Both Yale and Brown University are part of that distinguished set of higher education institutions referred to as Ivy League schools. They are both prestigious schools renowned for their academic output and their highly selective nature. Yearly, students from the U.S. and the world travel to New England, where both schools are found, to harness the opportunities provided by gaining an education at these two schools. let’s see, “Yale University or Brown University?”
Though Yale and Brown University are both located in New England, they are different schools. They have different sizes, academic programs, majors that can be offered, and extracurricular activities. These are all important features to consider when applying to colleges. It is important to note that both of these schools are reputable, and gaining admission into these schools is commendable. Listed below are some of the features of both schools that can guide one when choosing colleges.
Yale vs. Brown University: An overview
- Weather and Location: Yale University is in New Haven while Brown University is in Providence. Providence is a larger city than New Haven, with a larger population; of 179,335 than New Haven’s 130,000. The Rhode Island School of Design is also located in Providence. A one-hour train ride from Providence can take you to Boston while New Haven is less than two hours away by Amtrak or car. New Haven is quite famous for not just Yale University but its pizza also. Winters are cold in both New Haven and Providence, both located in Southern New England so you should come with snow boots and a winter coat.
- Size: Brown University is quite larger than Yale with Brown having over 7,000 undergraduates enrolled while the number of undergraduate students at Yale comes to just under 6,000. However, Yale has more graduate students (2,800) than Brown University (2,600). The student-faculty ratio is quite similar at both schools; 6:1.
- Academics: Both schools have a different approach to academics. Brown University operates an open curriculum in which students do not have any core requirements. Students are given the rein to attend the courses they want to if they possess the requirements for that course. Yale’s distribution requirements are less static than that of Brown University. Students are expected to earn two credits in a variety of courses which include courses in sciences, humanities, arts, foreign languages, social sciences, writing, and quantitative reasoning.
- Housing: Community-based, residence halls are made available for freshmen at Brown University. About 75% of all undergraduates are accommodated on the campus. Accommodations are provided for students for six semesters. Yale first-year students also live on campus. They are assigned to a residential college of the 14 on-campus, after matriculation. They remain associated with these colleges throughout their undergraduate stay.
- Financial aid: Although education at both Yale and Brown can be quite expensive, many students are recipients of financial aid with the school shouldering about 100% of demonstrated need. Yale has eliminated the loan option as part of their packages, though students are not restricted from independently taking loans. Brown also has no official provision to take out loans but this only exists for students whose families earn less than an income of $100,000, yearly.
- Extracurriculars: Both the Bears of Brown University and the Bulldogs of Yale University play in the DI of NCAA and the Ivy League. Varsity sports are not the only activities one can partake in Numerous other activities abound in the university. There is an existence of Greek culture in both schools but it is not as prominent when compared to other universities. Other activities which can be participated in include theatre, bookbinding, opera, and clubs and organizations that champion various causes.
- Diversity: Students from all cultures attend both universities. Brown University has the following diversity; white (61.99%), Asian (22.7%), Hispanic or Latino (12.9%), Black or African American (10.8%), American Indian or Alaskan Native (1.8%), and Native Hawaiian (0.5%) while Yale University has the following cultural makeup; white (42.7%), Asian (14.7%), Hispanic or Latino (9.8%), Black or African American (5.8%), American Indian or Alaskan Native (0.3%), Native Hawaiian (0.1%) and unknown race (1.0%).
- Other issues: Both universities support students who are LGBTQ+. They also provide gender-inclusive accommodations for students. For instance, Brown has an Affirmative Health Research Group dedicated to LGBTQ+ students while Yale provides a Studies Research Fellowship for LGBT+ studies. While both schools can be considered to be left-field, Yale is known as one of the most liberal Ivy League Colleges, with a lot of students involved in activism for various causes.
Conclusion
Both Yale and Brown University are wonderful schools. They are situated in New England, not far from each other. They both offer academic excellence and provide extracurricular activities to enliven the learning process. For students who prefer a curriculum that is flexible and prefer to live in a city that might be considered artsy, Brown University would be a better option. But for those who prefer to study in a university where the curriculum is structured and has a positive approach and outlook to activism, Yale University would be the better fit.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Yale University higher in rank than Brown University? Yes. Yale University ranks above Brown University on numerous rankings. World University ranks Yale at #18, while Times Higher Education puts the university at #9. These rankings are far above the rankings of Brown University at #60 and #64 by World University and Times Higher Education.
- Which is the more expensive school, Brown or Yale? As for the undergraduate program, the average tuition fees at both Yale and Brown are quite similar, although Yale comes out on top; $59,950 for Yale and $59,254 for Brown. The postgraduate program is where the real distinction is. A postgraduate program costs more at Brown than Yale; $59,254 against Yale’s $44,500.
- Does Brown have a higher female population than Yale? Yes. Brown has a student population containing about 54% while Yale has a lower percentage of females than males at 51.1%.
- Where can I get a broader selection of programs? Brown. Over 64 undergraduate and 24 postgraduate programs are at Brown. Nevertheless, Yale has more postgraduate programs but fewer undergraduate programs at just 22. Brown also has more doctorate programs than Yale.
