Brown University
Get to know Brown University
School Profile
Urban campus setting
7,196 undergraduate students
3,369 graduate students
1,743 first-year students
15% first-generation students
Students hail from 50 U.S. states, Washington D.C., and 122 nations and territories
Admissions
Academics
2,000+ courses and 80+ academic concentrations, 900+ independent study & research courses, and 6 undergraduate certificate programs
Student-to-faculty ratio 6:1
69% of classes have fewer than 20 students
Introduction to Brown University
Brown is a leading research university distinct for its student-centered learning and deep sense of purpose. Brown’s students are driven by the idea that their work will have an impact in the world. The spirit of the Open Curriculum infuses every aspect of the undergraduate experience. Brown is a place where rigorous scholarship, complex problem-solving, and service to the public good are defined by intense collaboration, intellectual discovery, and working in ways that transcend traditional boundaries.
Students can pursue degrees in 80 concentrations, ranging from Egyptology to Cognitive Neuroscience, and supplement their learning with certificate programs from Entrepreneurship to Engaged Scholarship. Whether you are interested in exploring the humanities, STEM fields, or perhaps even both, you will have plenty of personal interaction with faculty and live among students like yourself who are lifelong learners and leaders. Academic advising is available for all students during their initial two years and concentration advisers guide students through graduation. The Lizzie & Jonathan Tisch Center for Career Exploration supports students and recent graduates exploring paths toward meaningful careers. Students pursuing pre-health or pre-law also have dedicated resources. You can extend your interests beyond Rhode Island by studying abroad through Brown’s programs or taking part in faculty-led international opportunities through an academic department.
Famous alumni include: Debra Lee '76 (CEO of BET); Ted Turner '60 (Founder of CNN); Brian Moynihan ’81 (Chairman/CEO of Bank of America); Jim Yong Kim '82 (Former President of the World Bank); Tracee Ellis Ross '94 (Actor); John Krasinski '02 (Actor); Daveed Diggs '04 (Actor & Rapper); Sarah Kay '10 (Poet); and Emma Watson '14 (Actor).
The Open Curriculum encourages students to follow their interests without being restricted by core requirements.
Brown’s U-FLi Center is one of many campus centers that celebrate student identity and help build community.