PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — In a year in which Brown University launched a 50th anniversary celebration of its innovative, distinctive Open Curriculum, a wide range of national and international rankings of colleges and universities continued to rank Brown among the world’s top schools.
Many of those rankings came in recognition of the University’s exceptional undergraduate teaching and singular student experience, both driven in large part by the Open Curriculum. Others honored cutting-edge research, standout academic programs and generous financial aid.
In U.S. News and World Report’s 2020 “America’s Best Colleges,” released on Monday, Sept. 9, Brown retained the No. 14 overall mark among “Best National Universities” and climbed to No. 3 among all universities for “Best Undergraduate Teaching.” Brown also received Top 20 marks for “Best Value” and “Most Innovative” schools.
In a new set of U.S. News and World Report rankings focused on student success — “some colleges and universities are much more determined than others to provide undergrads with the best possible educational experience,” the introduction stated — Brown ranked prominently on multiple lists. The University received the No. 1 rank among all schools for “Writing in the Disciplines.” It was also ranked among the Top 20 schools for its senior capstone experiences, first-year experience and undergraduate research/creative project opportunities.
In other rankings released in the last year, Brown shared the No. 7 slot with Stanford University in the Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Rankings. The University was also included among the top schools for resources (based on academic spending, student-faculty ratios, research output) and for student engagement.
In the “America’s Top Colleges” ranking produced by Forbes, Brown climbed one slot to the No. 7 rank among U.S. colleges and universities.
Forbes also ranked Brown at No. 14 for top American schools for international students. Internationally, Brown placed 53rd in the Times Higher Education “World University Rankings 2019;” 56th in the “QS World University Rankings;” and 84th in the 2019 “Academic Ranking of World Universities,” a list of the top schools in the world compiled by Shanghai Ranking Consultancy.
“At the heart of Brown’s teaching, research and scholarship is a commitment to academic excellence, intellectual freedom and making an impact to better serve people, communities and society,” University officials said. “While no data-driven analysis can fully capture the character and distinctiveness of a university, we are pleased by the continued recognition of Brown’s innovative approach to teaching and learning.”
In recognition of its generous financial aid and success in preparing graduates for successful lives and careers, Brown placed in a number of rankings designed to reflect value and return on the investment required to complete an undergraduate education. Among those, the University received the No. 20 rank on CNBC’s “Top 50 U.S. Colleges That Pay Off the Most” and was included on Kiplingers’ list of “Best College Values” and Money’s list of “Best Colleges for your Money.”
Alliance College-Ready Public Schools, a charter school group based in Los Angeles, included Brown on its “Power 150” list of colleges and universities most successful at ensuing that students of color from low-income families graduate on time.
The Princeton Review’s unranked compilation of the “Best 385 Colleges” in the U.S. highlighted Brown on many of its Top 20 lists, including those for best quality of life, happiest students, best college theater, LGBTQ friendly and lists titled “Their Students Love These Colleges,” “Most Active Student Government” and “Most Politically Active Students.” Separately, Washington Monthly included Brown on its “Top Colleges for Student Voting” list.
In a year in which Brown pledged to reduce campus greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2040 and
finalized two renewable energy agreements with providers of solar and wind power, the Princeton Review’s “Top 50 Green Colleges” ranking noted the University’s commitment to sustainability. A report from Environment America Research and Policy Center included Brown among higher education’s “Next Leaders” — colleges and universities with impressive renewable energy goals.
U.S. News and World Report also recognized Brown’s Graduate School in this year’s graduate program rankings, released last spring. A number of Brown graduate programs ranking in the Top 25 in their respective fields, including: applied mathematics (No. 4), English (No. 13), sociology (No. 14), mathematics (No. 14), Earth sciences (No. 15), history (No. 16), public health (No. 17), economics (No. 19) and computer science (No. 25).
Separately, Brown’s master of fine arts program in acting, offered in partnership with Trinity Repertory Company, earned the No. 4 rank on Hollywood Reporter's annual “Top Graduate MFA Acting Programs” list.
The University’s Warren Alpert Medical School was included on multiple U.S. News and World Report medical school program rankings, capturing high slots for obstetrics and gynecology programs and for primary care.