Brown admits students either through a binding Early Decision Plan (application deadline: November 1) or through Regular Decision (deadline: January 1). Admission has become increasingly competitive in recent years.
| Class | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 |
| Applied | 16,911 | 18,313 | 19,097 | 20,633 | 24,988 | 30,135 |
| Early Decision Admits | 566 | 543 | 525 | 555 | 568 | 569 |
| Total Admitted | 2,463 | 2,525 | 2,681 | 2,828 | 2,738 | 2,816 |
| Admit Percentage | 15% | 14% | 14% | 14% | 11% | 9% |
| Enrolled | 1,440 | 1,470 | 1,484 | 1,550 | 1,485 | 1,503 |
Home Region (by percentage of enrolling class)
| 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |
| New England | 23 | 19 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 |
| Middle Atlantic | 29 | 28 | 30 | 27 | 27 | 26 |
| Southern | 13 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
| Midwest | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 |
| Central | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Mountain | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Pacific | 15 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 18 |
| International | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 14 | 13 |
Area of Intended Study (by percentage of enrolling class)
| 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |
| Sciences/Math | 36 | 37 | 36 | 36 | 35 | 38 |
| Engineering | 11 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| Humanities | 22 | 20 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 19 |
| Social Sciences | 21 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 28 |
| Undecided | 10 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 4 |
Ninety-three percent of students accepted to the class of 2014 were in the top 10 percent of their graduating classes.