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Stony Brook University
Stony Brook University admits a bit under 50% of applicants; strong grades put you in the conversation at Stony Brook University, and the data below says what "strong" means.
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Stony Brook University occupies suburban Stony Brook, NY — a public campus quieter than a downtown one, closer to one than a rural seat. The university runs its own medical system, which colors both its budget and its biggest programs.
Its highest-earning path is Computer and Information Sciences, General, where graduates median $147,064 four years out. 39.4% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. With 18,101 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 89.8% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1320 and 1490 — above the NY middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Stony Brook University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Stony Brook University received 50,341 applications and admitted 24,670 (49%), with 3,569 enrolling.
Scores help here but aren't the gate. If your SAT sits inside the 1320–1490 submitter range, sending it likely helps; below it, Stony Brook University's own policy says you can leave it out.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 640 | 680 | 720 |
| SAT Math | 680 | 730 | 770 |
| ACT Composite | 28 | 31 | 33 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How Stony Brook University compares
| Stony Brook University | New York median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 49% | 70.1% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $10,931 | $17,408 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $74,502 | $60,236 | $53,781 |
Earnings data favors Stony Brook University: $74,502 median at year ten, versus $60,236 across New York institutions.
Cost, size & completion
In-state students pay $10,931 in tuition; crossing a state border raises that to $32,741. For non-residents, Stony Brook University's $32,741 is the number to weigh against private options before assuming public means cheaper.
Stony Brook University is a big school: 18,101 undergraduates at last count.
75.6% of Stony Brook University students finish a bachelor's within six years — 20.7 points above the national 54.9% — and the single best predictor that the $10,931 price above buys a degree, not just enrollment.
Top majors by earnings at Stony Brook University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $147,064 |
| Computer Engineering | $128,038 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $111,898 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $110,827 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $103,656 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $98,573 |
| Civil Engineering | $92,908 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $91,650 |
| Information Science/Studies | $89,875 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $89,560 |
| Chemical Engineering | $88,593 |
| Engineering, General | $87,517 |
| Human Computer Interaction | $83,075 |
| Applied Mathematics | $82,200 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $77,075 |
| Economics | $74,965 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $72,765 |
| Chemistry | $71,783 |
| Political Science and Government | $70,243 |
| Journalism | $65,535 |
| Physics | $65,013 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $64,547 |
| Mathematics | $62,727 |
| Biology, General | $62,574 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $61,888 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $60,648 |
| Social Work | $59,449 |
| Sociology | $58,966 |
| Anthropology | $58,329 |
| Psychology, General | $58,137 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $55,210 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | $53,747 |
| History | $50,444 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $49,759 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $40,503 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $34,904 |
Median earnings for these 36 Stony Brook University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $74,502 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 24 additional Stony Brook University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Stony Brook University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1320–1490 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 49% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Stony Brook University's acceptance rate?
49% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 24,670 admitted from 50,341 applicants.
How much does Stony Brook University cost?
In-state tuition is $10,931; out-of-state students pay $32,741. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do Stony Brook University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $74,502 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in New York
- Binghamton University — 38.6% admitted
- State University of New York at Cortland — 59.8% admitted
- Syracuse University — 45.9% admitted
- Union College — 43.9% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.