How does campus housing differ between Brown and WashU?

Brown tends to suit students who want an integrated, city-centered residential experience with a wide mix of dorm styles and substantial interaction between campus and Providence. Brown houses students on campus for all four undergraduate years, and its residences range from traditional corridor-style first-year halls to suites, apartments, program houses, and more independent upperclass options. First-year students live in designated first-year residence halls, creating an immediate class community without locking students into a single house system for all four years.

Brown’s housing is spread throughout its compact College Hill campus, so buildings vary noticeably in age, size, amenities, and atmosphere. Many students value the flexibility of choosing among different room types and communities as upperclassmen; others find the selection process and uneven building quality less predictable. The experience can feel less uniform and more self-directed, especially after first year.

WashU is a particularly appealing fit for students who prefer a polished, organized residential system with a strong first-year community. Its first-year students live in the South 40, a dedicated residential area with modern residence halls, dining, study spaces, recreation, and student services close together. The South 40 is physically separate from the academic campus but connected by a short walk or campus transportation, giving first year a distinct neighborhood feel.

Sophomore and upperclass housing is more dispersed, including the Village and other residential areas, but WashU’s rooms and common spaces are often perceived as more consistently modern than Brown’s older housing stock. Brown offers more variation and autonomy; WashU offers a more structured, amenity-focused residential progression.