Brandeis University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Waltham, Massachusetts. It enrolls 3,618 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorNew England Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
68/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes89
Value26
Affordability8
Selectivity92
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 40.5%, Brandeis University is a selective institution.
Acceptance Rate
40.5%
Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1390 – 1520
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
31 – 34
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Brandeis University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
5.4 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Brandeis University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $35,736 per year. That's above the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$35,736
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
15%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
28%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$68,080
Room & Board (on-campus)
$19,944
Room & Board (off-campus)
$13,313
Books & Supplies
$1,000
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$1,200
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$1,200
Total Cost of Attendance
$86,448
Application fee: $80 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$13,363
$30,001 – $48,000
$15,135
$48,001 – $75,000
$20,536
$75,001 – $110,000
$26,784
Over $110,000
$54,885
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,50010%percentile
$17,50025%percentile
$25,648Medianpercentile
$30,00075%percentile
$34,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $23,250
↓ $2,398
No Pell $23,250
↓ $2,398
Dependent students $23,250
↓ $2,398
Independent students $8,000
↓ $17,648
Female students $23,250
↓ $2,398
Male students $23,250
↓ $2,398
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $10,380, less than completers ($25,648), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
82% of full-time students who enrolled at Brandeis University graduate within six years, and 89% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
82%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
89%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Brandeis University earn a median of $77,231 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$77,231
Earning > $25K
88%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$61,600
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$79,100
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$68,700
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$68,800
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$69,100
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $17,500, about 22% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
12.2 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 93% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Brandeis University is home to 3,618 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
3,618
Part-Time
0%
First-Generation
16%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 41.4%1,499
International 19.3%697
Asian 17.7%642
Hispanic 9.0%326
Black 5.8%211
Other 4.3%156
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Brandeis University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityWaltham, Massachusetts
Housing
Strongly residential2,950 beds for 3,618 students
Adult Learners
0%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Brandeis University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
84 distinct programs across
18 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Brandeis University is 11:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
11:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$1.4B
Strong financial cushion supports aid and stability
Avg Faculty Salary
$130,312
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
405 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
155
38%
$171,644
Associate Professors
93
23%
$120,286
Assistant Professors
92
23%
$107,209
Instructors
6
1%
$66,406
Lecturers
59
15%
$80,057
Pros & Cons of Brandeis University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Brandeis University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
Very high published cost of attendance (full-pay families pay much more than the net-price average)
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Brandeis University is a fit for
students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions about Brandeis University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Brandeis University.
Is Brandeis University hard to get into?
Brandeis University is selective but not extremely competitive. Its acceptance rate is 40.5%. Strong academic credentials and a thoughtful application materially improve your odds.
What is the acceptance rate at Brandeis University?
Brandeis University has an acceptance rate of 40.5%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Brandeis University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Brandeis University scored between 1390 and 1520 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Brandeis University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Brandeis University scored between 31 and 34 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Brandeis University cost?
The average net price after aid at Brandeis University is $35,736 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Brandeis University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $77,231 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $35,736 per year. That's roughly 2.2x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Brandeis University known for?
Brandeis University is best known for its programs in Biology, Economics, Economics. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Brandeis University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Brandeis University are $77,231, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Brandeis University accredited?
Yes. Brandeis University is accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Brandeis University?
Brandeis University enrolls 3,618 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Brandeis University?
Brandeis University graduates 82% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Brandeis University a public or private college?
Brandeis University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Brandeis University located?
Brandeis University is located in Waltham, Massachusetts.
What programs does Brandeis University offer?
Brandeis University offers 84 distinct programs. The most popular include Biology, Economics, Economics.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Brandeis University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Brandeis University is 11:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Massachusetts
Other colleges in Massachusetts share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
H
How to Build Your College List Pillar
The full process of narrowing from 3,839 US colleges to a shortlist of ~10. Cost, location, size, selectivity, and fit factors that actually predict whether you'll thrive.
What actually makes a college work for first-generation students, the support and aid signals that predict success, and how to find the schools that deliver them using federal data.
How to find the colleges that deliver the strongest return on a STEM degree by weighing earnings outcomes against net cost, rather than chasing the most selective name.
Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
American Colleges by the Numbers
One federal dataset, 3,839 colleges. The median school costs $16,371 a year, admits 78% of applicants, and enrolls 1,259 students. The shape of US higher ed.
Higher education data
Net price
College enrollment
Acceptance rate
College ownership
Do Selective Schools Actually Graduate More Students?
Across 1,645 four-year colleges, graduation rates climb steadily with selectivity, from 54% at open-admission schools to 93% at the most exclusive. The gap is real.
Graduation rate
Acceptance rate
Selectivity
Completion
College outcomes
For-Profit Colleges Charge the Most and Pay the Least
For-profit colleges post the highest median net price of any sector and the lowest graduate earnings. They cost more than private nonprofits and pay less than publics.
For-profit colleges
Net price
Earnings
College ROI
College ownership
Continue Exploring
Browse our full directory: every college, major, program, and career we track, all built from verified government data.
