Brown University vs Stanford University

Brown University vs Stanford University

Subject Strength

Stanford exceeds Brown in global rankings consistently (QS: #3 vs #69). Stanford leads in Engineering (#2), Computer Science (#1), and Business (#1 internationally with its GSB MBA program). Brown, though smaller and less STEM-oriented, boasts world-class excellence in Humanities, Political Science, English, and Applied Mathematics. Brown is ideal for students who appreciate academic autonomy and interdisciplinary discovery; Stanford is ideal for those studying tech, business, and leading research.

General Information

Brown, established in 1764, is an Ivy League school with ~7,500 undergraduates and ~3,500 graduate students. Stanford, established in 1885, has ~7,800 undergraduates and ~9,000 graduate students. Brown is famous for its tight-knit community and tailored education, whereas Stanford is a big research-oriented university with international presence. Both are composed of diverse groups of students, with ~23–25% international students. Stanford's alumni network (250,000+) is more influential globally in terms of tech and business, whereas Brown's (over 100,000) excels particularly in politics, literature, media, and social activism.

Acceptance Rate

Brown's acceptance rate is 5-6%, while Stanford's is even more stringent at ~3.9%. Both need top GPAs, standardized test scores (optional but beneficial), and solid extracurriculars. Application fees are USD 75 at Brown and USD 90 at Stanford. Brown tends to look for intellectual curiosity and individual academic passions, while Stanford highlights leadership, innovation, and impact.

Location Facts

Brown is located in Providence, Rhode Island, a compact city with its own historic New England character, within reach of Boston (1 hour) and New York City (3 hours). Stanford is located in Palo Alto, California, in the very center of Silicon Valley, with instant proximity to technology companies, venture capital firms, and startups. Brown has a more subdued college-town experience, but Stanford offers access to industry and innovation centers unparalleled by any other institution.

Cost & Financial Aid

Both universities charge high tuition: Brown's tuition is around USD 68,000/year, and total expenses ~USD 85,000 with living. Stanford is roughly the same at ~USD 82,000/year total. Both provide need-blind admissions and excellent financial aid for domestic students; Stanford further has excellent funding for international students, while Brown has more limited aid for internationals.

Career Outcomes & Alumni Success

Brown alumni include politicians (e.g., John F. Kennedy Jr., congressional members), media executives, and Nobel laureates. Graduates are particularly solid in law, medicine, public service, and the creative arts. Stanford alumni include Google, Netflix, LinkedIn, and Yahoo founders, as well as Nobel winners and entrepreneurs that rule Silicon Valley. Median entry salaries for Stanford graduates are among the world's highest, specifically in CS/engineering/business. Brown graduates perform very well, particularly in academia, finance, and consulting, but Stanford's tech-oriented network provides it with a global career edge. 

Infrastructure

Brown is well endowed with libraries, humanities centers, and medical research labs but on a small scale relative to Stanford. Stanford has one of the largest campuses in the U.S. (8,180 acres) with top-flight labs, medical facilities, and centers of innovation (e.g., SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory). Stanford's infrastructure is dominated by research and innovation, whereas Brown is strong in close faculty-student relations and liberal arts flexibility.

Brown is ideal for students who want an intimate Ivy League liberal arts experience with unparalleled intellectual liberty, while Stanford is clearly the dominant institution in terms of STEM, entrepreneurship, and global research influence.