Brown University Acceptance Rate
Providence, Rhode Island · Private not-for-profit · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 51,316
- Admitted
- 2,686
- Yield
- 63.1%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Brown University's acceptance rate has fallen from 8.7% in 2014–15 to 5.2% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 30,431 to 51,316 (+69%) over that period.
Its 5.2% rate makes Brown University more selective than about 99% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 10 tracked Rhode Island schools, it is more selective than about 90%.
Brown University has been test-optional since 2020–21. Of admitted students, 63.1% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 30,431 | 2,661 | 8.7% | 1,561 |
| 2015–16 | 30,396 | 2,885 | 9.5% | 1,615 |
| 2016–17 | 32,390 | 3,014 | 9.3% | 1,681 |
| 2017–18 | 32,723 | 2,779 | 8.5% | 1,637 |
| 2018–19 | 35,437 | 2,718 | 7.7% | 1,656 |
| 2019–20 | 38,674 | 2,733 | 7.1% | 1,662 |
| 2020–21 | 36,793 | 2,822 | 7.7% | 1,756 |
| 2021–22 | 46,568 | 2,568 | 5.5% | 1,705 |
| 2022–23 | 50,649 | 2,562 | 5.1% | 1,717 |
| 2023–24 | 51,316 | 2,686 | 5.2% | 1,695 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 31,650 | 1,336 | 4.2% |
| Men | 19,666 | 1,350 | 6.9% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 740–770 | 54% |
| SAT Math | 760–800 | |
| ACT Composite | 34–35 | 22% |
How Brown University compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Brown University's acceptance rate?
Brown University's acceptance rate is 5.2% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (2,686 admitted of 51,316 applicants).
Is Brown University test optional?
Brown University is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Brown University?
Brown University received 51,316 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 2,686.
What SAT score do you need for Brown University?
Admitted students at Brown University typically scored 740–770 on SAT Reading/Writing and 760–800 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is Brown University getting harder to get into?
Brown University has become harder to get into: its acceptance rate went from 8.7% in 2014–15 to 5.2% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.brown.edu/.