Is Brown harder to get into than Northwestern overall?

Yes. Brown is typically viewed as a bit harder to get into than Northwestern overall, though both are in the same very selective tier and the difference is not huge in practice.

The more useful way to interpret the comparison is that Brown may be marginally tougher overall, but not enough that it should change your college list strategy on its own. The real admissions difference often comes from fit: Brown tends to attract students who want academic freedom through the Open Curriculum and a more self-directed, exploratory vibe, while Northwestern often appeals to students who like flexibility but also want a somewhat more structured environment with strong preprofessional options.

So if you are asking for a straight overall read, Brown usually has the edge in perceived selectivity. But from an admissions planning standpoint, both should be treated as reaches, and your odds at one versus the other may depend more on how well your application matches that school’s culture and priorities than on a small difference in overall competitiveness.