Ivy League research university pioneering student-centered learning since 1764.
Brown comprises the College, Graduate School, Warren Alpert Medical School, School of Engineering, School of Public Health, and School of Professional Studies. The university is renowned for its innovative Open Curriculum, a flexible yet rigorous undergraduate approach adopted in 1969 that eliminates mandatory distribution requirements and emphasizes student-centered learning. Brown offers 80+ undergraduate programs, 51 doctoral programs, and 33 master's programs across sciences, humanities, social sciences, and professional fields. The university maintains a 6:1 student-to-faculty ratio with 866 regular faculty members and 2,500+ courses available.
Brown is home to the oldest applied mathematics program in the country and the oldest engineering program in the Ivy League. The university operates major research centers including the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology, and Carney Institute for Brain Science. As a space-grant institution and member of the Association of American Universities, Brown conducts groundbreaking research across biomedical innovation, public health, international affairs, and engineering solutions to global challenges.
Brown's 143-acre main campus in Providence's College Hill neighborhood features colonial-era architecture and is surrounded by a federally listed historic district. The university offers residential housing, dining facilities, and extensive student organizations. Athletic programs compete in NCAA Division I FCS as part of the Ivy League. The campus includes major libraries (John Hay Library, John Carter Brown Library), the Haffenreffer Museum, and research facilities. Brown maintains satellite campuses in Groton and Madrid for international education.
Undergraduate admissions are highly selective, with a 5% acceptance rate for the Class of 2026. The university accepts both freshman and transfer applications through Regular Decision and Early Decision pathways. Graduate and professional admissions vary by program, with separate processes for medical school, doctoral programs, and executive education. Brown's commitment to financial aid and need-blind admissions supports diverse student recruitment.
Brown alumni and affiliates include 12 Nobel Prize winners, 1 Fields Medalist, 29 Pulitzer Prize winners, 21 billionaires, 4 US Secretaries of State, over 100 US Congress members, 58 Rhodes Scholars, 22 MacArthur Fellows, and 38 Olympic medalists. The university has produced 845 Fulbright Scholars and maintains strong networks in government, business, academia, and public service.