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Waltham , MA
Brandeis University, founded in 1948, is a private research university located in Waltham, Massachusetts. Named after the first Jewish Supreme Court Justice, Louis D. Brandeis, the university upholds a strong commitment to social justice and diversity. With a population of over 5,800 undergraduate and graduate students, Brandeis offers a vibrant and diverse community composed of students from all 50 states and 120 countries.
Academics at Brandeis University are known for their rigorousness and emphasis on critical thinking. The university offers over 50 undergraduate majors and more than 70 graduate programs in various fields, including humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and creative arts. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10:1, students have ample opportunities for individual attention and collaboration with distinguished professors, who are renowned experts in their fields.
Beyond academics, Brandeis University offers an array of extracurricular activities and opportunities for students to explore their interests and passions. The university has more than 250 student-led organizations, including academic clubs, cultural and religious groups, and various sports teams. The vibrant campus life is further enriched by a thriving arts scene, including theater productions and exhibitions, showcasing the creativity of Brandeis students.
With its commitment to academic excellence, cultural diversity, and social justice, Brandeis University provides a stimulating and supportive environment for students to thrive. It fosters an atmosphere of intellectual curiosity and encourages students to engage in impactful research, community service, and advocacy work. With its strong reputation and dedication to inclusivity, Brandeis continues to attract passionate students who aim to make a difference in the world.
Brandeis University is a private university located in Waltham, MA. This school follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 40%. The freshman retention rate at Brandeis University is 87% and the six-year graduation rate is 83%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is January 2. The transfer application deadline is March 15.
Find out more about what you can expect if you get into Brandeis University.
Quick Facts
3,632
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$69,934
Tuition
9:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
83%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
Discovering as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission maximizes your chances of getting admitted. Here are the most important information you should know about admission at Brandeis University.
According to the most recent information reported, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 4,238 in 2025.
Test Scores
30% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 10% submitted ACT scores, out of the total number of those who submitted test scores. 83% of the enrolled students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 16% between 1,200 and 1,399, 0.4% between 1,000 and 1,199, and 0.4% of the students between 800 and 999. The percent of freshman students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 81 and 19 between 24-29.
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.9. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into Brandeis University.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by January 2. For transfer students, note that the application deadline is March 15.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is the percentage of college or university first-year students who return for their sophomore year. That information can tell you if the majority of freshmen liked their first year enough to come back.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for Brandeis University was 87%, indicative of the exceptional educational experience and supportive environment at this school.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. At this academic institution, the proportion of students graduating in six years is 83%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Figuring out which school is the right fit for you is not a task you should take lightly. You can better understand the culture and life of the school by learning more about the student body.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the institution enrolled 5,305 students.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 67% for that year. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the school was 3,632, 697 of which were foreign students. The school admitted a total of 81 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 2,120 male and 2,653 female full-time students in 2025, which speaks volumes for gender equality at this institution.
Student Population Diversity
When it comes to improving a sense of inclusion and belonging among students, there is no denying the importance of student diversity. A heterogeneous student body brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at Brandeis University.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 642, and the number of Afro-American students was 211. 326 students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 155 identified with more than one race. There were also 87 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
One of the most crucial things to take into account when applying to any college or university is the financial component. Here are some details you should know about the expenses at Brandeis University that the majority of students face.
Tuition and Fees
If you were wondering how much the tuition cost for Brandeis University is, here are some recent data that will come in handy.
In 2025, tuition amounted to $69,934 for all full-time domestic students. Since this is a private institution, there is no difference in tuition for out-of-state or international students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students reached $598 in 2025.
Books and Supplies
The estimated price of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into consideration as another important financial element. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $1,000.
Boarding
The cost of dorm rooms and meals in the school's cafeteria is for sure something to take into consideration. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for lodging and meals?
In 2025, the price of room and board at Brandeis University was $20,954 per academic year. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school reached $12,630, according to the data from 2025. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was $9,945.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 69,934 |
| Room and Board | $ 20,954 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,000 |
| Total Expense | $ 91,888 |
Financial Aid
Grants, loans, scholarships, work-study programs: these are all different types of financial aid available to students. Check out some recent data to get the information about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid students could get at Brandeis University.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 389 freshmen. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $57,507.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
There were 1,475 students who attained need-based financial aid of any kind. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Brandeis University is available to international students. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need amounted to 1,537. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution added up to $4,156,746, and state $755,635. The students of Brandeis University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $73,078,185, and external in the amount of $2,013,182.
$15,071
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
131 students, including freshmen, received institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid at this institution in 2025. 38 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $4,156,746 while the state aid is $328. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $13,213,046. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $2,804,684 USD.
Open Applications
Find open programs by choosing your preferred academic interest from the list below, and select your desired term start. Get started with your application process and find more information using the Apply button.
Majors
Faculty
9:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
In 2025, this ratio at Brandeis University was 9:1. That means that there were 9 times more students than teachers at this school. The total number of faculty teaching at the institution is 512. Out of that number, there were 266 male and 246 female faculty members.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at Brandeis University: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Find out some details about campus life at Brandeis University.
Student Organizations
Student organizations are run by students of an institution, and its membership usually consists only of current students and/or alumni.
For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. You have a talent for media and communication? Brandeis University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
FAQ
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Brandeis University is located in Waltham, MA.
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Brandeis University offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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The overall full-time tuition per academic year for Brandeis University is 69,934 USD, based on the most recent data.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for Brandeis University is 40%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Brandeis University is 87%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
