Brandeis University is a private research university in Waltham, this Massachusetts, known for its rigorous liberal arts education, strong social justice mission, and intimate academic community. Founded in 1948, it is one of the youngest private research universities in the United States and a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU) .
Academics and Identity
Brandeis was established by the American Jewish community as a model of ethnic and religious pluralism, named after Louis Dembitz Brandeis, the first Jewish Supreme Court Justice . While it maintains a special relationship with the Jewish community, it is nonsectarian and welcomes students of all backgrounds and beliefs .
The university blends the intimacy of a small college with the research power of an R1 institution. It enrolls approximately 3,342 undergraduates and 1,354 graduate students, maintaining an exceptional 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio . The academic focus is on the liberal arts and sciences, with 48 majors and 53 minors across 23 departments and 25 interdepartmental programs .
Rankings and Reputation
Brandeis consistently ranks among the top national universities:
- No. 69 National Universities (U.S. News 2025-26)
- No. 31 Best Value (U.S. News 2025-26)
- No. 11 Health Policy and Management and No. 15 Social Policy (U.S. News 2026 graduate rankings)
- No. 13 for students most engaged in community service (Princeton Review)
The Brandeis Commitment: Affordability
Brandeis has made a major commitment to accessibility. more helpful hints The Brandeis Commitment, starting with the class entering Fall 2025, provides:
- Full tuition coverage for families earning $75,000 or less with typical assets
- 50% tuition coverage for families earning $200,000 or less with typical assets
- 100% of demonstrated financial need met for all qualifying families
In 2025-26, 82% of full-time beginning undergraduates received grant/scholarship aid . The average need-based scholarship for first-year students is $61,636 .
Admissions
Brandeis is selective, with an acceptance rate of approximately 41-45% . The middle 50% SAT range is 1380-1480, and the median ACT is 33 . The university is test-optional.
The student body is diverse: 40.9% students of color, 18% first-generation, and 15.8% international students from 61 countries .
Alumni and Outcomes
Brandeis alumni have made significant contributions across fields. Notable graduates include Simon Sinek ’95, bestselling author and TED speaker, who credits his anthropology thesis at Brandeis as formative . Other alumni include Alexis Matza ’98, deputy director of the LGBT Health Program for the Veterans Health Administration, and Noam Sienna ’11, whose honors thesis led to a groundbreaking anthology of queer Jewish texts .
For students seeking a rigorous liberal arts education, click here for info a strong social justice ethos, and exceptional financial support, Brandeis offers a distinctive and compelling choice.