Yale vs. Brown

Deciding between Yale 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.

Yale University
Brown University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Yale New Haven, CT
  • Brown Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Yale Midsize City
  • Brown Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Yale 15,564
  • Brown 11,956
  • Type
  • Yale Private 4 Year
  • Brown Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Yale #5
  • Brown #11
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Yale -
  • Brown -
  • Status
  • Yale Non-profit
  • Brown Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Yale
  • Brown

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Yale $67,250
  • Brown $71,412
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Yale $67,250
  • Brown $71,412
  • Room & Board
  • Yale $19,900
  • Brown $17,444
  • Average Net Price
  • Yale $22,408
  • Brown $26,256
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Yale $65,892
  • Brown $61,392
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Yale 56%
  • Brown 52%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Yale 57,517
  • Brown 48,904
  • Admitted
  • Yale 2,227
  • Brown 2,638
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Yale 3.9%
  • Brown 5.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Yale 69.8%
  • Brown 65.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Yale 1520
  • Brown 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Yale 34
  • Brown 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Yale 3.95
  • Brown 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Yale A
  • Brown A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Yale Elite
  • Brown Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Yale Extreme
  • Brown Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Yale 33/35
  • Brown 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Yale 1470/1570
  • Brown 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Yale Required
  • Brown Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Yale Jan 2, 2027
  • Brown Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Yale 5:1
  • Brown 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Yale
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • History (9%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Ethnic Studies (7%)
  • Brown
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Yale 97%
  • Brown 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Yale $118,400
  • Brown $87,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Yale 84%
  • Brown 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Yale $13,500
  • Brown $15,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Yale $139
  • Brown $155

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Yale 47%
  • Brown 48%
  • % Women
  • Yale 53%
  • Brown 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Yale Very High
  • Brown Very High
  • HBCU
  • Yale No
  • Brown No
  • % White
  • Yale 47%
  • Brown 43%
  • % Asian
  • Yale 17%
  • Brown 13%
  • % Black
  • Yale 7%
  • Brown 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Yale 11%
  • Brown 11%
  • % Native American
  • Yale 1%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Yale 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Yale 6%
  • Brown 6%
  • % International
  • Yale 11%
  • Brown 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Yale 1%
  • Brown 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Yale 6%
  • Brown 3%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Yale 81%
  • Brown 79%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Yale University in New Haven, CT with Brown University in Providence, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Yale University is larger than Brown based on total student enrollment (15,564 students vs. 11,956 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Yale University is located in New Haven, CT (Midsize City setting); Brown University is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Yale University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Brown University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Yale University 5:1; Brown University 6:1.

Yale vs. Brown Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Yale 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 Yale University than Brown ($22,408 vs. $26,256).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Brown University are 12.3% lower than at Yale University ($17,444 vs. $19,900).
  • Brown University is 6.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Yale (about $4,162 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $67,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.2% higher at Brown than at Yale University (about $4,162 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $67,250.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Yale University than at Brown University (56% vs. 52%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Yale University students is 7.3% larger than aid received by Brown University students ($65,892 vs. $61,392).

Yale vs. Brown Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Yale 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 Yale.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Brown University (1550) is 30 points higher than at Yale (1520).
  • Incoming Yale 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: Yale University 1470/1570; Brown University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Yale University 33/35; Brown University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Yale - Required; Brown - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Yale Jan 2, 2027; Brown Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Yale students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at Brown (3.94).
  • Brown has a higher acceptance rate (5.4%) than Yale (3.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 69.8% at Yale vs. 65.2% at Brown.

Yale vs. Brown Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Yale 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).

  • Yale University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than Brown University's (95%).
  • Graduates from Yale University earn a median of about $30,800 more per year than Brown graduates about ten years after starting college ($118,400 vs. $87,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Yale University graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than Brown graduates ($13,500 vs. $15,000).
  • Among borrowers, Yale graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Brown graduates ($139 vs. $155).
  • More Brown graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Yale students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 84%)

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.