How does the cost of attending Brown compare with Georgia Tech?

The biggest practical tradeoff is that Georgia Tech can be dramatically less expensive for Georgia residents, while Brown’s much higher private-school sticker price may become manageable, or occasionally comparable, for families who qualify for substantial need-based aid. Brown uses institutional need-based aid and says it meets demonstrated financial need without loans in its aid packages; it does not award merit scholarships. Georgia Tech’s published cost is lower, especially for in-state students, but its aid does not automatically cover every student’s full demonstrated need.

For an out-of-state student, Tech costs more, though its total billed costs are often still below Brown’s before aid. Housing, food, books, health insurance, and travel should be compared alongside tuition, since both schools require substantial living expenses and travel costs depend on where you live.

Brown is often financially realistic for lower- and moderate-income families because of its need-based grant policy, but families with higher incomes or substantial assets may receive limited aid and face a much larger bill. Run each school’s official net-price calculator with the same family financial information, including parent income, assets, and any sibling in college. The most likely verdict is Georgia Tech for the lower predictable cost, particularly for an in-state applicant; Brown is worth applying to when its calculator indicates a strong need-based grant could narrow that gap.