Brown University Athletics

Brown competes in NCAA Division I, where athletic programs receive significant resources and national attention, though the Bears don't offer athletic scholarships as an Ivy League institution. With 951 varsity athletes across 30 sports, roughly 13% of the 7,273-student body participates in intercollegiate athletics. The Bears compete in The Ivy League conference alongside traditional rivals Harvard and Yale. Brown's rowing program has historically been one of its strongest, with both men's and women's crews earning national recognition. The university's athletic culture balances competitive excellence with academic priorities, typical of Ivy League schools where student-athletes must meet the same rigorous admission standards as other students. Bruno the Bear serves as the mascot for a program that emphasizes participation and school spirit over commercial sports entertainment.