Brown University is a private Ivy League research university located in Providence, Rhode Island, USA. It is a medium-sized university with ~11,000 students, including ~7,500 undergraduate and 2,500 graduate students. International students constitute ~15% of the student population. Admissions are highly selective, with an acceptance rate of ~5.2%. Brown is renowned for its Open Curriculum, where students have the freedom to create their own academic courses without required general education requirements. Major fields of study are Computer Science, Economics, International & Public Affairs, Biology, Engineering, Neuroscience, English, and Political Science. QS World University Rankings 2026 ranks Brown #79 globally and in the top 20 in the US. Career outcomes are excellent, with a high representation in consulting, technology, finance, and medicine. Brown's computer science and economics graduates frequently have early-career salaries in excess of USD 100K.
Princeton University is a private Ivy League research institution in Princeton, New Jersey, USA. It is a relatively small research university with ~8,500 students, of whom ~5,700 are undergraduate and ~3,000 graduate students. ~12% of students are international. Admissions are highly competitive, with an acceptance rate of ~4.4%. Princeton is famous for undergraduate teaching, residential college system, and world-class faculty. Commonly studied majors are Public Policy (Woodrow Wilson School), Economics, Computer Science, History, Physics, Math, and Engineering. QS World University Rankings 2026 places Princeton at #25 worldwide and in the top 5 US universities. Princeton alumni boast some of the best financial performance in the Ivy League, with early-career salaries averaging ~USD 85K and mid-career salaries frequently over USD 160K. Graduates are prominent in politics, economics, science, and literature.
| Brown University | Princeton University | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 6.7 Out of 10 | 8.3 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 65 Times Higher Education 2026 # 69 QS World University 2026 # 58 Times Higher Education 2025 | # 3 Times Higher Education 2026 # 25 QS World University 2026 # 4 Times Higher Education 2025 |
| Subject Strength | # 90 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2025 # 51 for Data Science and Analytics by QS World University 2025 # 116 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 | # 8 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2025 # 15 for Data Science and Analytics by QS World University 2024 # 142 for Medicine by QS World University 2024 |
| Programs | UG Programs -59 PG Programs -26 Doctorate Programs -7 | UG Programs -18 PG Programs -13 Doctorate Programs -6 |
| Acceptance Rate | 5.0 % | 5.0 % |
| Exam Score | IELTS-8 SAT-1500 TOEFL-100 | Duolingo-125 IELTS-8 TOEFL-108 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 59254 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 59254 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 9774 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 49450 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 107530 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 21170 Per Year |
| placement (average package) | Brown University is one of the top private universities in Providence, United States. It is ranked #63 in QS World University Rankings 2023. It ranks #55 in the graduate employability rank Brown University Graduates & Alumni Salaries - By Degree
| Hiring Companies are Amazon, IBM Corporation, Goldman Sachs Group, Raytheon Co., Microsoft, etc. Princeton University is one of the top private universities in Princeton, United States. It is ranked #=16 in QS World University Rankings 2023.
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| application requirements | School Report; Counsellor’s recommendation for UG admission; Letters of Recommendation; Writing Sample | Freshman need 3.87 GPA on a scale of 4.0 (A- grade or 90 to 92%). |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 6.9/10 Read 2 reviews | 8.3/10 Read 1 reviews |
Top Courses Comparison
| ranking | # 27 for Computer Science by US News 2025 # 71 for Computer Science by Times Higher Education 2025 # 107 for Computer Science by QS World University 2025 | # 6 for Computer Science by Times Higher Education 2025 # 7 for Computer Science by US News 2025 # 13 for Computer Science by QS World University 2025 |
| application | - | - |
| exam scores | IELTS - 8/9TOEFL - 105/120 | IELTS - 8/9TOEFL - 108/120 |
| cost to study | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -53196 | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -107530 |
| application dates | Jan 15, 2026 (Application Deadline for Fall 2026 intake) | Dec 15, 2025 (Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | Brown University | Princeton University |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1764 | 1746 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 6:1 | 5:1:1 |
| Male:Female | 46% Male, 54% Female | 50% Male, 0% Female |
| Location Facts | Campus is located in College Hill and Jewelry District; Main campus is situated on the east side of Campus Hill and has 235 buildings | 500-acre campus located in central New Jersey; Philadelphia and New York are just 55 miles away which is an hour drive. The southern edge of the university has an artificial lake |
| Library | One of the USA’s oldest library; has 6 million items including bound volumes, periodicals, maps, sheet music, digital objects, manuscripts, and electronic resources; 6 libraries ie. John D. Rockefeller Jr Library for humanities and social science, Science Library, John Hay Library for special collections, Orwig Music Library, Art Slide Library and Library Collections Annex | University has 14 libraries; Firestone Library is the main library having more than 11 million holdings in 12 buildings throughout the campus. It houses 3000 ebooks; 50,000 graphic arts collection; 100,000 coins collection; 1,244,911 paper of Princeton; 250,000 rare books collection; 10,000 archives and more |
| Campus Life | 38 varsity sports team having more than 900 student-athletes; Over 400 student organizations including Capella groups and community services, 4100 intramural sports participants and 60 public service groups; Main campus centuries-old-structures, labs and world-class ibraries | 300 student organizations, 36 sport clubs, 17 chaplaincies and some of the campus life units such as Athletics and Campus Recreations; Center for Career Development; Carl A. Fields Center for Equality and Cultural Understanding; Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Center; etc. |
| Hostel | #On campus - $9774 | #Room - $12450 |
| Famous Alumni | John Hay (US Secretary of State); Charles Evans Hughes (Chief Justice and US Secretary of State); John D Rockefeller Jr (philanthropist); Jim Yong Kim (World Bank President); Ted Turner (CNN founder and America’s Cup yachtsman); Dara Khosroswshahi (Uber CEO); Emma Watson (actress); Mary Chapin Carpenter (humorist); Samuel Gridley Howe (historian) | Michelle Obama (former First Lady of US); James Madison and Woodrow Wilson (former US Presidents); Jeff Bezos (Amazon CEO and founder); Jimmy Stewart (actor); Alan Turing (father of theoretical computer science) |
| City Life | Providence is the capital city of Rhode Island; Originally was known as Providence Plantations; One of the first industrialized cities in the USA; known for textile manufacturing, machine tool, jewelry, and silverware industries; Unemployment rate was 4.1% in January 2020 | The city of Princeton is located in the center of New Jersey, which is located in the Mid-Atlantic region of Northeastern USA. The cosmopolitan communities residing in the city offer students with multi-cuisine dining. You can shop around in downtown Princeton. The city also has a theatre, museum, and gardens. The unemployment rate is 3.6% . |
| Weather |
Brown University vs Princeton University
Subject Strength
Brown University and Princeton University are both Ivy League heavyweights boasting strong programs in Computer Science, Neuroscience, Literary Arts, and Public Health, and is a hub for students looking for academic freedom and interdisciplinarity. Princeton comes in #25 internationally (QS World University Rankings 2026), being strong in Mathematics, Economics, Physics, Public Policy, and Engineering. It has more research intensity and more international academic reputation than Brown. Brown, at #79, is known for its open curriculum and excellence in applied mathematics and entrepreneurship that distinguishes it. Brown is ideal for students who want flexibility, creativity, and student-initiated learning. Princeton is ideal for regimented scholarly excellence, superlative faculty mentorship, and international renown.
General Information
Brown, founded in 1764, is a private Ivy League school with ~11,000 students over a 146-acre city campus in Providence. Princeton, founded in 1746, is a private Ivy League school with ~8,500 students over a 600-acre suburban campus in Princeton, New Jersey. Both have diverse student populations, although Brown's has marginally greater international student enrollment. Brown has ~120,000 alums; Princeton has ~97,000 alums, but Princeton alums are usually regarded as more influential in politics, academia, and finance around the world.
Acceptance Rate
Princeton's acceptance rate is ~4.4%, slightly lower than Brown's ~5.2%. Both demand top academic resumes, essays, and extracurricular excellence. Brown draws creative, independent students; Princeton draws good STEM/math students and those interested in public service or the academy. Application fees are $70 at Princeton and $75 at Brown. International students have very tough competition at both, but Brown's slightly wider acceptance rate and test-optional policy might give a slight edge.
Location Facts
Brown is located in Providence, Rhode Island — a compact old city with rich arts scene, 1-hour train ride to Boston, 3 hours to NYC. Princeton is located in Princeton, New Jersey — a suburb with a classic collegiate setting, within reach of both NYC and Philadelphia (~1 hour each). Brown's campus is embedded in city life, while Princeton's campus is more isolated and inward-looking.
Cost & Financial Aid
Both charge approximately USD 65,000/year in tuition plus ~USD 20,000 for room and board. Brown's Need-blind for US students, covers 100% of demonstrated need; grants (not loans) in financial aid packages. Princeton's Need-blind for US and international students, covers 100% of demonstrated need, and is famous for the most generous financial aid in the Ivy League — the majority of students graduate debt-free.
Career Outcomes & Alumni Success
Brown alumni: John D. Rockefeller Jr., Emma Watson, Janet Yellen, and numerous arts, policy, and tech leaders. Brown graduates are particularly well-represented in consulting, startups, creative industries, and health sciences. Princeton alumni: U.S. Presidents (Woodrow Wilson, James Madison), Jeff Bezos, Michelle Obama, Alan Turing, Nobel winners, and political, finance, and science leaders. Princeton graduates have unparalleled placement at top graduate schools and high-end consulting/finance firms. Brown is excellent for interdisciplinary and entrepreneurial careers, creativity, and innovation; Princeton is best for traditional high-prestige careers with higher average long-term salaries.
Infrastructure
Brown: Well-developed medical and neuroscience research spaces, great libraries, and entrepreneurial communities such as the Nelson Center for Entrepreneurship. Princeton: Top research labs, Institute for Advanced Study (where Einstein labored), Plasma Physics Lab, enormous endowment-per-student (Ivy League's largest), which supports unparalleled academic and residential amenities.
