Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY 11794-0701
About Stony Brook University
Stony Brook University is a public research university in Stony Brook, New York, with about 18,101 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 49.04% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $74,502 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Stony Brook University charges about 2.0× the national public median tuition ($10,931).
- Versus the New York median, sticker tuition is 21% below.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 75.56%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $74,502.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Stony Brook University is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 892% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Finding
Stony Brook University awards credentials across a wide program mix.
IPEDS completions cover more than 146 distinct degree programs at this campus.
Interpretation: Institutional averages blend very different fields; program-level completions and earnings matter more than the campus mean alone.
Limitation: Completions counts are not enrollment demand and do not measure program quality.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stony Brook University | $10,931 | $18,784 | 1 |
| Public (national median) | $5,512 | — | 1,688 |
| New York (state median) | $13,810 | $9,373 | 272 |
| Rural (locale median) | $14,160 | $18,700 | 1,649 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is Stony Brook University really?
Key findings
- Stony Brook University charges about 2.0× the national public median tuition ($10,931).
- Versus the New York median, sticker tuition is 21% below.
Stony Brook University tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $10,931
Finding Stony Brook University charges about 2.0× the national public median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $10,931. That is about 2.0× the national public median ($5,512). Versus the New York median ($13,810), sticker tuition is 21% below. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is 8% below.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to public and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Stony Brook University versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Stony Brook University versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Stony Brook University is $18,784.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $18,784 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $9,411 above the New York median net price. Versus rural campuses, net price runs $84 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway At Stony Brook University, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
Stony Brook University: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Stony Brook University—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
In-state tuition
$10,931
Out-of-state tuition
$32,741
Avg. net price
$18,784
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $12,943 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $15,432 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $20,728 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $23,424 |
| $110,001+ | $27,716 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $43,724. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Stony Brook University is known for
Top program completions
- Psychology, General641
- Business Administration and Management, General543
- Computer Science494
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General464
- Health Professions and Related Programs451
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Selective — about half of applicants (or fewer) are admitted.
- Yield: 14% of admitted students enrolled.
- Average SAT: 1419
- Midpoint ACT: 31
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Stony Brook University a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Stony Brook University is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Stony Brook University.
Campus
Location
Stony Brook, NY
City / state
- ZIP
- 11794-0701
- NCES locale
- Rural fringe
Compared with Rural campuses nationally, net price is at the median for Rural campuses ($18,700 median).
Control
Institution type
Public
Control
- Region
- Mid East
- Carnegie
- Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity
Size
Enrollment
18,101
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 25,003
- Graduate
- 8,426
- Full-time share
- 95%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$18,228
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 39.44%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Stony Brook University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Stony Brook University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Stony Brook University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $7,995 | $19,935 | $13,492 |
| 2014 | $8,430 | $21,850 | $13,519 |
| 2015 | $8,855 | $23,935 | $13,717 |
| 2016 | $8,999 | $26,239 | $13,467 |
| 2017 | $9,257 | $26,767 | $13,770 |
| 2018 | $9,625 | $27,295 | $14,893 |
| 2019 | $10,175 | $27,845 | $15,160 |
| 2020 | $10,091 | $27,761 | $16,119 |
| 2021 | $10,455 | $28,375 | $16,357 |
| 2022 | $10,560 | $28,480 | $17,232 |
| 2023 | $10,560 | $30,350 | $18,430 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution is selective, accepting about half of all applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Average 1419 (middle 50% not reported)
Midpoint 31 (middle 50% not reported)
Scores for enrollees who submitted tests (College Scorecard).
Academic Requirements
Estimated from admission selectivity and test scores. Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
Estimated range · median 3.80
Estimated GPA band from selectivity and test scores — not an official requirement.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Stony Brook University reported total enrollment of about 18,101 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 49% male and 51% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Asian (35.8%), White (25.0%), and Hispanic or Latino (15.8%). About 39.44% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 36.1% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
94.7% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Stony Brook University in 2024 is 18,101 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 25,003 students. Graduate enrollment is about 8,426 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
89.8%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
64.83% 100% Completion Time
75.56% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 64.83% of students graduating from Stony Brook University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Psychology, General: 24% male / 76% female
- Business Administration and Management, General: 54% male / 46% female
- Computer Science: 83% male / 17% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Stony Brook University graduates earn a median of $74,502 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Stony Brook University.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $74,502. Median federal loan debt: $18,228. Average net price used in cost models: $18,784.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Stony Brook University graduates report median earnings of $74,502 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Stony Brook University.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (146 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Stony Brook University.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Stony Brook University graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Stony Brook University—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$392.1M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- New York median 10× the median ($38.1M)
- Mid East median 9.2× the median ($42.6M)
- U.S. median 15× the median ($26.4M)
- New York median near the median ($15,424)
- Mid East median 0.93× the median ($16,427)
- U.S. median 1.3× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 61.7%
- New York median 8.0 pp above median (53.8%)
- Mid East median 4.8 pp above median (56.9%)
- U.S. median 3.8 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $14,008
- New York median 1.7× the median ($8,068)
- Mid East median 1.7× the median ($8,119)
- U.S. median 1.8× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $22,608
- New York median 2.1× the median ($10,822)
- Mid East median 2.5× the median ($9,164)
- U.S. median 3.1× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Stony Brook University at a glance
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook University is a public institution in Stony Brook, NY, classified as Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Psychology, GeneralBusiness Administration and Management, GeneralComputer Science
- Largest enrollment groups
- Asian35.8%White or Caucasian25.0%Hispanic or Latino15.8%
- Opportunity College (2025)
- Higher access & higher earnings · Browse OCU directory
Schools near Stony Brook University
Other campuses in Stony Brook, NY when available, plus nearby institutions in New York.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade B) within New York, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Stony Brook University located?
Stony Brook University is located in Stony Brook, NY.
What is Stony Brook University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Stony Brook University is 49.0% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 50,341 applicants and 24,670 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Stony Brook University's tuition?
Stony Brook University tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $10,931 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $18,784 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Stony Brook University cost?
Reported tuition is $10,931 and average net price is $18,784 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $18,196 annually.
What explains Stony Brook University's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($18,784), completion (75.6% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($74,502). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Stony Brook University?
Stony Brook University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 25,003 students, Asian (35.8%), White (25.0%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Stony Brook University?
About 36.1% of students at Stony Brook University are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Stony Brook University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Stony Brook University reports midpoint SAT about 1419 and midpoint ACT about 31.
What do graduates of Stony Brook University earn?
Median earnings are $59,492 six years after entry and $74,502 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Stony Brook University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 75.6% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Stony Brook University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $18,228.
Is Stony Brook University public or private?
Stony Brook University is a public institution located in Stony Brook, NY.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.