How does Brown’s financial aid compare with WashU’s when estimating net cost?

For need-based aid, both Brown and WashU state that they meet 100% of demonstrated financial need for admitted students, so neither school should be evaluated by sticker price alone. Brown’s Brown Promise replaces student loans with grants in all need-based aid packages, while WashU’s aid can also be very strong but may depend more noticeably on the family’s income, assets, and circumstances. For families with very limited resources, both institutions can bring the net cost down dramatically.

Brown does not award merit scholarships, so its final price is driven almost entirely by its need analysis.

WashU also has major need-based commitments. It additionally offers merit scholarships, which can reduce cost beyond need-based aid, though those awards are competitive and should not be assumed when estimating affordability.

The key distinction is that “demonstrated need” is calculated separately by each college. A family may receive different results because Brown and WashU can weigh home equity, savings, business ownership, noncustodial-parent information, and unusual financial circumstances differently. Use each school’s official net price calculator with the same tax and asset information; that side-by-side estimate will be far more meaningful than comparing their published costs.