Brandeis University
#8 Best Online Colleges in Massachusetts- Graduation Rate
- 86% A
- Most students who enroll finish their degree here
- Earnings (10yr)
- $77,231 A
- Top 5% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $35,736 F
- 109% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 41% A-
- Selective, but achievable with strong credentials
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 18.7× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $18.7 over 20 years. Ranked #8 in Best Online Colleges in Massachusetts.
Every $1 spent returns $18.7 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $2,529,585.
What The Data Says
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A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduates earn 89% more than the national college median.
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A 86% graduation rate — 51% above the national average.
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Inventor rate in the top 22% nationally — patents, startups, and new technology flow from its graduates.
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A top feeder school for 4 major employers.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 1.1%
- Top 22%
- Patents
- 29
- Linked to graduates
- World Rank
- #150
- Times Higher Education
- Employer Pipelines
- 4
- Top feeder programs
- Patent Citations
- 8
- Downstream influence
- Research Score
- 27/100
- Times Higher Education
Why Brandeis University Matters
Brandeis University is a private research university in Waltham, MA ranked #150 in the world by Times Higher Education, and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a top-tier research enterprise, an unusually high rate of inventors and patents, and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 5% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R1 · Very High Research
- Enrollment
- 3,618
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Social Sciences, Biology & Biomedical, Psychology, Computer Science & IT
Why students choose Brandeis University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Selective — admits about 41% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1390–1520. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $35,736 a year after grants and scholarships — 109% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $77,231 ten years after enrolling — 89% above the typical college, against $25,648 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.0% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 27% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.83 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Brandeis University might be the right fit for students who are looking for a blend of rigorous academics and a supportive community. With an enrollment of about 3,600, the university offers a range of programs, particularly strong in Biology and Biomedical fields, Social Sciences, Psychology, Business and Marketing, and Computer Science. What stands out here is the 86% graduation rate, which indicates that most students not only enroll but successfully complete their degrees.
After graduation, Brandeis alumni see a median earning of $77,231 after ten years in the workforce. This is a solid figure that suggests the education here translates well into income. While the data on mobility and other success rates isn't available, the strong graduation rate hints that many students are well-prepared to advance in their careers. The affordability factor also plays a role, making it accessible for a range of students, though the specifics of economic mobility remain unclear.
When it comes to the financial side of things, the net price for attending Brandeis is about $35,736 after aid, which is something to consider in terms of budgeting. With a median debt of $25,648, the financial burden can be manageable for many, especially given the earning potential post-graduation. Students who thrive here often appreciate a collaborative environment and possess a drive to engage deeply with their studies and campus life.
Rankings
- #8 Best Online Colleges in Massachusetts
- #10 Best Biology Colleges in Massachusetts
- #11 Best MBA Programs in Massachusetts
- #12 Best Psychology Colleges in Massachusetts
- #13 Best MBA Programs for Real Estate Finance
- #15 Best Colleges in Massachusetts
- #15 Best Computer Science Colleges in Massachusetts
- #15 Best Data Science Colleges in Massachusetts
Can I Get In?
How selective Brandeis University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Brandeis University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Waltham, Massachusetts, Brandeis University reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 41%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,462. The graduation rate is roughly 86%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 41%
- Retention Rate
- 87%
- SAT Average
- 1462
- ACT Midpoint
- 33
- SAT Range
- 1390–1520
- ACT Range
- 31–34
- Full-Time Faculty
- 74%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $14,570
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 10:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.75
- First-Gen Students
- 16%
- Applicants
- 9,917
- Admitted
- 3,908
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2025-26
The acceptance rate tells you how hard Brandeis University is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 17% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school most admitted students ultimately pass on.
- Yield Rate
- 17%
- of admits enroll
- Submitted SAT
- 28%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Submitted ACT
- 8%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Early Decision Admit Rate
- 35.6%
- vs 45.4% overall
Applying early pays off here. Of 680 Early Decision applicants, 242 were admitted — a 35.6% admit rate, roughly 0.8× the 45.4% rate for the overall pool. That binding round alone filled about 33% of the entering class (242 of 744 first-years). The catch: Early Decision is a commitment you make before you can compare aid offers.
Test-optional, in practice. Only about 36% of enrolled freshmen submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive here, not a long shot.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Brandeis University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Brandeis University is $68,080, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $35,736. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $13,363 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,648 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $68,080
- Out-of-State
- $68,080
- Avg Net Price
- $35,736
- Median Debt
- $25,648
- Pell Grant Rate
- 15%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 28%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $13,363
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $15,135
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $20,536
- Family Income $110K+
- $54,885
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Brandeis University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Brandeis University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Brandeis University earn a median of $77,231, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $52,967
- 8 Years
- $69,857
- 10 Years
- $77,231
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.33x
- Earning > $25K
- 73%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (704)
- 82%
- 100% (704)
- 82%
- 100% (704)
- 82%
- 100% (704)
- 82%
Where Grads Go
Brandeis University is a top feeder for:
Rank among programs feeding each employer.
Top employers of Brandeis University’s MBA graduates, by hires reported in the school’s employment report.
- CropOne ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2024
- LexisNexis ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2024
- Google ✓ VerifiedTechnology · Class of 2024
- Thrasio ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2024
- Deloitte ✓ VerifiedConsulting · Class of 2024
- DLZ ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2024
- Sanofi ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2024
- JPMorgan Chase ✓ VerifiedFinance & banking · Class of 2024
- Fidelity ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2024
- KPMG ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2024
How Brandeis Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Brandeis University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Brandeis University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $35,736/year ($142,944 total). Graduates earn $77,231 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $2,672,529 in total earnings — a net gain of $2,529,585 (18.7× your investment). The median debt is $25,648, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 86% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $142,944
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $2,672,529
- Net Return
- $2,529,585
- ROI Multiple
- 18.7×
- Cost Per Year
- $35,736
- Median Debt
- $25,648
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 86%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Brandeis University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Brandeis University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.04%, among the highest in the country. About 4% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 50.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $142,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 2.04%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 50.9%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 4.0%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $193,879
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Research & Teaching
Data: Times Higher Education World University Rankings
How Research-Intensive Is Brandeis University? World Rank, Teaching & Citations
Times Higher Education places Brandeis University at #150 worldwide, a mark of serious research standing. Its profile spans a research score of 27/100, teaching at 25/100, and citation impact of 90/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.
- World Rank
- #150
- Teaching
- 25.3
- Research
- 27.3
- Citations
- 90.2
- International
- 40.3
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Brandeis University produces inventors at an above-average rate (top 22% nationally), with 29 patents tied to its graduates, and ranks among research universities with a 27/100 research score.
- Inventor Rate
- 1.09%
- Top 22% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 29
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 8
- Downstream influence
- Research Score
- 27/100
- Times Higher Ed
- Academic Influence
- 90/100
- Citation impact (THE)
- Industry Engagement
- 34/100
- Knowledge transfer (THE)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-46,375,095
Top Programs
The fields Brandeis University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Social Sciences 19% $78,897 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 19% $44,210 early-career
- Psychology 8% $48,292 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 7% $95,423 early-career
- Business & Marketing 7% $64,390 early-career
- Physical Sciences 5% $43,695 early-career
- Mathematics & Statistics 4% $45,495 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 4% $42,942 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Brandeis University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-AI/ML Engineer$156,000 · 23% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Computer Vision Engineer$145,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Brandeis University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Waltham, Massachusetts, Brandeis University reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 41%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,462. The graduation rate is roughly 86%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Brandeis University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Brandeis University is $68,080, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $35,736. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $13,363 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,648 in federal student loans.
Is Brandeis University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Brandeis University earn a median of $77,231, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
Does Brandeis University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Brandeis University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.04%, among the highest in the country. About 4% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 50.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $142,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Brandeis University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Brandeis University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.83, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 12% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
How Research-Intensive Is Brandeis University? World Rank, Teaching & Citations
Times Higher Education places Brandeis University at #150 worldwide, a mark of serious research standing. Its profile spans a research score of 27/100, teaching at 25/100, and citation impact of 90/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.
Does Brandeis University offer Early Decision, and does it improve admission chances?
Yes. Brandeis University offers a binding Early Decision plan, and it carries a real advantage: Early Decision applicants were admitted at 36%, about 0.8 times the overall 45% acceptance rate, and ED filled roughly 33% of the entering class. Because ED is binding, it makes sense only if Brandeis University is a clear first choice and you can commit before comparing aid offers (2025-26 Common Data Set).
Is Brandeis University really test-optional?
In practice, yes. Only about 36% of enrolled first-year students submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive at Brandeis University (2025-26 Common Data Set).
What percentage of admitted students enroll at Brandeis University?
About 17% of admitted students choose to enroll at Brandeis University — its yield rate (2025-26 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Brandeis University.
- Connecticut CollegeNew London, CT · Close peer83% grad $75,001 earn 37% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of RochesterRochester, NY · Close peer85% grad $79,042 earn 40% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Occidental CollegeLos Angeles, CA · Close peer83% grad $75,951 earn 44% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Scripps CollegeClaremont, CA · Close peer85% grad $77,539 earn 38% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Wesleyan UniversityMiddletown, CT · Close peer92% grad $73,897 earn 16% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Marist UniversityPoughkeepsie, NY · Close peer80% grad $77,819 earn 57% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Brandeis University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Brandeis University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.83, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 12% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note