Attending Brown University now comes with an eye-watering price tag: $96,284 per year, or more than $385,000 over four years, according to a recent analysis by GOBankingRates. One of the eight Ivy League institutions, Brown has long been seen as a symbol of academic excellence, but in 2025, it finds itself at the center of some of the most consequential political, financial, and ethical debates shaping U.S. higher education.Even as students pay more than ever to attend, Brown is navigating a series of major federal negotiations, renewed research partnerships, institutional layoffs, and growing pressure from both political and student communities.
How much it costs to study at Brown in 2025
Here’s a breakdown of Brown University’s estimated annual cost of attendance:
While the figures represent the full cost without financial aid, many students receive need-based assistance that significantly lowers the out-of-pocket burden. Still, the list price places Brown among the most expensive universities globally.
A $50 million federal agreement
In July 2025, Brown reached a landmark $50 million agreement with the U.S. government to restore previously suspended federal research funding and settle two politically charged investigations, one into alleged antisemitism and racial bias in admissions, and the other concerning the university’s compliance with evolving federal definitions and civil rights laws.Under the agreement, Brown has committed to:
- Removing race as a factor in admissions decisions
- Adopting federal definitions of “male” and “female” in its policies
- Providing $10 million in grants over 10 years to workforce development initiatives in Rhode Island
- Increasing data-sharing with federal education and labor authorities
The university has also emphasised that it preserved its academic independence, maintaining freedom over its curriculum and internal governance.
Research momentum: AI, mathematics, and more
Even amid federal scrutiny, Brown’s research enterprise continues to thrive.
- The National Science Foundation recently awarded the university $16.5 million to continue its work at the Institute for Computational and Experimental Research in Mathematics (ICERM).
- Brown also leads a new national institute focused on intuitive and trustworthy AI assistants, with $20 million in federal funding and collaborations with the University of New Mexico and other partners.
Other current areas of research include:
- Climate change impacts on school systems
- Sleep research related to adolescent health
- Breakthroughs in Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers
These initiatives underline Brown’s growing role in science and policy at a national level.
Layoffs, cost-cutting, and budget stress
Despite the restoration of federal funding, Brown is under financial strain. A combination of previously frozen research support, rising operational costs, and obligations under the federal deal have led the university to announce a suite of austerity measures:
- Institution-wide layoffs of staff
- A 2.5% cut in campus-wide spending
- Pausing major sustainability projects, including some net-zero carbon initiatives
- Restructuring employee healthcare
- Monetising university-owned real estate assets
Brown has also taken out $800 million in loans since April 2025, a $300 million line of credit and a subsequent $500 million loan at 4.44% interest, to maintain liquidity and meet financial obligations.
Brown at a crossroads
Brown University today represents the convergence of multiple forces reshaping U.S. higher education:
- The rising financial burden on students
- The increased political oversight of academic institutions
- A widening gap between institutional values and federal mandates
- The pressure to maintain research excellence while balancing fiscal responsibility
As one of America’s oldest and most respected universities, Brown is navigating this moment with cautious pragmatism. It has secured key funding and kept research priorities intact — but not without cost to its workforce, internal policies, and longstanding institutional autonomy.
