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Stony Brook University

Public Graduate Excellent 86/100

Stony Brook University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Stony Brook, New York

About Stony Brook University

Stony Brook University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Stony Brook, New York. It enrolls 18,101 students (a very large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Official website: stonybrook.edu

Acceptance: 49%
Graduation: 72.8%
Net Price: $18,784
Median Earnings (10yr): $74,502
Enrollment: 18,101
Student : Faculty: 19:1

Accreditor Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Excellent

86/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Selective

Outcomes 86

Value 83

Affordability 62

Selectivity 87

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 49%, Stony Brook University is a selective institution.

Acceptance Rate

49%

Selective

SAT Range (25th–75th)

1330 – 1500

Reading + Math combined

ACT Range (25th–75th)

29 – 33

Cumulative composite

Test Policy Not Considered Standardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Stony Brook University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Stable ↑ 4.9 pts since 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Stony Brook University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $18,784 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$18,784

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

39%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

35%

Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees (in-state): $10,931
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state): $32,741
Room & Board (on-campus): $18,196
Room & Board (off-campus): $17,010
Books & Supplies: $900
Other Expenses (on-campus): $3,248
Other Expenses (off-campus): $7,152
Total Cost of Attendance: $30,539

Application fee: $50 (one-time, due at submission)

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

Under $30,000

$12,943
$30,001 – $48,000

$15,432
$48,001 – $75,000

$20,728
$75,001 – $110,000

$23,424
Over $110,000

$27,716

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$4,366

10% percentile

$7,500

25% percentile

$18,228

Median percentile

$25,000

75% percentile

$30,805

90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median

Pell recipients $15,250 ↓ $2,978

No Pell $14,000 ↓ $4,228

Dependent students $15,000 ↓ $3,228

Independent students $14,873 ↓ $3,355

Female students $15,000 ↓ $3,228

Male students $14,754 ↓ $3,474

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,750, less than completers ($18,228), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

73% of full-time students who enrolled at Stony Brook University graduate within six years, and 89% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

73%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

89%

Returning for their second year

What this means: High first-year retention. Students who arrive tend to stay.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Stony Brook University earn a median of $74,502 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$74,502

Earning > $25K

86%

10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates

$58,100

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$67,300

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$61,300

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$62,700

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$64,200

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $9,200, about 14% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑ 12.1 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Excellent. 87% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Stony Brook University is home to 18,101 students, a sprawling student community. Some distinctive traits: 36% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled

18,101

Part-Time

First-Generation

36%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

Asian 35.8% 6,484

White 25.0% 4,529

Hispanic 15.8% 2,858

International 9.5% 1,712

Black 6.1% 1,111

Other 3.3% 592

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Stony Brook University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Large Suburb Stony Brook, New York

Housing

Mostly residential 10,501 beds on campus

Adult Learners

6% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

Stony Brook University offers an extensive catalog of programs: 186 distinct programs across 22 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

27 Programs

Health

Health Sciences $61K ($43K–$82K)
Nursing $89K ($68K–$114K)
Nursing $89K ($68K–$114K)

10 Programs

Business

Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Human Resources $68K ($50K–$91K)
Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)

15 Programs

Biology

Biology $57K ($39K–$79K)
Biochemistry & Biophysics $65K ($45K–$88K)
Ecology $49K ($36K–$64K)

5 Programs

Computer Science

Computer Science $107K ($75K–$152K)
Computer Science $107K ($75K–$152K)
Information Science $85K ($60K–$117K)

6 Programs

Mathematics

Applied Mathematics $92K ($63K–$127K)
Mathematics $70K ($49K–$97K)
Applied Mathematics $92K ($63K–$127K)

26 Programs

Engineering

Mechanical Engineering $92K ($78K–$109K)
Computer Engineering $109K ($86K–$145K)
Mechanical Engineering $92K ($78K–$109K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Stony Brook University is 19:1, on the higher side.

Student : Faculty

19:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Instruction / Student

$28,764

Annual instructional spending per enrolled student

Endowment

$392M

Solid financial position

Avg Faculty Salary

$124,813

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

2,169 instructional faculty across 5 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank	Faculty Count	Share	Avg Salary
Full Professors	525	24%	$171,159
Associate Professors	479	22%	$118,362
Assistant Professors	700	32%	$94,309
Instructors	271	12%	$78,428
Lecturers	194	9%	$75,579

Pros & Cons of Stony Brook University

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Stony Brook University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Below-average net price
Above-average graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Above-average post-graduation earnings

CONS

Selective admissions, solid academic profile expected
Class sizes are on the higher side

Best for: Based on the data, Stony Brook University is a fit for students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.

Frequently Asked Questions about Stony Brook University

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Stony Brook University.

Is Stony Brook University hard to get into?

Stony Brook University is selective but not extremely competitive. Its acceptance rate is 49%. Strong academic credentials and a thoughtful application materially improve your odds.

What is the acceptance rate at Stony Brook University?

Stony Brook University has an acceptance rate of 49%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

What SAT score do you need for Stony Brook University?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Stony Brook University scored between 1330 and 1500 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

What ACT score do you need for Stony Brook University?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Stony Brook University scored between 29 and 33 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

How much does Stony Brook University cost?

The average net price after aid at Stony Brook University is $18,784 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is Stony Brook University worth it?

Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $74,502 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $18,784 per year. That's roughly 4.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is Stony Brook University known for?

Stony Brook University is best known for its programs in Psychology, Biology, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do Stony Brook University graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering Stony Brook University are $74,502, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is Stony Brook University accredited?

Yes. Stony Brook University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

How many students attend Stony Brook University?

Stony Brook University enrolls 18,101 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at Stony Brook University?

Stony Brook University graduates 73% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is Stony Brook University a public or private college?

Stony Brook University is a Public institution.

Where is Stony Brook University located?

Stony Brook University is located in Stony Brook, New York.

What programs does Stony Brook University offer?

Stony Brook University offers 186 distinct programs. The most popular include Psychology, Biology, Business Administration.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Stony Brook University?

The student-to-faculty ratio at Stony Brook University is 19:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.