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Brandeis Acceptance Rate: Admissions Statistics

By Eric Eng

By Eric Eng

Brandeis University main building.

Brandeis Acceptance Rate: Admissions Statistics

Shortcut to sections offered for Brandeis prospective students and Brandeis Acceptance Rate:

Successful Applicant Profile

  • Demographics
  • Majors
  • SAT/ACT scores

 Entry Requirements

  • Tuition
  • Scholarships
  • Checklist of Application Requirements
  • Application Deadlines

What Should You Expect?

  • Student Life
  • Academics Offered
  • Athletics Offered
  • Notable Alumni

Founded in 1948 as a non-sectarian, coeducational institution sponsored by the American Jewish community, Brandeis University is a private and prestigious university located in Waltham, Massachusetts.

Overall, Brandeis has over 5800 enrolled students who study on the school’s beautiful and suburban 235-acre campus. if attending Brandeis University is your dream, you’re going to want to make sure that you have what it takes to beat the odds of the Brandeis acceptance rate.

As is the case with all prestigious universities in the United States, the vast majority of students who apply to Brandeis do not end up getting accepted.

Brandeis University entrance sign and campus logo.

Last year, the Brandeis acceptance rate was 39%. That means that for every 100 students that got in, only 31 were actually accepted. This quick breakdown should give you a very good idea of just how competitive Brandeis is in a school.

While Brandeis is quite a bit easier to get into compared to the most competitive universities in this country, such as Ivy League schools and the most prestigious public universities, the Brandeis acceptance rate is still quite low.

The truth is that if getting into Brandeis University is your dream, you are going to have to make sure that you end up near or at the top of your class. The reason why getting into schools such as Brandeis can prove to be so difficult is that the vast majority of students who apply to schools like this are amongst the most talented and celebrated students in the world.

If you are looking for a way to improve your chances of getting into Brandeis, one of the very best decisions you can make for yourself is to find a college admissions consultant such as AdmissionSight who can help you throughout your journey of choosing schools, to send again applications prior to the final deadline.

Applying to the schools of your dreams can be a stressful and exciting experience. One of the very best ways to start off that journey is to earn a great GPA in high school and get top scores and standardized tests.

To breakdown some of the most important numbers when it comes to your application, let’s quickly go over the average GPA and standardized test scores that students who get into Brandeis enjoy.

When it comes to the SAT, the average score of students who get in Is an impressive 1400. When it comes to the ACT, the average score for students who get in a 31. Finally, the average GPA for high school students who are accepted to Brandeis University is 3.83.

With those basic numbers out of the way, let’s dive deeply into everything that you should know about applying to and attending Brandeis University.

Successful Applicant Profile

At Brandeis, the vast majority of classes have less than 50 students. In fact, 52.7% of classes have less than 20 students enrolled at one time. Beyond that, the faculty-to-student ratio at the school is an impressive 10:1. If you are a student who thrives in smaller classes, then Brandeis may very well be the perfect institution for you.

Overall, the freshman retention rate at Brandeis is 93 percent, meaning that nearly every student who decides to attend Brandeis ends up staying past their first year.

If you can already imaging yourself walking the halls at Brandeis University, then it is probably a good idea to get a feel for what the student body at the school looks and feels like.

Diversity at Brandeis

More so than ever before, diversity at any school in the United States is considered a major strength. At Brandeis, students get the chance to learn and live in a community that is above average when it comes to ethnic, gender, geographic, and overall diversity.

In terms of ethnic diversity, white students actually make up a minority of the student body. 46.1% of the students at Brandeis are white. 20.6% are a non-resident alien. 13.1% of students at Brandeis are Asian. 7.8% of students at Brandeis are Hispanic/Latino and 5.3% are Black or African American.

As you can see, the student body offers a wealth of ethnic and cultural diversity that serves every single student who attends the school despite the low Brandeis acceptance rate.

On the school’s website, the school pledges its commitment to social change and improvement.

“We are committed to working collaboratively with our campus community to build high-quality programming that brings about positive and equitable social change.

Our services include short-term and ongoing development, education, and training, coaching, and assistance with search and selection.”

When it comes to gender diversity, a strong majority of students are women. The percentage of women outweighs men at Brandeis 57.5% to 42.4%. Without a doubt, Brandeis can be considered one of the most feminist private schools in the country.

Finally, Brandeis is considered a very strong school in terms of international student presence. When broken down in a poll that reviewed 1,288 total schools in the United States, Brandeis came out as the 147th most popular option for international students.

At least 44 countries are represented on campus at Brandeis and a jaw-dropping 26% of the student body is made up of international students. Some of the countries that Brandeis is most popular with includes: China, Israel, Mongolia, and Ukraine.

Majors at Brandeis

At Brandeis, there are over 50 majors and 70 minors that students can invest their time and energy in. From Art History to Business, Comparative Literature and Culture, to Computer Science, Mathematics, to Music, there is simply no shortage of incredible programs that students can decide to focus on during their time at Brandeis.

Brandeis University's brick building and another building on its left side.

What is most important for all students to do is make sure that they are going to schools that offer great programs that they are interested in.

If you are looking to become a physician, chemist, or engineer, look for schools that offer fantastic STEM programs. If you are interested in art, literature, or creative writing, seek out schools that offer wonderful programs in the Humanities.

Figuring out what you truly want to pursue once you enroll in a university is a great way to figure out what school truly is the singular school that is best for you.

SAT/ACT scores and GPAs

Another very important aspect of finding the right school for you is figuring out what is realistic based on your standardized test scores and the GPA you earned in high school considering Brandeis acceptance rate.

One very important thing of note to mention about Brandeis is that it is now a test score optional school, meaning that you do not have to submit a standardized test score in order to apply.

That being said, students who are applying to test-optional schools still often Submit their standardized test scores as a way to try to improve their chances of getting in.

Now let’s breakdown the numbers that you will actually want to achieve in order to beat the odds of the Brandeis acceptance rate and get in.

When it comes to the ACT, the 25th percentile score is 29 and the 75th percentile score is 33. That means that if you score a 29, you will be below average compared to the students who are accepted, and your score will essentially be working against you.

If you score a 33, you will have a score that is above average amongst students who get in and you can consider your ACT a major asset in your application.

As for the SAT, the 25th percentile score is 1280 in the 75th percentile score is 1500.

As you can see, Brandeis is highly competitive when it comes to either standardized test that high schoolers take.

Interestingly, the school’s average GPA for students who are accepted is 3.83. this means that you will need most as but will not have to achieve straight A’s.

Overall, based on The average standardized test scores compared to the average GPAs of students who get in, it looks as though historically the school has put more weight on how students perform on their standardized tests considering the Brandeis Acceptance rate.

It is important to keep in mind that because of the now test-optional policy of the school, it is highly possible that the GPA averages of schools are accepted will go up.

Entry Requirements

The long and arduous journey that every student who gets into Brandeis must take can take quite a toll. Not only do you need to excel in your high school courses, but you also need to make sure that you complete all of the application requirements and send all of your material in before the deadline.

On top of that, you need to make sure to pay attention to how much the school is going to cost you and your family to make sure that you have the finances necessary to pay for school without getting saddled with tens of thousands of dollars of student loan debt.

These are all important considerations that you have to make.

In order to make that process simpler for you, we at AdmissionSight have broken down all of the related information for you!

How much will it cost to attend?

Below is an accurate breakdown of the costs you will face if you decided to attend Brandeis University. To make it easy to understand, the school has offered a breakdown of costs in recent years as well as estimated costs in the 2020-21 school year.

Breakdown of cost for admissions

Financial aid at Brandeis

As you can see, the price to attend Brandeis is quite high, as is the case with every single private university in the United States. Luckily, the school has plenty of options when it comes to financial aid, thanks much in part to their endowment of over $1 billion.

For example, members of the class of 2021 were offered a total of over $15 million dollars’ worth of grants and scholarships by the school. On top of that, the average amount of the need-based award is just under $48,000 per student and ranges from as little as $5,000 to as much as $68,500 – which is essentially a full-ride scholarship.

Keep in mind that if you believe that you would qualify for need-based financial aid at Brandeis, then you will have to apply and re-apply every year in order to qualify.

Application requirements

Another very important thing to keep in mind as you prepare to apply to schools is to have everything you need to accurately complete an application to a given school. While all application requirements are similar, very few are exactly the same. Here is a quick breakdown of Brandeis’ application requirements.

  1. Completed Common Application
  2. Official copies of all high school transcripts and/or GED certificate. Transcripts must include official grades from all years of secondary school to complete this required component.
  3. Applicants have three options to fulfill the testing requirement. Review their Test-Optional Policy for more details.
    • Submit SAT or ACT.
    • Submit three subject-based exams from the approved list.
    • Submit a graded analytical paper that you have written for a class in 11th or 12th grade.
  4. Official transcript(s) of any course(s) taken at the post-secondary school level
  5. Mid-year report from the final year which includes grades for all classes. For Early Decision, I students, first quarter or first trimester grades will fulfill this requirement.
  6. A letter of recommendation from a teacher who has instructed you in a core academic course
  7. A School Report and a letter of recommendation from a secondary school official
  8. $80 Application Fee
  9. If you are applying as an Early Decision I or Early Decision II applicant, a completed Early Decision Agreement Form

Application deadline

Just like schools tend to have similar requirements for a first-year student application, they tend to have similar deadlines as well. With that being said, you should be sure that you know the deadlines of each and every school you want to apply to so that you do not miss the cutoff.

Application schedule for admissions

What to Expect

Another very important aspect of choosing the right school is knowing what to expect out of your education. One of the best ways to do that is to see what students have to say about the school. We at AdmissionSight have gathered some quotes from students at Brandeis to give you a great idea of what student life is like!

Students sitting on a bench while using their laptops and tablets.

“In academics, this institution excels without a doubt,” one wrote. “The staff and the courses available along with the resources they make available to the students show that they really care. In that department, you really do get your tuition’s worth. The only thing that holds me back from giving this institution 5 stars is the lack of diversity.

As a POC, I expected a lack of diversity entering a PWI. I’m glad that there are a representation and accommodation for Jewish individuals at Brandeis, but it really feels like other cultures are washed out in the process. Over the years though, these concerns were brought to Brandeis higher councils; the University has really improved SO much in the realm of increasing diversity and awareness.

In this semester alone I have seen so much positive change and progress on behalf of the university, which shows how much they are willing to adjust to a student’s demands.”

“Brandeis is a great place to be for your undergraduate education,” another wrote. “There is a wide array of majors and minors and classes that will deepen your knowledge. The graduation requirements are flexible enough for you to explore your interests while receiving a great liberal arts education.

I like the Usdan dining hall because it provides both healthy options and delicious desserts. The freshman dorming at North was good because it was convenient to access all the parts of campus, including classes, food, and gym.

I was able to continue exercising throughout the year at the gym and in the pool. I have enjoyed my experience at Brandeis so far and would encourage high school seniors to apply here.”

Most popular academics

When it comes to some of the most well-ranked programs at Brandeis, here are some that are considered to be the strongest at the school:

  • #22 for Public Policy
  • #30 for Global Studies
  • #44 for Film and Photography
  • #45 for International Relations
  • #50 for Physics
  • #62 for Biology
  • #63 in Chemistry
  • #75 for Math

Sports at Brandeis

As you might expect from a small, private school, Brandeis is not an athletic powerhouse. With that being said, there are a number of competitive sports that are played at the school. The Brandeis Judges compete in the Division III NCAA in the UAA and ECAC conference.

The school offers men’s baseball, basketball, cross country, fencing, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis and track and field. It offers women’s basketball, cross country, fencing, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field and volleyball.

Famous alumni

Some very famous men and women have walked the halls of Brandeis as students in the past, here are some of the most influential.

  • Debra Messing, actress
  • Jack Abramoffa, businessman
  • Thomas Friedman, journalist
  • Abbie Hoffman, activist, and writer
  • Kathy Acker, writer
  • Tyne Daly, actress
  • David Brudnoy, journalist
  • Gates McFadden, actor and choreographer
  • Patrik-Ian Polk, director, producer, screenwriter
  • Angela Davis, activist, author

As you can see, some incredible people have studied at Brandeis. If you wish to one day see your name on the admissions list, the very first step is getting into the school. Here at AdmissionSight, we have the tools and expertise necessary to help that dream of yours become a very attainable reality!

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