Brown Acceptance Rate: Class of 2030 Admissions Statistics

Brown University had an overall acceptance rate of 5.65% for the Class of 2029, admitting 2,418 students out of 42,765 applicants.

For the Class of 2030, Brown admitted 890 Early Decision (ED) students from a pool of 5,406 applicants, resulting in a 16.46% ED acceptance rate. Regular Decision (RD) results are expected in late March 2026, when the university will release its full admissions statistics for the cycle.

In this blog, we’ll examine Brown’s overall, early, regular, waitlist, and transfer acceptance rates, as well as how selectivity has evolved over the years.

• Brown Acceptance Rates
• Brown Early Decision Acceptance Rate
• Brown Regular Decision Acceptance Rate
• Brown Transfer Acceptance Rate
• Brown Waitlist Acceptance Rate
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

Brown Acceptance Rates

Brown’s acceptance rate for the Class of 2029 was 5.65%, a slight increase from 5.39% for the Class of 2028. While this marks a modest year-over-year rise, admission remains exceptionally competitive.

Over the past several years, Brown’s admit rate has consistently hovered in the mid- to low-5% range. Here’s the data:

Note: All data has been compiled from Brown’s Common Data Set.

Brown has seen significant growth in applications over the past decade, increasing from 32,723 applicants for the Class of 2021 to a peak of 51,316 for the Class of 2027, before stabilizing around 42,765 for the Class of 2029. Meanwhile, the number of admitted students has remained relatively consistent, generally between 2,400 and 2,800 admits each year.

As application numbers expanded while admission offers stayed fairly stable, Brown’s acceptance rate steadily declined. The highest acceptance rate during this period was 8.55% for the Class of 2021, while the lowest was 5.06% for the Class of 2026.

Brown Early Decision Acceptance Rate

For the Class of 2030, Brown admitted 890 students from 5,406 ED applicants, resulting in a 16.46% acceptance rate, slightly down from 17.92% the previous year.

Brown Early Decision acceptance rate trends

Brown’s ED data show a clear long-term increase in competitiveness. Here’s a breakdown:

Note: All data has been sourced from Brown’s Common Data Set and official admissions announcements.

For the Class of 2021, the ED acceptance rate stood at 21.65%, but that figure has steadily declined as application volume climbed. By the Class of 2027, applications peaked at 6,787, while the acceptance rate dropped to 13.02%, marking the most selective early cycle in recent years.

Although rates rebounded slightly for the Class of 2029 (17.92%) and the Class of 2030 (16.46%), they remain well below early-decade levels. Overall, the trend reflects rising demand and a growing early applicant pool, even as Brown continues to admit roughly 800–900 students each ED cycle to fill a substantial portion of the class.

Brown Regular Decision Acceptance Rate

The Class of 2029 gives us the latest RD data: 37,710 applications yielded 1,512 acceptances for a 4.01% acceptance rate, slightly lower than the 4.08% for the Class of 2028.

Brown Regular Decision acceptance rate trends

Brown’s RD acceptance rates have remained consistently low over the past decade, hovering between 7% and 3%. Here’s the complete picture:

Note: RD figures are estimates derived by subtracting ED data from overall totals in Brown’s official admissions announcements and Common Data Set.

Over the past decade, Brown’s RD pool has expanded from 29,540 applicants for the Class of 2021 to more than 44,000 applicants in recent cycles, before settling at 37,710 for the Class of 2029. Meanwhile, the number of admitted students has generally declined from about 2,110 admits in earlier years to around 1,500–1,800 in recent cycles.

Moreover, the RD acceptance rate steadily fell. The highest RD acceptance rate during this period was 7.14% for the Class of 2021, while the lowest was 3.74% for the Class of 2026.

Brown Transfer Acceptance Rate

The most recent available Brown transfer data comes from Fall 2024, with an acceptance rate of 7.20%. Here’s the breakdown:

Note: Fall 2024 transfer data is from Brown’s Common Data Set for 2024-2025, the same reporting year that includes Class of 2028 first-year admissions data.

Brown’s Fall 2024 transfer cycle was highly competitive. Out of 2,987 applicants, only 215 were admitted, resulting in a 7.20% transfer acceptance rate. While slightly higher than Brown’s first-year acceptance rate of 5.39% that year, transfer admission remains extremely selective, with fewer than 1 in 13 applicants gaining admission.

Brown Waitlist Acceptance Rate

For the Class of 2028, Brown admitted 118 students from its waitlist. Here’s the complete picture:

Note: Waitlist data is from Brown’s most recent Common Data Set.

Brown does not publish a formal waitlist acceptance rate, and outcomes can vary significantly from year to year. According to Brown’s waitlist guide, roughly 1,000–1,500 students typically accept a place on the waitlist, while only about 15 to 120 spots may open depending on how many admitted students enroll by the May 1 deadline.

Because Brown does not rank waitlisted applicants, the admissions committee reviews all students who remain on the waitlist if spaces become available. As a result, there is no consistent or predictable waitlist acceptance rate.

That uncertainty makes it difficult for waitlisted applicants to gauge their chances. If you find yourself on Brown’s waitlist, read our comprehensive guide to help you navigate this unpredictable stage of the admissions process.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Brown’s current acceptance rate?

The most recent confirmed acceptance rate for Brown University is 5.65% for the Class of 2029. Brown received 42,765 applications and admitted 2,418 students.

2. Is it easier to get into Brown through Early Decision or Regular Decision?

Historically, Brown has admitted a larger share of applicants through ED than through RD. For the Class of 2029, the ED acceptance rate was 17.92%, compared with 4.01% in RD, a difference of roughly fourfold. However, ED is binding, and the pool is typically very strong.

3. How hard is it to transfer to Brown?

Transferring to Brown is highly competitive. In Fall 2024, the university admitted 215 of 2,987 applicants, resulting in a 7.20% transfer acceptance rate.

4. What are my chances of getting off Brown’s waitlist?

Brown does not publish a fixed waitlist acceptance rate, making it difficult to estimate your chances. Each year, about 1,000 to 1,500 students accept a spot on the waitlist, but only around 15 to 120 may ultimately be admitted.

5. Why is Brown’s acceptance rate so low?

Brown’s acceptance rate reflects the gap between rising application volume and a limited class size. The university receives over 40,000 applications each year but enrolls only about 2,600 students, creating intense competition and keeping acceptance rates in the mid-5% range.

Takeaways

• Brown’s acceptance rate has declined notably over the past decade, falling from 8.55% for the Class of 2021 to a low of 5.06% for the Class of 2026, before rising slightly to 5.65% for the Class of 2029.
• ED offers a clear statistical advantage. For the Class of 2029, the ED acceptance rate was 17.92%, compared to roughly 4.01% for RD. That said, ED is binding, and the early pool typically includes highly prepared applicants.
• Transfer and waitlist pathways are even less predictable at Brown. In Fall 2024, the transfer acceptance rate was 7.20%. The outlook for waitlisted applicants is harder to gauge because Brown does not release detailed waitlist figures.
• Given how selective Brown University has become, strategic preparation can make a meaningful difference. Working with a college admissions expert can help you craft a cohesive narrative, highlight your academic strengths, and align your application with what Brown values.