- Tuition rates are set by the Corporation of the University for each semester. Normally, the tuition rates for the two semesters of a given academic year will be the same.
- Tuition payments for the baccalaureate degree are based on the norm of thirty-two courses, four courses in each of eight semesters. The minimum enrollment requirement is eight semesters, or the equivalent. The minimum tuition requirement for the program leading to the combined degrees of A.B.–Sc.B. is ten semesters of tuition credit. (Note: The Brown Corporation has enacted a provision allowing students in the five-year A.B.–Sc.B. program who complete all academic requirements in nine semesters to terminate their studies at that point, provided the Committee on Academic Standing (CAS) approves the breadth and quality of the student’s program. In that case, the tuition requirement is reduced to nine semesters.)
- Payment of full-time tuition for a semester entitles the student to enroll in three, four, or five courses for that semester. For full-time degree candidates, tuition charges are set for the semester, not per course. (Exception for students who are given permission to study beyond 8 semesters outside the 5 year Ab-ScB and the Brown-RISD program in which case they are charged per course. See #7.)
- Enrollment Units for Transfer Credits
- Students who are granted credit for transfer credit for courses completed at another college or university prior to enrollment at Brown may apply for up to four semesters of enrollment units according to the following schedule:
Brown Semester Course Credits Advanced Standing & Enrollment Units 3-6 1 semester 7-10 2 semesters 11-14 3 semesters 15+ 4 semesters - Students who are granted Brown course credits for work completed at and transferred from another college or university after enrollment at Brown may apply for and may be granted advanced standing and enrollment units according to the same schedule as in 4(a) above. All transfer credits earned after enrollment at Brown are cumulative. Advanced standing and enrollment credit for this cumulative total of transfer credits will be awarded only in semester-equivalent blocks. In exceptional cases the Committee on Academic Standing may allow a student to transfer the equivalent of less 3 Brown semester course credits for work completed during the regular academic year (This would not carry any enrollment units). The following provisoins apply with regards to transfer credits:
- Such courses completed while the student is not currently enrolled at Brown will become part of the cumulative total of any subsequent transfer credit earned by the student and the Table in (a) above will apply if a full time semester of transfer credit is earned in a fall or spring semester.
- Once advanced standing has been granted, a student wishing to extend his or her total period of enrollment beyond eight full-time semesters, or the equivalent, must make a special petition to the Committee on Academic Standing. If approval is granted, tuition for each course (for the extended period) will be charged at corresponding fractional rate of the full-time semester rate based on registered credits.
- Transfer credit for summer school courses is allowed in accordance with provisions established by the Faculty Rules and the Committee on Academic Standing. When such credit is awarded, no enrollment unit is associated with the transfer credit granted. The academic credit awarded may not be combined in any cumulative total of transfer credits for the purpose of determining advanced standing or enrollment credit.
- Effective 2025-2026 academic year, students who enroll in Brown summer and/or winter courses will earn one enrollment unit per credit (as well as half credits if applicable), yet their semester standing will not be advanced. Students may not earn more than 4 total summer/winter course credits and enrollment units.
- An eighth-semester student who owes less than a full-semester tuition credit at the beginning of the eighth semester will be charged the fraction of the full-time tuition charge for that semester which will complete the eight-semester obligation and may take an equivalent number of courses. Additional courses will be charged at the corresponding fractional rate of the semester’s full tuition charge.
- Regular degree candidate students who must or choose to take courses in semesters beyond the eighth semester in order to complete requirements for the baccalaureate degree will be charged tuition at the corresponding fractional rate of the semester’s full tuition charge for each course enrollment.
- Degree candidate students who are given permission by the dean to register for a reduced workload (one to three courses, inclusive of half credit courses) will be charged the corresponding fraction of the semester’s full- tuition charge for each course credit enrollment.
- Students in the eight-year program leading to a baccalaureate degree and the M.D. degree (Program in Liberal Medical Education) shall make four annual tuition payments at the rate fixed for the College (for years one through four) and four annual tuition payments at the rate fixed for the Medical School (for years five through eight).
- Students in the Concurrent Bachelor's -Master's program are required to fulfill the minimum eight semester, 32 enrollment unit requirement, but can extend study up to nine semesters, 36 enrollment units. (Note: This program is under review and no longer open to new applications.)
- The minimum enrollment requirement for the integrated five-year baccalaureate–master ’s degree program is eight semesters, 32 enrollment units while an undergraduate, and a minimum of six enrollment units while in the fifth year in the graduate school at the prevailing tuition rate for the specific graduate program.
- The above regulations cover students who are candidates for a baccalaureate degree. For special students who are not candidates for a degree, a tuition charge of the corresponding fraction of the semester tuition rate will be made for each course/credit registered. (Exception - RISD cross-registration students during the fall and spring semesters and some other programs such as Wheaton College and the RI language consortium for foreign language courses).
Office of the Registrar
Tuition/Enrollment Requirement
Additional Requirements
The Quantity Requirement. Each student is normally expected to enroll in four courses in each of eight semesters for a total of 32 courses.
Since its founding, Brown has stressed the importance of writing. Competence in reading and writing is required for all degrees. Beyond competence, Brown seeks to develop the quality of writing in courses throughout the University.
The Concentration is the focal point for a student's undergraduate educational experience.
Every candidate for a baccalaureate degree, except those enrolled in the Resumed Education Program, must be enrolled for at least four semesters as a full-time student and must complete satisfactorily a minimum of fifteen courses at Brown.