For the 2024–2025 cycle, Brown University reported an overall acceptance rate of 5.38%, in line with peers such as Dartmouth and Penn, which both reported around 5.4%. On its own, that figure doesn’t tell us much beyond the obvious: admission to schools at this level is brutally competitive. When you’re dealing with ultra‑selective institutions, surface-level stats only scratch the surface. To actually understand what’s happening, you have to look at patterns over time, shifts in applicant pools, and how different parts of the process interact with one another. And that’s exactly why we dig into this data every year, to help students approach the admissions process with smarter, more informed strategies.

Brown is the “creative Ivy.” The other Ivy League schools might protest that label, but Brown’s open curriculum, location in Providence, Rhode Island, and interest in nurturing the creative sides of their students has made it a top choice for exceptional students who see the world through an artistic (although not necessarily artsy) lens. The overall acceptance rate for the Class of 2029 was under 6%.

Brown is an Ivy League university with a strong creative streak. Located in the heart of Providence, Rhode Island, Brown attracts students who want to go far while thinking differently. The university is looking for a diverse transfer student group, but that doesn’t mean that it is easy to get in. Most recently, Brown received just under 3,000 applications for transfer. Ultimately, they accepted only 215 — or 7.2%. Getting in, then, isn’t easy. It’s just about as hard as getting in as a first-year, and a strong application requires strategy and preparation well in advance of pressing submit.

It is hard to get into Brown’s Engineering School. TBH, it's hard to get into the Providence, Rhode Island-based Ivy League school generally. However, engineering is one of the most competitive majors at top schools. Last year, Brown’s acceptance rate was around 5.4%. While Brown doesn’t publish a specific admissions rate for their engineering school, it may even be lower. The Brown University School of Engineering has around 400 undergraduates, meaning it plans to accept only around 100 students per year. So, what do you need to do to get a shot at being one of this elite group? We are glad you asked. You need to be a highly competitive candidate, which means taking several steps.