News Summary
Brown University has been ranked as the hardest college to gain admission to in Rhode Island, placing 8th nationally according to Niche’s 2025 rankings. This classification highlights its exclusivity with low acceptance rates amid a trend toward more holistic admissions, as standardized test scores have been omitted from the assessment. In addition to academic prestige, Brown is also advancing space research on Mars, uncovering insights into subsurface geology and ejecta blankets, vital for future exploration missions.
Providence, Rhode Island – Brown University has secured its status as the hardest college to get into in Rhode Island, ranking as the 8th hardest nationally, according to Niche’s 2025 Hardest Colleges To Get Into list. The prestigious institution’s acceptance rate and other key factors contributed to this classification, highlighting its exclusivity among prospective students.
Niche, an education data company, compiled this year’s rankings based on various criteria, such as admission rates. Notably, for the first time, standardized test scores—including ACT and SAT—were omitted from the assessment, reflecting a growing trend in college admissions toward a more holistic review process.
Brown University’s acceptance challenges place it alongside other highly regarded institutions known as “the New Ivies,” a term coined by Forbes to categorize schools that promise excellent job prospects and rigorous academic environments. The list includes prominent universities such as Johns Hopkins University, Northwestern University, and Vanderbilt University.
The report also sheds light on the acceptance rates of various colleges in Rhode Island, allowing prospective students to gauge the competitiveness of Brown University in comparison to other educational establishments in the state.
In addition to its academic prestige, Brown University is making strides in space research. Researchers at the university recently implemented an innovative method to study subsurface features on Mars and other planetary bodies without the need for excavation. This research aims to analyze “ejecta blankets,” which are debris layers expelled from craters following impact events.
The study’s focus on these ejecta blankets involves examining the size and distribution of the material to infer the properties of the underlying subsurface materials. The findings of this groundbreaking work were published on May 13 in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets and were supported by notable organizations, including NASA, the U.K. Space Agency, and the Swiss National Science Foundation.
Led by Aleksandra Sokolowska, a UKRI fellow and postdoctoral researcher at Brown, the research employs computer simulations of planetary impacts to explore how different subsurface materials can alter ejecta behavior. The team specifically analyzed two recent impact craters on Mars, discovering that variations in ejecta blankets correlate with known subsurface characteristics.
The implications of this research extend beyond academic curiosity. The methodologies developed could prove essential for upcoming space exploration missions. For example, the European Space Agency’s Hera mission, scheduled for launch in February 2026, aims to investigate the interior of the asteroid Dimorphos. This celestial body was previously targeted by a NASA projectile to test deflection techniques.
Through ongoing research, Sokolowska seeks to refine this analytical approach into a practical tool that can assess subsurface properties from an orbital perspective, paving the way for more insightful planetary research in the future. By shedding light on subsurface conditions, such innovations may considerably enhance our understanding of other planets, furthering the scientific community’s grasp of extraterrestrial geology.
In summary, Brown University’s reputation as an elite institution in Rhode Island is reinforced by its academic metrics and groundbreaking research, ensuring its position at the forefront of education and planetary science.
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Additional Resources
- Brown Bears: Andrew Breiner Announced as New Wide Receivers Coach
- Wikipedia: Brown University
- Boston Globe: Brown University Mars Surface Crater Research
- Google Search: Brown University Mars research
- Brown Bears: Petersen and Dillehay Earn All-Ivy Honors
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Brown University
- Rhode Island Current: Brown Halts Hiring Amid Deficit
- Google News: Brown University news
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PROVIDENCE STAFF WRITER The PROVIDENCE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREProvidence.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Providence, Providence County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as WaterFire, Rhode Island International Film Festival, and Rhode Island Comic Con. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce and Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau, plus leading businesses in finance and manufacturing that power the local economy such as Citizens Financial Group and Textron. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Rhode Island's dynamic landscape.
