Brown University

Providence, RI · founded 1764 · 10,500 students · private research university · Ivy League

Known for: Brown is famous for its Open Curriculum, which has no core requirements and allows students to design their own education, and for its progressive, intellectually curious student body that values academic freedom and interdisciplinary exploration.

Rankings

U.S. News national: #9
QS World: #101
Times Higher Education: #64
ARWU Shanghai: #101
Forbes: #11

Top programmes

Computer Science
Economics
Biology
Applied Mathematics
International Relations
English

Notable alumni

John F. Kennedy Jr. — Lawyer, journalist, and son of President John F. Kennedy
Emma Watson — Actress known for Harry Potter films and UN Women Goodwill Ambassador
Janet Yellen — U.S. Treasury Secretary and former Federal Reserve Chair
Ted Turner — Media mogul and founder of CNN
Ira Glass — Host and producer of 'This American Life'
John D. Rockefeller Jr. — Philanthropist and financier
Laura Linney — Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actress
Meredith Vieira — Television journalist and talk show host

Traditions

Spring Weekend
Midnight Organ Concert
SexPowerGod (a cappella jam)
Shopping Period for courses
The Walk Across Campus at Commencement

If Brown University were…

As a food: Farm-to-table tasting menu at Blue Hill — Thoughtfully curated, locally sourced, and emphasizing individual choice and creativity. It's unpretentious but sophisticated, trusting the diner to appreciate the experience without rigid structure—just like Brown's Ope
As an athlete: Megan Rapinoe — Talented, outspoken, and unapologetically progressive, balancing elite performance with activism. Rapinoe's blend of intellectual confidence, social consciousness, and refusal to conform mirrors Brown's culture of engage
As a person alive today: Emma Watson — Brown alum who embodies the school's blend of intellectual seriousness, progressive activism, and creative ambition. She used her platform for feminism and education while pursuing a rigorous liberal arts degree, never a
As a historical figure: John F. Kennedy Jr. — Brown alum who was charismatic, thoughtful, and interested in public service and culture over pure power. His blend of idealism, creativity, and reluctance to follow a predetermined path reflects Brown's ethos of intelle
As a movie or TV show: Dead Poets Society — Idealistic students encouraged to think for themselves, question authority, and seize the day in a nurturing but intellectually rigorous environment. The film's celebration of individuality, creativity, and the life of t
As a US president: Barack Obama — Intellectually curious, articulate, and progressive, with a thoughtful, professorial demeanor and a belief in the power of ideas and dialogue. Obama's blend of idealism and pragmatism, along with his cool, reflective sty
As a city: Portland, Oregon — Progressive, artsy, and proudly quirky, with a strong sense of community and a DIY ethos. Both are smaller, laid-back, and full of people who care deeply about ideas, activism, and living authentically, even if it means
As an element: Helium — Light, non-reactive, and rises above the rest—just like Brown students who float through the Open Curriculum with intellectual freedom. It's rare, valuable, and refuses to bond with rigid structures, preferring to exist
As a car: 1967 Citroën DS — French avant-garde engineering that rejected convention entirely—hydropneumatic suspension, no required courses. Intellectual, artsy, effortlessly cool, and willing to let you figure out your own path while looking impos

Campus life

Brown's campus culture is notably progressive, creative, and intellectually curious, with students who are passionate about learning for its own sake rather than purely pre-professional goals. The campus has a laid-back, collaborative atmosphere with minimal academic competition and strong emphasis on student activism and social justice. Social life centers around student groups, campus events, and the College Hill neighborhood, with a smaller Greek presence than other Ivies and a strong sense of community.