Brown Corporation sets tuition for 2024-25, approves highest employee salary pool since 2009

PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — Brown University’s governing body has approved tuition increases and a significant salary boost for its employees, aiming to manage costs for students while supporting faculty and staff.

Based on recommendations from a committee comprising Brown faculty, staff, students, and senior administrators, the Corporation of Brown University has set the undergraduate tuition for the 2024-25 academic year at $68,612, marking a 4.5% increase from the previous year. Most master’s and doctoral programs will also see a 4.5% increase, while medical school tuition will rise by 2.75%. These increases are slightly lower than the 5% and 5.5% hikes seen in the previous academic year.

Simultaneously, the Corporation approved a 4.5% salary increase pool for faculty and staff for the upcoming fiscal year, marking the highest increase since 2009. This move is intended to recognize, reward, and retain talent, keeping Brown competitive in the national labor market.

Provost Francis J. Doyle III emphasized, “Our ongoing priority is to keep costs manageable for students through measured tuition increases and additional financial aid, while ensuring the growth of revenue to invest in our faculty and staff, who are crucial for fulfilling our mission of teaching and research.”

The approval of tuition and fees and the employee salary increase pool marks the first step in finalizing Brown’s full FY25 operating budget. The University Resources Committee (URC) will continue its work to recommend a full budget for review by the Corporation in May.

In recommending the tuition and fees for the upcoming academic year, the URC analyzed trends, benchmarked against other institutions, and considered the major expansion in financial aid initiatives that Brown has implemented recently. The committee aims to keep tuition and fees low, recognizing their importance in sustaining investments in research, teaching, student support, financial aid, and other priorities.

With increases to room, board, and required fees factored in, total undergraduate tuition and fees will rise by 4.75%. A significant factor in the final rates approved was the impact of ongoing inflation, which saw a 4.0% overall increase in expenses at U.S. colleges and universities in the last fiscal year. This trend has continued, leading to higher operating costs for Brown and other institutions.

Notably, the tuition and fees increase will be accompanied by a substantial increase in Brown’s financial aid budget. The undergraduate financial aid budget is projected to increase by approximately $13 to $15 million, representing a 6% to 7% increase. This investment underscores Brown’s commitment to enrolling and supporting students from diverse economic backgrounds.

Undergraduate aid has been among the fastest-growing elements in the annual budget. Brown has introduced various financial support measures, including meeting 100% of each undergraduate’s demonstrated financial need, replacing loans with scholarships, eliminating home equity considerations, and reducing summer earnings expectations for high-need students. The University also plans to become need-blind for international undergraduate students in the next admissions cycle.

Brown covers full tuition for families earning $125,000 or less with typical assets, while students from families making less than $60,000 a year with typical assets receive scholarships that cover all expenses, including tuition, room, board, books, and other expenses.

Room and board rates and student fees for 2024-25 were also approved. An increase from $80 to $90 in the student recreation fee will enable Brown’s Division of Athletics and Recreation to continue eliminating direct charges for most group fitness and intramural sports and expand offerings. Additionally, an increase in the undergraduate student activities fee reflects Brown’s commitment to removing barriers to participation for students across the financial spectrum.

Investing in employees, the approved salary increase pool of 4.5% for FY25 continues a trend of investments to strengthen Brown’s ability to recruit, retain, and recognize talented faculty and staff in a shifting labor market. Factors considered in recommending this high pool include recruitment and retention trends, regional cost of living, and persistent economic inflation.

Provost Doyle stated, “From teaching and research to maintaining our physical campus, protecting our community, and providing support to students, our dedicated staff and faculty contribute their talents in countless ways, making Brown the world-class university it is. This year’s salary pool is fiscally responsible while also demonstrating our commitment to our employees and our intention to remain a top employer in Rhode Island.”

Funds from the salary pool are allocated by academic and administrative leaders to support annual performance-based salary increases, equity adjustments, retention, and promotions over the course of the fiscal year. Given the pool’s use to fund these measures, annual merit increases for faculty and staff will not reflect the full 4.5% in most cases.

The Corporation has detailed the specific amounts for tuition and fees for the 2024-25 academic year:

• Tuition: $68,612
• Standard room rate: $9,940
• Standard board: $7,504
• Undergraduate student resources fee: $1,044
• Health services fee: $1,166
• Student activities fee: $400
• Student recreation fee: $90

For most doctoral and on-campus master’s degree programs, graduate tuition will increase by 4.5% to $8,576 per course. Some master’s programs, which shifted to market-based pricing in 2018, have varying tuition rates. Approximately a dozen programs will see a 4% increase, while a few will remain the same as for 2023-24. Medical school tuition will increase by 2.75% to $71,192.

For more detailed information, interested parties can check the official portal directly.

News is prepared from public university announcements for general guidance. Policies change frequently; confirm current details with each university admissions office.