Brown Admission Requirements

10/10 Overall Rating
4 Year
Providence, RI
5.0 2 reviews

#11 Best Colleges in America

Overview Admission Cost Majors Diversity Outcomes Salaries Location Compare Reviews Admission Calculator

Brown Admission Overview

Brown admission requirements are extremely competitive, with one of the lowest admission rates in the nation. Last year Brown admitted 5.4% of applicants. Enrolled freshmen who sent tests typically scored SAT 1510-1580 / ACT 34-35. Those figures describe last year's class, not a score you must hit.

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Brown requires the SAT or ACT for 2026-27.

Cycle: 2026-27. Source: https://admission.brown.edu/first-year/standardized-tests

Brown Acceptance Rate

Admission Rate & Difficulty

Acceptance rate

5.4%

Admission Standards

Elite

Applicant Competition

Extreme

Very Low

Low

Average

High

Very High

Extreme

Acceptance Rate

The Brown acceptance rate is 5.4%. Last year, only 2,638 of 48,904 applicants were admitted. That is the lowest acceptance rate in Rhode Island and the 14th lowest in the nation.

Admission Selectivity

How hard is it to get into Brown and can you get accepted?

Brown is an extremely competitive school to get into, admitting fewer than one in ten applicants. You have a very low chance of acceptance even if you meet last year's profile.

Most incoming freshmen graduate in the top ten percent of their high school class or better. Of those admitted, 65% enrolled. That suggests Brown is a top choice for many students who are offered a place.

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Brown GPA

GPA of enrolled freshmen

Estimated High School GPA

3.94*

Typical High School Grades

Estimated GPA (4.0 Scale) 3.94*

0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0

Average GPA

Brown has not published an average GPA for enrolled freshmen. CollegeSimply estimates about a 3.94 GPA (A) on a 4.0 scale, based on this school's test scores and GPA data from similar colleges. That is an estimate, not a school-reported average. An estimated 3.94 GPA does not by itself determine admission.

See additional colleges accepting applicants in the 3.9 GPA range.

*3.94 is a CollegeSimply estimate, not a school-reported average. It is modeled from this school's test scores and GPA data from similar colleges.

Brown Test Policy

Test Submission Requirements

Brown University requires first-year applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores. The requirement began with the 2024-25 admission cycle and remains in place. Applicants may self-report scores; official reports are required if you are admitted and enroll. Brown superscores the SAT and ACT. The SAT Essay and ACT Writing are optional, and the ACT Science section is optional. There is no minimum score.

Cycle: 2026-27. Source: https://admission.brown.edu/first-year/standardized-tests

Brown SAT Scores

SAT scores of enrolled freshmen

SAT Range

1510-1580

Freshmen who sent SAT

61%

25th Percentile Scores

Reading 740
Math 770
Composite 1510

75th Percentile Scores

Reading 780
Math 800
Composite 1580

Average SAT

Enrolled testers at Brown typically score around a 1550 SAT (middle 50% 1510–1580) out of 1600. That is last year's class, not a cutoff. The average SAT of enrolled testers is about the 99th percentile nationally. Brown ranks #1 in the state of Rhode Island and #8 in the nation for highest average SAT composite score.

SAT Range (25th-75th Percentile) 1510 to 1580

800 1000 1200 1400 1600

Matching last year's 1510–1580 range does not by itself determine admission.

SAT policy

You must send SAT or ACT for 2026-27. Confirm current rules on the school's site.

View other colleges which accept students in the 1550 SAT score range.

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

How SAT scores compare with last year's enrolled testers

This table compares SAT ranges with last year's enrolled testers and the school's acceptance rate. It is not a personal chance of admission.

SAT ranges vs last year's enrolled testers at Brown University
SAT Score (1600 scale)	Competitiveness	Admission Chances
1580+	Above 75th	>9%
1550 to 1580	Avg +	5%-9%
1510 to 1550	Avg -	3%-5%
Below 1510	Below mid-50	<3%

What do these figures mean?

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Brown ACT Scores

ACT scores among enrolled freshmen

ACT Range

34-35

Freshmen reporting ACT

24%

25th Percentile Scores

English 35
Math 32
Composite 34

75th Percentile Scores

English 36
Math 35
Composite 35

Average ACT

Incoming testers at Brown typically have around a 34 ACT (mid-50 34–35) on the 36 scale. That reflects last year's enrolled testers, not a cutoff. That average sits near the 99th percentile of ACT takers nationwide. Brown places #1 among colleges in Rhode Island and #33 nationwide for highest average ACT composite.

ACT Range (25th-75th Percentile) 34 to 35

1 9 18 27 36

Landing in last year's 34–35 band does not, on its own, decide admission.

ACT policy

ACT or SAT is required for 2026-27. Check the school's site for current rules.

See colleges with similar ACT profiles in the 34.0 ACT score range.

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

How ACT scores compare with last year's enrolled testers

This table compares ACT ranges with last year's enrolled testers and the school's acceptance rate. They are not your individual odds.

ACT bands compared with last year's enrolled testers at Brown University
ACT Score (36 scale)	Competitiveness	Admission Chances
35+	Above 75th	>16%
34 to 35	Avg +	5%-16%
34 to 34	Avg -	5%-5%
Below 34	Below mid-50	<5%

How to read these figures

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

High School Class Rank

Class Rank of Admitted Students

91% of Brown University freshman are in the top ten percent of their high school graduating class. For your application to be competitive, you need to graduate at the top of your class.

High School Class Rank for admitted Brown University students
High School Class Rank	Freshmen Within Range
Top 10% of class	91%
Top 25% of class	98%
Top 50% of class	99%

Data Source, Peterson's Data

Estimate How You Compare

See how your GPA and SAT or ACT compare with last year's enrolled class. This is not a personal probability of admission.

Open the Brown chances calculator

Applying

Admission Statistics

Admission and enrollment rates by gender are detailed in the table below.

Brown University admission statistics
	Women	Men	Total
Applied	29,917	18,960	48,904
Accepted	1,309	1,326	2,638
Acceptance Rate	4%	7%	5%
Enrolled	863	855	1,719
Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield)	66%	64%	65%

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Application Requirements

What are the requirements for admission to Brown University and what student information is used for admission decisions?

Brown University application requirements
Requirement	Used for Admission
Test Scores	Required to be considered for admission
High School GPA	Not required for admission, but considered if submitted
High School Class Rank	Not required for admission, but considered if submitted
Completion of College Preparatory Program	Required to be considered for admission
Recommendations	Required to be considered for admission
Demonstration of Competencies	Not considered for admission, even if submitted