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Brown University

Providence, RI

private nonprofitgraduate

Quick Facts

In Deo Speramus("In God We Hope")

1764
Founded
Private research university
Type
7,273
Total Students
$68K
Tuition (In-State)
$68K
Tuition (Out-State)
$27K
Avg Net Price
5%
Acceptance Rate
96%
Graduation Rate
6-year
99%
Retention Rate
Doctoral Universities
Classification

Data from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0) & U.S. Dept. of Education

About Brown University

Brown University: The Ivy League pioneer of open inquiry, where historic roots meet a revolutionary curriculum.

Brown University, a prestigious Ivy League institution located in Providence, Rhode Island, stands as a beacon of intellectual freedom and historical significance. Renowned for its unique Open Curriculum, Brown empowers students to take control of their academic journey, eliminating mandatory general education requirements and fostering a deeply personalized learning experience. This pioneering approach, adopted in 1969, reflects the university's enduring commitment to student-centered education and interdisciplinary exploration.

Founded in 1764 as Rhode Island College, Brown is the seventh-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and one of the original nine colonial colleges. It holds a unique place in American academic history as the first college to codify equal admission and instruction regardless of religious affiliation. Academically, Brown boasts the nation's oldest applied mathematics program and the Ivy League's oldest engineering program, emphasizing an interdisciplinary approach that bridges traditional academic boundaries.

Nestled within Providence's historic College Hill, Brown's campus is surrounded by a rich architectural district, offering a vibrant and inspiring setting. The university is a hub for groundbreaking research, with its various schools, including the Alpert Medical School and School of Public Health, contributing significantly to their respective fields. With a highly selective admissions process and a legacy of producing Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, and leaders across every sector, Brown attracts ambitious students eager to engage with a transformative educational environment.

Key Highlights

  • Open Curriculum: Pioneered in 1969, empowering students with no mandatory general education requirements.
  • Historic Roots: Seventh-oldest institution in the U.S., founded in 1764, and one of nine colonial colleges.
  • Academic Prowess: Home to the oldest applied mathematics program in the country and the oldest engineering program in the Ivy League.
  • Highly Selective Admissions: Boasts an acceptance rate of 5% for the class of 2026.
  • Distinguished Alumni & Faculty: Affiliated with 12 Nobel Prize winners, 29 Pulitzer Prize winners, and 58 Rhodes Scholars.
  • Progressive Charter: First American college to codify equal admission and instruction regardless of religious affiliation.
  • Alpert Medical School's PLME: Renowned 8-year Program in Liberal Medical Education (baccalaureate-M.D.) with a 2% acceptance rate in 2021.

Timeline

1761
Petition drafted for a literary institution in Rhode Island by Ezra Stiles, William Ellery Jr., and Josias Lyndon.
1764
Founded as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations; charter adopted.
1765
James Manning sworn in as the college's first president.
1770
College moves from Warren to Providence; construction begins on University Hall.
1804
Renamed Brown University in honor of Nicholas Brown Jr.'s donation.
1887
Masters and doctoral studies added, establishing it as an early doctoral-granting institution.
1969
Adopted its Open Curriculum, eliminating mandatory general education distribution requirements.
1971
Brown's coordinate women's institution, Pembroke College, was fully merged into the university.
2003
Established a steering committee to investigate the university's ties to slavery.
2013
The School of Public Health was officially founded as an independent school.
🏛️
262 Years
of Excellence

Schools & Colleges

4 notable schools within Brown University

⚙️

The School of Engineering

Established in 1847, it is the oldest engineering program in the Ivy League and third oldest civilian engineering program in the country, known for its interdisciplinary approach.

🎓

The Graduate School

Introduced graduate courses in the 1870s and established a full Graduate School in 1927, offering 33 master's and 51 doctoral programs with an approximate 9% acceptance rate.

🏥

Alpert Medical School

Established in 1811 (reorganized in 1972), it is the fourth oldest medical school in the Ivy League and is especially known for its highly selective 8-year Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME).

🏛️

School of Public Health

Officially founded in 2013, it offers undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and dual degrees, growing out of the Alpert Medical School's Department of Community Health.

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