Is Brown or Notre Dame typically more affordable after financial aid?

For a student with high financial need, Brown is often the more affordable of the two because its expanded Brown Promise eliminates loans from undergraduate need-based aid packages.

Brown can be particularly attractive for families whose income is modest but whose student would otherwise need to borrow. Its aid is entirely need-based, though, so students should not expect merit scholarships to reduce the bill beyond what the financial-aid formula determines.

Notre Dame is a strong option for students whose financial picture may qualify them for need-based assistance and for those who could receive one of its merit scholarships. Notre Dame states that it meets demonstrated financial need for admitted students, but its award structure can differ from Brown’s and may include student work expectations or loans depending on the family’s circumstances and the applicable aid policy. Merit awards, while valuable, are limited and competitive rather than automatic.

For middle- and upper-middle-income families, neither school can be assumed to be cheaper: home equity, savings, business ownership, sibling enrollment, and noncustodial-parent information can change the result substantially. Running each school’s current net price calculator with the same financial details will give the most meaningful comparison.