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Wellesley -
  • Brown -
  • Status
  • Wellesley Non-profit
  • Brown Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Wellesley
  • Brown

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Wellesley $67,176
  • Brown $71,412
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Wellesley $67,176
  • Brown $71,412
  • Room & Board
  • Wellesley $21,024
  • Brown $17,444
  • Average Net Price
  • Wellesley $22,174
  • Brown $26,256
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Wellesley $64,116
  • Brown $61,392
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Wellesley 54%
  • Brown 52%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Wellesley 8,714
  • Brown 48,904
  • Admitted
  • Wellesley 1,224
  • Brown 2,638
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Wellesley 14%
  • Brown 5.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Wellesley 47.6%
  • Brown 65.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Wellesley 1510
  • Brown 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Wellesley 34
  • Brown 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Wellesley 3.86
  • Brown 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Wellesley A
  • Brown A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Wellesley Elite
  • Brown Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Wellesley Very High
  • Brown Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Wellesley 33/35
  • Brown 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Wellesley 1460/1560
  • Brown 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Wellesley Test optional
  • Brown Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Wellesley Jan 8, 2027
  • Brown Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

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

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Wellesley 92%
  • Brown 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Wellesley $68,100
  • Brown $87,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Wellesley 86%
  • Brown 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Wellesley $8,900
  • Brown $15,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Wellesley $92
  • Brown $155

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Wellesley 2%
  • Brown 48%
  • % Women
  • Wellesley 98%
  • Brown 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Wellesley Very High
  • Brown Very High
  • HBCU
  • Wellesley No
  • Brown No
  • % White
  • Wellesley 40%
  • Brown 43%
  • % Asian
  • Wellesley 23%
  • Brown 13%
  • % Black
  • Wellesley 6%
  • Brown 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Wellesley 11%
  • Brown 11%
  • % Native American
  • Wellesley 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Wellesley 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Wellesley 6%
  • Brown 6%
  • % International
  • Wellesley 12%
  • Brown 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Wellesley 4%
  • Brown 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Wellesley 12%
  • Brown 3%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Wellesley 73%
  • Brown 79%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Wellesley College in Wellesley, 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 Wellesley based on total student enrollment (11,956 students vs. 2,407 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Wellesley College is located in Wellesley, MA (Large Suburban setting); Brown University is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Wellesley College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Brown University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Wellesley College 7:1; Brown University 6:1.

Wellesley vs. Brown Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wellesley 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 Wellesley College than Brown ($22,174 vs. $26,256).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Brown University are 17% lower than at Wellesley College ($17,444 vs. $21,024).
  • Brown University is 6.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Wellesley (about $4,236 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $67,176.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.3% higher at Brown than at Wellesley College (about $4,236 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $67,176.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wellesley College than at Brown University (54% vs. 52%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wellesley College students is 4.4% larger than aid received by Brown University students ($64,116 vs. $61,392).

Wellesley vs. Brown Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Wellesley 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 Wellesley.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Brown University (1550) is 40 points higher than at Wellesley (1510).
  • Incoming Wellesley students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at Brown (34).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wellesley College 1460/1560; Brown University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wellesley College 33/35; Brown University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Wellesley - Test optional; Brown - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Wellesley Jan 8, 2027; Brown Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Brown students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Wellesley (3.86).
  • Wellesley has a higher acceptance rate (14%) than Brown (5.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.6% at Wellesley vs. 65.2% at Brown.

Wellesley vs. Brown Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Wellesley 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 Wellesley College's (92%).
  • Graduates from Brown University earn a median of about $19,500 more per year than Wellesley graduates about ten years after starting college ($87,600 vs. $68,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Wellesley College graduates have a $6,100 lower median loan debt than Brown graduates ($8,900 vs. $15,000).
  • Among borrowers, Wellesley graduates have an estimated $63 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Brown graduates ($92 vs. $155).
  • More Brown graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Wellesley students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 86%)

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.