Campus & Student Life at Brown University

Home to about 6,792 undergraduates in 2020, Brown is a private university located in Providence, Rhode Island. This urban setting might be best suited for students who like the fast-paced city life. Should you tire of the campus however, Brown offers a “study abroad” program. Please note, some classes/degrees offered by Brown can be taken “online” so keep that in mind when reviewing this report. For more context, you might also check out our Brown Guide to Distance and Online Learning.

Brown Has a Disability Services Site

Individuals with disabilities make up 29.0% of the student population at Brown. For more information on policies and accommodations that the university provides to ensure all students get the opportunity to participate, you can visit Brown Disability Services.

Brown for the Military

While not a "service academy", Brown does offer support for veterans and those seeking a career in the armed forces. Undergraduates have access to one or more ROTC programs and there is an active student veterans group on campus. For more information on policies related to veterans, you can visit Brown Veteran Services . For more information, check out our Brown for Veterans Guide.

Freshmen Living Arrangements at Brown University

Brown not only offers on-campus housing, they require freshmen to live on campus. If you are a returning adult or veteran, you can inquire about being exempted from such a requirement.

* Data compiled from students who received financial aid, including loans.

Full-time vs. Part-time Studies at Brown University

There were 6,792 undergraduates in 2020. Full-time attendance was 6,605 (97.2%). Part-time attendance was 187 (2.8%).

Brown University is Ranked #11 for Overall Diversity

Compared to other colleges and universities across the nation, Brown receives top marks for overall diversity. We rank Brown #11 out of 3,451.

The chart below shows each element that we looked at to determine this ranking, and how that metric compares to the national average. 100 would indicate excellent diversity in each category, and 1 would mean poor diversity.

You can learn more about the diversity of the student body at Brown by looking closer at the ethnic,  gender,  age, and geographic diversity metrics from the Brown Diversity Guide.

Brown University Competes in the NCAA

Brown has a total of 1026 student athletes, 514 men and 512 women who compete in inter-collegiate athletics.

Athletics Financing

For more information about athletics including per-team sizes, coaching and scholarships check out our Guide to Brown University Athletics