Is NYU or Brown more fun for undergraduates?

They can both be fun, but in very different ways. Brown tends to feel more traditionally fun for undergraduates because the social life is concentrated around one campus community, students usually know a lot of other students across years, and Providence is easy to navigate without the feeling that everyone disappears after class. NYU is fun in a more independent, city-driven way, where a huge part of your social life comes from New York itself rather than a classic campus scene.

Brown is a strong fit for someone who wants a residential college experience with a lively, student-centered atmosphere. The open curriculum contributes to that vibe because students often build unusual schedules, explore broadly, and talk a lot about ideas outside class, which feeds a pretty engaged campus culture. Weekend life is often organized around friends, dorms, campus events, student groups, and off-campus spots in Providence, so it can feel socially cohesive without needing a lot of effort to find your people.

NYU works well for the student who gets energy from freedom, movement, and having endless options. Fun there often means concerts, restaurants, internships, neighborhoods, museums, late-night city plans, and friend groups that are spread across residence halls, academic programs, and the city. That can be exciting if you like making your own structure, but it can also feel less unified because there is no enclosed campus and undergrads do not all experience the school in the same way.

If by fun you mean spontaneous hangouts, a stronger shared undergraduate identity, and a campus where social life comes to you more naturally, Brown probably has the edge. If fun to you means access to New York every day and the freedom to create a life that barely fits inside a campus boundary, NYU may feel far more exciting.