Brown University vs. Harvard University Overview
You’re wrestling with a tough question: “Should I go to Brown or Harvard University?“
Brown University
Harvard University
Can you get in?
Calculate Your ChancesCan you get in?
Calculate Your ChancesThis complete guide analyzes both the quantitative and qualitative differences between Brown University and Harvard University. This comparison is particularly valuable at understanding the cultural nuances between the colleges since it uses student videos to capture the “vibes” of campus - these videos are exclusively available on CampusReel :)
Differences between Brown University and Harvard University
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s go through a general overview of the high-level differences between Brown University and Harvard University. The table below summarizes some of the most important statistics around competitiveness, costs, etc.
| Brown University | Harvard University | |
|---|---|---|
| In-state Tuition | $49,346 | $45,278 |
| Net Price | $27,496 | $17,882 |
| Average Financial Aid | $40,817 | $48,524 |
| Total Undergraduates | 6320 | 7333 |
| Average SAT Scores | 1370 - 1560 | 1400 - 1600 |
| Acceptance Rate | 9 | 6 |
| Location | One Prospect Street | Massachusetts Hall |
| City Name | Providence | Cambridge |
WARNINGS: Based on net price alone, Harvard University is the cheaper option. However, this sticker price may not adequately represent the difference in living costs between Providence and Cambridge. Brown is in a New England and Harvard University is in a New England - sometimes off campus meals and housing costs can dramatically vary between schools
Is Brown University or Harvard University Harder to get into? Which school is easier to get into?
If you’re looking at acceptance rate alone, then Harvard University is more difficult to get into. However, each college is looking to fill its incoming class with a variety of students with different strengths, backgrounds, etc.
Therefore, the acceptance rate alone is not a good indicator that Harvard University is a better school or will be more difficult for you specifically to get into. On the flipside, Brown University is easier to get into based on acceptance rate alone.
You can use the below college admissions predictor to determine your likelihood of acceptance at either school.
How Do Brown Dorms Compare to housing Options at Harvard University?
Both colleges provide on-campus living options. Brown charges for on-campus living, while Harvard University charges N/A for on-campus living. Most importantly, though, check out the video below for a sample of dorm tours at each school.
Brown and Harvard University student body differences
The table below helps demonstrate the student body differences as well.
| Brown University , % | Harvard University,% | |
|---|---|---|
| White | 42.94 | 43.99 |
| Hispanic | 11.379999999999999 | 10.23 |
| Black | 6.710000000000001 | 6.4399999999999995 |
| Foreign | 11.91 | 11.07 |
| Others | 27.1 | 28.3 |
How different is the Brown University campus compared to Harvard University campus?
The Brown campus is located in Providence, RI and is characterized as City: Midsize (population of at least 100,000 but less than 250,000). The Harvard University campus is located in Cambridge, MA and is characterized as City: Midsize (population of at least 100,000 but less than 250,000).
Which school gives more financial aid?
Brown provides $40,817 whereas Harvard University provides an average of $48,524.
How does Brown academics compare to Harvard University?
When analyzing academics between Brown University and Harvard University we’ll look at both what current students are studying and also where they end up after graduation. After all, college should prepare you for a career! Analyzing each school’s outcomes is super valuable to understand the value of the degree.
| Majors | Brown | Harvard University |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture agriculture operations and related sciences | N/A | N/A |
| Natural resources and conservation | 25 | 16 |
| Architecture and related services | N/A | N/A |
| Area ethnic cultural gender and group studies | 37 | 24 |
| Communication journalism and related programs | 25 | N/A |
| Computer and information sciences and support services | 148 | 131 |
| Communications technologies technicians and support services | N/A | N/A |
| Personal and culinary services | N/A | N/A |
| Engineering | 128 | 78 |
| Education | 15 | N/A |
| Engineering technologies and engineering related fields | N/A | N/A |
Which is better: Brown University or Harvard University?
We’ve compared dorm life, costs, outcomes and more to provide the most complete comparison between Brown and Harvard University. But, you’re smart enough to know that numbers paint a terrible picture for truly understanding what each college and community is like. And, the real answer to which school is better is: the school that’s right for you. No matter who you ask, if they know what they’re talking about, the answer is the same: the “better” school is whatever is the best fit for you personally. That’s why it’s extremely important to check out all the videos on CampusReel for each school.
How does Brown social life compare to Harvard University?
It’s tough to understand the nuances of social life with data alone. That’s why we’ve brought in real student videos to show how Brown social life differs from Harvard University.
Check here.
Check here.