Brown University vs Northwestern University

Brown University vs Northwestern University

Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)

Northwestern and Brown are both top-tier private research universities but have distinct institutional culture and academic approach. Northwestern is ranked around 42th in the globe and Brown a bit lower, around 695th, in QS World University Rankings 2026. Northwestern consistently appears within the top 31 in Times Higher Education rankings, while Brown generally appears within the top 58 in The world ranking.

By field, Northwestern is particularly well known for journalism, communications, economics, business, and engineering, with additional depth in law and medicine. Brown, as an Ivy League institution, boasts a preeminent reputation in liberal arts, social science, literature, and public policy, with strong programs in humanities and life sciences. Both have superbly respected research faculties, but Northwestern is tilted toward professional and applied fields, while Brown excels at interdisciplinary liberal arts traditions.

General Information

Brown University, in Providence, Rhode Island, enrolls approximately 11,000 students, of whom 7,000 are undergraduates. It is most famous for its Open Curriculum, which enables undergraduates to create their own course of study with complete freedom. Northwestern University, in Evanston, Illinois (just beyond the city of Chicago), has approximately 23,000 students, of whom 9,000 are undergraduates. It struggles to balance a large research university size with high-quality undergraduate emphasis, providing access to both suburban campus and giant metropolitan center.

Acceptance Rate & Admissions

Both institutions have very competitive admissions. Brown's acceptance rate is approximately 5.65%% due to its Ivy League ranking and focus on intellectual discovery. Northwestern's acceptance rate is a little over 7%, although also highly selective. Brown appeals to students seeking academic independence, innovation, and inter-disciplinary study, whereas Northwestern attracts students who want to integrate challenging academics with professional training, especially in journalism, theater, and business.

Research Impact & Facilities

Northwestern has a strong research profile with leading institutes in nanotechnology, biomedical engineering, economics, and communications research. Its proximity to Chicago also offers opportunities for collaboration and internships. Brown, while smaller, has world-class facilities in humanities, life sciences, and social sciences, and is most famous for its Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs. Both universities support interdisciplinary research but on different levels—Northwestern's is larger and more application-oriented, while Brown's is smaller and more liberal-arts oriented.

Cost & Financial Aid

Both schools are pricey private schools, with a cost of about $65,000–$67,000 per year. Both schools give quite liberal need-based financial aid, with emphases on helping international students as well. Brown's financial awards are all need-based, whereas Northwestern blends need-based and merit-based awards.

Career Outcomes & Alumni Success

Northwestern graduates are in great demand in business, media, engineering, and law and have close ties to Chicago and beyond. Its graduates include top journalists (through the Medill School), Fortune 500 CEOs, and medical and legal professionals. Brown alumni are especially prominent in arts, politics, humanities, and social entrepreneurship, with a high number going on to fill leadership positions in policy-making, academia, and cultural industries. Median salaries for Northwestern alumni a decade after matriculation are approximately $80,000–$85,000, and Brown alumni bring home slightly less, at $75,000–$78,000, showing Brown's liberal arts orientation and career mix.