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Brown University

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A great place to work if you can find a good fit in the right department. - Senior Programmer/Analyst Brown University Employee Review

3.0
Jun 17, 2008
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great benefits package -- the best I have seen anywhere. This is something you may not realize until you have worked a few other places. This includes not just health and dental, but very generous paid time off. The hours are really good as well -- some departments give flex time, allow you to work from home a little bit, etc. In the summer the work week is a little shorter, and even during the academic year the work week is only 37.5 hours. The campus is beautiful, and it is a pleasure to work with many of the professors on interesting projects.

Cons

Some departments or sub-divisions of departments can be very hide-bound and traditionalist in their approach to things, rather than forward-thinking. Some management personnel definitely don't respect their employees (but others do -- it really depends on the department or sub-division of a given department). Mostly we're talking about IT-related positions. It's also true that as an IT professional you can get paid more in a corporate environment. Another downside to the academic world is that people become very insular and protective of their turf and their ideas, and not prone to trying out new technologies or ideas. Again though, this varies widely from one manager to the next.

Explore other reviews about Brown University

5.0
Jun 29, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Good pay Great culture/community Flexible hours

Cons

Difficult to get hours some weeks Have to work on Sundays

4.0
Jun 15, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

World-Class Benefits: The total compensation package is excellent. The health insurance plans are high-quality, the retirement match is very generous, and the tuition assistance program is a massive perk for employees and their families. Work-Life Balance & PTO: Brown is incredibly generous with time off. Beyond standard vacation and sick time, the university shuts down for a paid "Winter Break" between Christmas and New Year’s, and summer hours offer a great reprieve. Campus Culture & Environment: Working on College Hill in Providence is a fantastic experience. The campus is beautiful, the community is deeply mission-driven, and there is a genuine sense of intellectual curiosity and collaboration among colleagues. Stability: It provides a highly stable work environment compared to the volatile corporate tech or private sectors.

Cons

Salary Lags Behind the Market: While the benefits are elite, the base salary often falls below market rate for equivalent roles in the private sector (especially in IT, finance, or specialized project management). Siloed Bureaucracy: Moving projects across the finish line can be slow. Decisions often require navigating multiple committees and layers of administrative hierarchy, which can feel frustratingly inefficient. Internal Mobility can be Tough: Because people tend to get comfortable and stay at Brown for a very long time, upward mobility within the same department can sometimes feel stagnant unless you look to transfer to an entirely different division. Advice to Management

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