Brandeis University

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Quick Stats

415 South Street
Waltham, MA 02454-9110: [map]

Phone: (781) 736-2000

2011-2012 Tuition

$41,860: tuition and fees

Students

3,341: enrolled

44%: male /

56%: female

Admissions

Jan. 15: application deadline

35.4%: accepted

More Information

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U.S. News Rankings

Ranking score and category

U.S. News rank	Category Name
#31	National Universities

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Summary

Brandeis University is a private institution that was founded in 1948. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 3,341, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 235 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Brandeis University's ranking in the 2012 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 31. Its tuition and fees are $41,860 (2011-12).

Brandeis University is located in Waltham, Mass., just nine miles west of Boston. Students are guaranteed housing for their first four semesters. In addition to student-run TV and radio stations, Brandeis has religious and performance groups, service organizations, cultural awareness groups, performance groups and more. The Shapiro Campus Center serves as a hub of student activity on campus, housing a theater, bookstore, cafe, library, meeting rooms, and a student art gallery. Cholmondeley’s, the campus coffeehouse, is another hotspot for concerts and comedy shows. The Brandeis Judges field more than 15 NCAA Division III teams and are known for their strong men’s soccer team. There is no Greek life on campus.

Brandeis is comprised of the College of Arts and Sciences and four graduate schools. The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences offers highly ranked programs in English and history, and The Heller School for Social Policy and Management is notable for its programs in social policy, health policy and management, and international development. Nearly 50 percent of students participate in study abroad programs offered in about 70 countries around the world. The Steinhardt Social Research Institute at Brandeis provides research and information on contemporary Judaism and the Jewish community. Pulitzer Prize winner and New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman graduated from Brandeis, which was named for the first Jewish Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, Louis Dembitz Brandeis.

School mission (as provided by the school):

Education at Brandeis is personal, combining the intimacy of a small liberal arts college and the intellectual power of a large research university. Classes are small and taught by professors, 96% of whom hold the highest degree in their fields. They give students personal attention in state-of-the-art resources, giving them the tools to succeed in a variety of post-graduate endeavors. This vibrant, freethinking intellectual atmosphere was founded in 1948, Brandeis University reflects the values of the first Jewish Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis: a passion for learning, commitment to social justice, respect for creativity and diversity, and concern for the world. We have a beautiful park-like campus in metropolitan Boston, with easy access to the city's many attractions.

General Information

School type	private, coed college
Year founded	1948
Religious affiliation	N/A
Academic calendar	semester
Setting	suburban
2010 Endowment	$620,204,246

Applying

When applying to Brandeis University, it's important to note the application deadline is January 15, and the early decision deadline is November 15. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due January 15. The application fee at Brandeis University is $55. It is most selective, with an acceptance rate of 35.4 percent.

For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.

Selectivity	most selective
Fall 2010 acceptance rate	35%
Application deadline	January 15
SAT/ACT scores must be received by	January 15

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Academic Life

The student-faculty ratio at Brandeis University is 9:1, and the school has 64.2 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Brandeis University include: Economics, General; Biology/Biological Sciences, General; Psychology, General; Political Science and Government, Other; and History, General. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 93.2 percent.

Class sizes

Student-faculty ratio

9:1

4-year graduation rate

86% - High

Five most popular majors for 2010 graduates

Economics, General	11%
Biology/Biological Sciences, General	9%
Psychology, General	9%
Political Science and Government, Other	7%
History, General	6%

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Student Life

Brandeis University has a total undergraduate enrollment of 3,341, with a gender distribution of 43.8 percent male students and 56.2 percent female students. 75.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 25.0 percent of students live off campus. Brandeis University is part of the NCAA III athletic conference.

See what students are saying about life at Brandeis University.

Total enrollment	5,642
Student gender distribution

Undergraduate men who are members of a fraternity

Undergraduate women who are members of a sorority

Collegiate athletic association	NCAA III

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Campus Info & Services

Brandeis University offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, women's center, placement service, health service, and health insurance. Brandeis University also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at Brandeis University.

Students who have cars on campus	N/A
Health insurance offered	Yes
Students required to own/lease a computer	No

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Paying for School

At Brandeis University, 44.9 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $27,772.

Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.

Tuition and fees	$41,860 (2011-12)
Room and board	$11,894 (2011-12) - High
Financial aid statistics

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Student Reviews Ratings data provided by Unigo

Anya Sophomore

Brandeis, over the last two years, has become my home. It's seems sort of corny to say, but almost everyone here- from the staff to the students and professors- are so nice and open. And it's really easy to stay clear of the small minority of people here who aren't as friendly and welcoming because they are a really small minority. I honestly think that it's this warm and encouraging environment that makes Brandeis amazing. Since we're a pretty small student population- about 3100 undergrads, the sense of community felt here is pretty strong and the campus life benefits from the fact that we are small and most people live in some form of on campus housing for all 4 years. Of course, since this is honest and uncensored, there are some issues with Brandeis that can become huge since people here often snowball everything out of proportion. We've had issues during my time at Brandeis about racism jokes in a student publication, a controversial visit from former President Jimmy Carter about his book about Israel and student and professor issues with the administration over student money, professor reviews and arming the police. Brandeis students are incredibly vocal and passionate on a variety of issues and sometimes our passions butt heads with the feelings and politics of the administration, leading to a somewhat strained relation between the two camps. But the activism and passion of Brandeis students is part of what makes Brandeis... well Brandeis. In the 1960s we were known for student activism and that spirit continues to live on. When injustices happen both within and outside of the university, Brandeis students take a stand, leading to an environment of political and social discourse. While Brandeis is pretty political, we are also fairly artistic a well. The arts at Brandeis are amazing and with so many student performance groups including acapella, dance troops, improve groups, theater clubs and a sketch comedy group; there is always on campus, student performed entertainment throughout the week. Brandeis, location wise, has the best of both worlds as well. Waltham is a nice town and Moody Street is a great place to go with friends for ethnic food and Lizzy's Ice Cream, which rocks. We're also close to Boston so it's really easy to take a shuttle bus over the weekends or the commuter rail into Boston or Cambridge. In all honesty, what Brandeis has in political and artistic spirit is sort of lost on sports. If you want a school where everyone goes to games and sports make up a big part of campus life, Brandeis is not the place for you. We do have good Division III sports teams and we do have fans, known as "The Jury" who come out and cheer on the Brandeis Judges, but it's nothing like at other schools. Coming from a football orientated high school, I love that sports aren't the focus here, but it's a fair warning to note.

Amy Sophomore

Brandeis, like a lot of other schools out there, I'm sure, is a make-your-own-experience school. If you're looking for someone to hold your hand every step of the way as you try to figure out your academic focus, your social life, your extracurriculars and your career ... you can actually probably find them here. But you'll have more success at Brandeis if you are independent and can figure things out on your own. If you have an interest that has even a minor following, there is probably a club for it at Brandeis. Don't like the way the club is run? Change it. Club doesn't exist? Make it. The school has the resources to fund some crazy clubs thanks to a percent of everyone's tuition (the Student Activities Fee) which goes towards student organizations and events. There is no dearth of majors here, and most people find after a year or two that they fit into one of them. But for those that don't, it is always possible to make your own. I know a couple of students who started a major about neuroscience and how it relates to music. Our relative proximity to Boston means there is always something to do, even if it's getting a little lame on campus. Although usually there is some kind of party happening at the Mods or in Ziv on the weekends, as well as a Student Events run shindig. I can only speak to my personal experiences, but I haven't ever experienced a void of activities on a night where I wanted to go out and do something fun. Brandeis is a small school. And you can tell. You tend to see a lot of familiar faces around, and there is a nice small-town kind of atmosphere where, even if you don't know everyone, you probably know someone who does. But even if you want to be anonymous, there is room to breathe. 2,000 students is still a lot of people. But just like it is possible to find exactly what you want at Brandeis, it is also possible that life here may just piss you off. There is always at least one Negative Nancy who is going to complain about their school no matter where they end up. I've heard a bunch of complaints about Brandeis, all of which I'm sure have been voiced about most other schools. I honestly believe that if you know what you want out of college, or have the energy and the willingness to try out new things, then you can get everything you want from Brandeis.

Adam Senior

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* Overview details based on 2010 data

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