PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — From U.S. News and World Report to the Wall Street Journal, a wide range of organizations and higher education guides across the globe have recognized Brown among the world’s top universities in their 2018-19 rankings.
A series of rankings awarded Brown scores in the Top 10 in recognition for its innovative approach to teaching and learning, outstanding research and scholarship, unmatched student experience and commitment to enrolling students from all socioeconomic backgrounds.
Brown again received top marks in U.S. News and World Report’s ranking of American colleges and universities, retaining the No. 14 overall slot. It also earned the No. 6 ranking on the Best Undergraduate Teaching list, which compares universities to their peer institutions and recognizes those with an “unusually strong commitment to undergraduate teaching.”
The annual rankings, published on Monday Sept. 10, also highlighted Brown’s distinction in a number of specific areas, with high scores for high school counselors’ top college picks (No. 6), best value schools (No. 17) and most innovative schools (No. 21).
In a year that saw the launch of The Brown Promise — which replaced loans with scholarship funds in all University financial aid packages — Brown also earned a prominent place on U.S. News and World Report’s list of national universities that value economic differences.
In the Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education (WSJ/THE) College Rankings, Brown advanced four spots to the No. 7 rank among U.S. universities. Brown was also ranked No. 6 for schools where students feel most engaged — “how challenged and inspired students feel inside and outside the classroom, as well as the breadth of courses their schools offers,” according to the WSJ/THE methodology.
“These rankings highlight Brown’s deep commitment to a rigorous, rewarding education rooted in the Open Curriculum, where educators across campus are deeply invested in the scholarly lives and pursuits of each of our students,” Brown University officials said. “While no ranking can ever fully capture the unique character of the academic experience at Brown, we are pleased to see such a wide range of rankings recognize the distinctiveness of living and learning in this vibrant intellectual community.”
A Wall Street Journal article that accompanied the WSJ/THE rankings noted that Brown is one of the few schools that scored high for student engagement and also earned top ranks overall. It was the only Top 25 school overall to land a Top 10 spot for student engagement and the only Ivy League school to place in the Top 20.
In an interview with the news organization, Brown Provost Richard M. Locke said the rigor of the University’s Open Curriculum and its flexible, student-centered approach create an intellectual environment in which students are fully engaged in their courses of study.
“You only have students in your class who want to be there,” Locke said, which changes the tenor of teaching and learning in the classroom.
A variety of other national and international rankings recognized Brown for its academic excellence. Forbes ranked Brown No. 8 among U.S. college and universities overall, up one slot from the previous year. In international rankings, Brown placed No. 50 in the Times Higher Education’s rankings of universities around the globe and No. 56 in the QS World University Rankings.
In recognition of its generous financial aid and success in preparing graduates for post-collegiate life and careers, Brown placed in several rankings designed to reflect value and return on the investment required to complete an undergraduate education, including Kiplingers’ list of “Best College Values” and Money’s list of “Best Colleges for your Money.”
The Princeton Review’s unranked compilation of the “Best 384 Colleges” in the U.S. highlighted Brown on many of its Top 20 lists, including those for great financial aid, happiest students, best college newspaper, best college theater, LGBTQ friendly and lists titled “Their Students Love These Colleges,” “Students Study the Most” and “Professors Get High Marks.”
With more alumni entrepreneurs than all but a handful of U.S. universities, Brown landed the No. 17 slot among schools that produce the most venture capital-backed entrepreneurs. According to a report by Seattle-based investment analyst PitchBook, Inc., 444 Brown alumni have raised a collective $10.64 billion in venture capital over the past decade.
U.S. News and World Report also recognized Brown’s Graduate School in this year’s graduate program rankings, which were released in March. Five Brown graduate programs ranking in the top 25 in their respective fields: applied mathematics (No. 4), geophysics and seismology (No. 10), mathematics (No. 14), Earth sciences (No. 15) and computer science (No. 25).
In addition, the University’s Warren Alpert Medical School received top honors, ranking No. 9 in the U.S. among obstetrics and gynecology programs.
“Being ranked among the best in the nation is a true testament to the stature and reputation of our faculty in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology — those who teach our students and residents, hold leadership positions locally, nationally and internationally, and conduct groundbreaking research to improve the lives of women across the globe,” Warren Alpert Medical School officials said.