PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — In recognition of its exceptional undergraduate teaching, student / faculty research opportunities, generous financial aid and distinctive student experience, a wide range of higher education guides and rankings have placed Brown among the nation’s — and the world’s — top universities.
In the annual U.S. News and World Report rankings of the nation’s best universities, released on Sept. 12, Brown retained the No. 14 overall slot. The publication also named Brown to its top rankings for strongest commitment to undergraduate teaching (No. 3), high school counselors’ top college picks (No. 5), best economic diversity (No. 8) and best value (No. 14).
Many of this year’s rankings reflect Brown’s global reputation for an innovative, student-centered undergraduate experience rooted in the Open Curriculum, which positions students as the architects of their own education, and opportunities for research, internships, international study and community-based learning.
U.S. News and World Report, for example, highlighted Brown’s distinction in six of eight programmatic areas that education experts, including staff members of the Association of American Colleges and Universities, agree are key to a high-quality undergraduate experience: learning communities, senior capstone, service learning, study abroad, writing in the disciplines, and undergraduate research/creative projects.
In two other rankings released within the last year and focused on top colleges and universities in America, Brown ranked No. 9 on Forbes’ list and No. 19 in the Wall Street Journal / Times Higher Education ranking. Internationally, Brown placed 50th in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2018 and landed the No. 53 slot in the QS World University Rankings.
The World Economic Forum’s most recent ranking of the 25 best colleges for students who want to change the world, Brown ranked No. 7 — an acknowledgement of the Brown community’s pervasive social consciousness and the commitment of so many students to apply knowledge gained in classrooms to further the public good.
“No ranking can accurately reflect the distinctive character of a Brown education, but we are pleased that such a wide range of rankings have recognized the high-quality experience that awaits students who choose to study on College Hill,” University officials said. “Our distinction lies in our academic excellence, the rigor of our undergraduate and graduate programs, intensive collaboration among a diverse group of faculty and students and the dedication among the Brown community to addressing the most complex challenges of the world.”
In recognition of Brown’s generous financial aid — which meets the full demonstrated financial need of every student — and success in preparing graduates for life and careers, Brown placed prominently in several rankings designed to reflect value and return on the investment required to complete an undergraduate education: 21st on Kiplingers’ list of best college values; 26th on Payscale’s list of best universities and colleges by salary potential; and 34th on Money’s list of best colleges for your money. Times Higher Education also ranked Brown the No. 40 institution worldwide in a ranking focused on preparing graduates to be leaders in the professional world.
Additionally, the University appeared in Princeton Review’s unranked compilation of the country’s best 382 colleges and was recognized on eight of their top 20 lists, including LGBTQ-friendly (No. 11), volume of race/class interaction (No. 14), best college theater (No. 14) and universities where students study the most (No. 20).
A first-ever guide to the best colleges for Jewish students included Brown at the No. 8 slot in the U.S., noting Brown RISD Hillel’s role “at the forefront of shaping some of the most important features of vibrant and sustainable Jewish community in America.” And another ranking this year recognized Brown for its success in graduating underrepresenting students of color.
The University’s graduate programs placed highly in U.S. News and World Report rankings this year as well. Five programs ranked among the top 30 in their field: economics (No. 19), English (No. 13), history (No. 16), psychology (No. 26) and sociology (No. 24). In the Center for World University Rankings subject rankings, which ranks schools based on the number of faculty and student research articles in top-tier journals, Brown ranked No. 5 in substance abuse research, No. 7 in clinical psychology and No. 9 in biomedical social science.
In addition, the Warren Alpert School of Medicine ranked 21st in primary care and 31st in research, making it one of only 14 schools that were ranked in the top quartile on both research and primary care.
“These rankings underscore the Graduate School’s work to integrate student-centered education with groundbreaking research and recognize the enduring ways in which Brown graduate students contribute to advancing knowledge,” University officials said. “And the medical school’s rankings exemplify our commitment to making the Warren Alpert Medical School an exceptional institution where students not only learn to provide the best care possible, but work with faculty and clinicians to turn discoveries into medical breakthroughs.”