Brown University welcomed a total of 3,289 new students to campus for the start of the 2024-25 academic year, with fall classes beginning on September 4. Among them, 1,725 are first-year undergraduate students joining the Class of 2028, alongside transfer students, doctoral, master’s, and medical students. This marks the first year since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to prohibit the consideration of race in admissions decisions.

Despite the ruling, Brown remained committed to maintaining a diverse and talented student body. Logan Powell, Associate Provost for Enrollment and Dean of Undergraduate Admission, highlighted that the University complied with the law while continuing to advance diversity, which is crucial for academic excellence and preparing students for a complex world. However, there were notable changes in the racial diversity of the incoming class.

The percentage of students identifying as Black or African-American dropped from 15% in 2023 to 9% in 2024. Similarly, the percentage of Hispanic or Latinx students fell from 14% to 10%. The percentage of Asian students increased from 29% to 33%. The percentage of White students decreased from 46% to 43%, while the percentage of students who did not report their race doubled, from 4% to 7%. Powell noted that these declines were anticipated based on experiences from states like California and Michigan, which had previously eliminated race-conscious admissions.

“Even with measures in place to ensure a diverse and talented applicant pool, we recognized the likelihood of declines in the number of students of color at Brown and other selective universities,” Powell stated. “We are pleased to welcome an academically excellent class of students, though it is less diverse than before.”

Other key statistics include:

• 45% of the new undergraduate class will receive need-based scholarships or grants, down from 50% in the previous year.
• 14% of the new undergraduates are first-generation college students, slightly down from 15% last year.
• 14% of the new undergraduates are international students, marking the most globally diverse group in Brown’s history.
• The new class comes from 82 nations and speaks 103 languages, with the most represented countries being China, Canada, India, the United Kingdom, and South Korea.
• 16 incoming students are veterans, reflecting ongoing efforts to increase the veteran population.
• The most common intended areas of concentration are economics, computer science, biology, engineering, political science, biochemistry, international and public affairs, applied math, English, and psychology.

Brown’s commitment to diversity and excellence was evident in several initiatives during the admissions process. The University engaged with various stakeholders, including alumni networks and organizations that support low-income and underrepresented students. Changes in the essay prompts aimed to better understand applicants’ experiences and contributions. Additionally, Brown increased its outreach efforts to underrepresented populations, including students from rural and small-town communities.

However, the national challenge with the rollout of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) impacted admissions. Many applicants encountered system errors, which may have discouraged some from applying, especially those with high financial need.

Looking ahead, Brown plans to expand race-neutral strategies to attract outstanding and diverse classes. Starting with the Class of 2029, the University will reinstate the requirement for standardized test scores, interpreting them in the context of a student’s overall background and opportunities. This move is consistent with Brown’s commitments to excellence and equity.

Graduate students also joined the campus, with approximately 1,420 new students beginning studies in 45 doctoral and 37 master’s and executive master’s programs. Of the U.S.-based new graduate students, 33% come from historically underrepresented groups, and 48% are international students.

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