On Thursday evening, the University rounded out its admitted class of 2029 with 2,418 accepted applicants, marking an overall acceptance rate of 5.65%. This year, Brown saw a noticeable decrease in the number of applicants with 42,765 applying this cycle, 37,710 during regular decision and 5,055 during early decision — the smallest pool since the class of 2024. The number of applicants over the past half decade has typically hovered around 50,000.
Brown reviewed 37,710 total regular decision applicants, marking a 4% regular decision acceptance rate. In December, the University accepted 907 of its 5,055 early decision applicants — the highest acceptance rate in over half a decade.
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Brown’s regular decision acceptance rate stayed relatively steady compared to last year’s admitted class. In December, the University accepted 17.9% of its early decision applicants — the highest early decision acceptance rate in over half a decade.
The class of 2029 is the first class since before the COVID-19 pandemic to be required to submit standardized test scores and the second since the Supreme Court outlawed race-based affirmative action in 2023.
“This year’s cohort of admitted students are an exceptionally gifted group, showcasing remarkable intellect, creativity and passion for learning both inside and outside the classroom,” Associate Provost for Enrollment and Dean of Undergraduate Admissions Logan Powell said in a press release.
“Our admissions team offered enhanced outreach to students and counselors, emphasizing that standardized test scores are considered within the context of each applicant’s background and as just one part of a holistic review process” Powell said.
The class of 2029 was the first to be admitted following the institution of need-blind admissions for undergraduate international students starting with the class of 2029. Domestic applications have been reviewed under a need-blind policy since 2003.
About 73% of all admitted students indicated an intent to apply for financial aid, up from 65% for last year’s admissions cycle.
The newly admitted students come from 89 countries, with top countries represented including Canada, China, the United Kingdom, India and South Korea. At least one student was accepted from all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. California, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Texas were the most common states.
In light of the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling restricting the ways in which race could be considered in admissions, the University announced several initiatives to encourage diversity within its classes while still complying with the law.
These included establishing new regionally-based admissions positions, expanding collaboration with alumni affinity groups and increasing participation with QuestBridge — an organization that matches students from low-income backgrounds with top universities.
The class of 2028 had 40% fewer Black domestic students and 29% fewer Hispanic domestic students compared to the previous class.
The percentage of first-generation students applying to Brown increased by 24%. Of the admitted class, 19% will be the first in their family to attend college.
Of this year’s admitted students, 59.7% attended public schools, 30.4% attended private schools, 9.5% attended religious schools and an additional six students were homeschooled in high school. Three military veteran admitted students had their high school education experience classified as “other.”
The University also saw a 10% increase in the number of rural applicants since last year. Brown has been involved in numerous efforts to increase rural representation on campus. The University became a founding member of the Small Town and Rural Students College Network in 2023 and created a rural-specific orientation group last year.
64 students were accepted into the Program in Liberal Medical Education, a combined undergraduate and medical school program that guarantees students admission to Brown’s Warren Alpert Medical School after their four years as an undergraduate in the College.
An additional 21 students were admitted to the Brown-RISD Design Dual Degree program, a five-year program that allows students to explore their academic and artistic interests at both Brown and the Rhode Island School of Design.
The University will also continue to review student veteran applications on a rolling basis through April. After The Herald reported on early decision admissions for the class of 2029, the University updated the number of admitted early decision applicants from 906 to 907 in order to reflect the acceptance of one applicant through a “binding admission option” offered to military veterans. The number of early decision applicants was also updated to 5,055 — from 5,048 — to reflect the fact that veteran admissions are rolling.
Regular decision accepted applicants have until May 1 to accept their admission offer, while the 907 early decision admitted students are contractually obligated to join the incoming class. About 65% of accepted students joined the class of 2028 on campus last fall.
Teddy Fisher is a senior staff writer who studies International and Public Affairs and is passionate about law, national security and sports. He enjoys playing basketball, running and reading in his free time.
Ciara Meyer is a section editor from Saratoga Springs, New York. She plans on concentrating in Statistics and English Nonfiction. In her free time, she loves scrapbooking and building lego flowers.
