National university
#11 Best colleges in the Boston areaBrandeis University
Waltham, MA · Private nonprofit · 4-year
Your real cost
Average price after aid $35,736 a year
Median debt at graduation: $25,648 (all students)
Estimate your own price · the college’s net price calculator
Rankings
Where this college places on our top lists. Lists are worked out from official data and our own research; places in the top quarter of each list are shown. See every list
In America
- Best colleges for business in America#70 of 1,563
- Best colleges for education in America#66 of 1,318
- Best colleges in America#115 of 1,829
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in America#119 of 1,829
- Best colleges for psychology in America#96 of 1,418
- Best test-optional colleges in America#103 of 1,481
Show 16 more
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in America#99 of 1,358
- Best colleges for English in America#98 of 1,283
- Best colleges for history in America#101 of 1,247
- Best colleges for art and design in America#99 of 1,187
- Best colleges for mathematics in America#102 of 1,215
- Best mid-size colleges in America#58 of 667
- Best colleges for chemistry in America#102 of 1,162
- Best colleges for political science and pre-law in America#101 of 1,116
- Best colleges for music in America#97 of 1,063
- Best colleges for computer science in America#71 of 750
- Colleges with the biggest discount off the sticker price in America#70 of 690
- Best colleges for NCAA Division III athletes in America#46 of 430
- Best colleges for economics in America#99 of 788
- Most selective colleges in America#127 of 683
- Colleges that spend the most on teaching in America#147 of 704
- Best colleges in the Boston area#11 of 51
In Massachusetts
- Best colleges for business in Massachusetts#8 of 50
- Best colleges for education in Massachusetts#10 of 48
- Best test-optional colleges in Massachusetts#13 of 59
- Best colleges in Massachusetts#15 of 67
- Best colleges for psychology in Massachusetts#12 of 51
- Best colleges for NCAA Division III athletes in Massachusetts#9 of 38
Academic Excellence
Each measure counts for the share shown.
- Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.86%
- First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.87%
- Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,462 · ACT 32.5
- Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.10 to 1
- Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$21,670
Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.
Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))
What families pay, by income
Average yearly price after grants and scholarships, for students who receive federal aid.
| Family income | Price after aid |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | |
| $30,001–$48,000 | |
| $48,001–$75,000 | |
| $75,001–$110,000 | |
| Over $110,000 |
Full cost of attendance before aid: $86,448 a year.
Use the college’s net price calculator for your own estimate.
Cost and value
Federal data: what families pay after aid, what graduates earn, and what they owe.
| Undergraduate students Fall enrollment (IPEDS) | 3,675 |
|---|---|
| Men and women College Scorecard, fall 2023 | Men 43% · Women 57% |
| First-generation students College Scorecard | 16% |
| First-year students from another state IPEDS, fall 2023 | 71% |
| Total students | 5,302 |
| Average net price (per year) After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid | $35,736 |
| Cost of attendance (per year) | $86,448 |
| Median federal debt at graduation | $25,648 |
| Graduation rate First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time | 86% |
| Graduation rate for Pell grant recipients College Scorecard, within 6 years | 77% |
| Graduation rate for first-generation students College Scorecard, within 6 years | 79% |
| Borrowers paying down their loans within 3 years College Scorecard, within 3 years | 83% |
| First-year retention | 87% |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $77,231 |
| Admission rate | 41% |
| Application fee IPEDS, 2023–24 | $80 |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 15% |
| Average SAT | 1462 |
|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 690–750 |
| SAT math | 700–770 |
| ACT composite | 31–34 |
| Test policy | Considered but not required |
Value: Solid (how it’s computed)
Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.
Earnings by major
Median earnings of bachelor’s graduates a few years after finishing, by major (College Scorecard).
| Major | Median earnings |
|---|---|
| Computer science | |
| Business (general) | |
| Economics | |
| Mathematics | |
| Linguistics | |
| Public Policy Analysis | |
| Political science | |
| Natural resources and conservation | |
| Ethnic and gender studies | |
| Neuroscience | |
| Experimental psychology | |
| Global studies | |
| Sociology | |
| English | |
| History | |
| Theatre | |
| Biology | |
| Anthropology | |
| Area studies |
Also offered (no earnings published yet): Applied mathematics, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Classics, Education (general), Film and video, Fine arts, Interdisciplinary studies, Liberal arts, Music, Philosophy, Physics, Romance languages, Writing and rhetoric.
What students study most
Share of bachelor’s degrees by field, first majors in 2023–24 (IPEDS).
| Field | Share of degrees |
|---|---|
| Biology | |
| Social sciences | |
| Public administration and social service | |
| Psychology | |
| Business |
Campus life
| School colors | |
|---|---|
| Setting | City |
| Part-time undergraduates | 0% |
| Undergraduates aged 25 and older | 0% |
| On-campus room and board (per year) | $19,944 |
| Sports | NCAA Division III · University Athletic Association |
| ROTC | Army · Air Force |
| Study abroad | Offered |
| Students per faculty member | 10 to 1 |
| Undergraduates registered with the disability office | About 18%IPEDS, 2023–24 |
| Faculty who are full-time | 74%College Scorecard, fall 2023 |
| Endowment per student | $241,457IPEDS, 2023, per student |
| Dorm space | For about 80% of studentsBeds per undergraduate; not who lives on campus |
| Nearest airport with airline service | Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)About 13 miles away · about 30 minutes by car |
| Town population | 64,902Census, 2020–2024 |
| Nearest city of 250,000 people or more | BostonAbout 12 miles away · about 25 minutes by car |
| Typical weather | 26°F in January · 72°F in JulyNOAA, 1991–2020, from Natick, MA, about 7 miles away |
Federal data (IPEDS and College Scorecard), except school colors.
Campus safety reports
On-campus crimes reported in 2024, per 1,000 students.
| Category | This campus | U.S. rate |
|---|---|---|
| Rape | 0.00 | 0.07 |
| Robbery | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Aggravated assault | 0.58 | 0.04 |
| Burglary | 0.38 | 0.08 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 0.00 | 0.15 |
Numbers reflect what each campus reported. They differ with campus size and how reporting is done, so compare with care. U.S. rate: total reported offenses divided by total students at every institution in the report.
Questions families ask
- What is Brandeis University’s Compass Score?
- Exceptional (grade A). It ranks in the top 7% of rated colleges. The grade comes from outcomes (40%: graduation, retention and earnings), entering students (40%: test scores and selectivity), cost (15%: debt and price after aid) and teaching (5%: class size), all from federal data.
- How much does Brandeis University cost after financial aid?
- The average net price is $35,736 a year for students who receive federal aid, after grants and scholarships. What your family pays depends on income; the college’s net price calculator gives your own estimate.
- How hard is it to get into Brandeis University?
- Brandeis University admitted 41% of applicants in the most recent federal data.
- How do Brandeis University’s graduates do?
- 86% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years; the median earnings of former students ten years after entry are $77,231; the median federal debt at graduation is $25,648.
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About this school’s data
- IPEDS unit ID 165015
- Carnegie classification: Doctoral university (very high research)
- Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
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