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CollegeRanker
Public Stony Brook, NY · Suburban · Mid-Atlantic · 100% data
A Earnings A Diversity B+ Selectivity
Graduation Rate
77% B+
Solid completion rate — most students graduate
Earnings (10yr)
$74,502 A
Top 6% nationally — exceptional earning power
Net Price
$18,784 C-
Close to the national average
Acceptance Rate
49% B+
Selective, but achievable with strong credentials
Earnings +83% vs avg
Graduation +34% vs avg
Net Price 10% vs avg

Bottom line: A B overall grade — strong outcomes across the board. 26.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $26.5 over 20 years. Ranked #9 in Best MBA Programs for Healthcare Management.

26.5× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $26.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,913,390.

What The Data Says

  1. A B overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.

  2. Graduates earn 83% more than the national college median.

  3. A 77% graduation rate — 34% above the national average.

  4. Every $1 invested returns $26.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Economic Footprint

World Rank
#78
Times Higher Education
Research Score
44/100
Times Higher Education

Why Stony Brook University Matters

Stony Brook University is a public research university in Stony Brook, NY ranked #78 in the world by Times Higher Education, and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a top-tier research enterprise and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 6% of all U.S. colleges.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Public Research University
Carnegie Class
R1 · Very High Research
Enrollment
18,101
Setting
Suburban
Primary Strengths
Health Professions, Biology & Biomedical, Psychology, Business & Marketing

Why students choose Stony Brook University

Strong STEM core
A heavy concentration in technical fields
Top-tier research university
R1 status: undergraduates work alongside leading researchers
Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Exceptional earning outcomes
Graduate earnings in the top 6% of colleges
Global recognition
Ranked #78 worldwide by Times Higher Education

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

B
Top 22% overall
A
Earnings
$74,502 median
B
Value
4.0× net price
C-
Affordability
$18,784/yr net
B+
Graduation
77% graduate
B+
Selectivity
49% admit rate
A
Diversity
0.77 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

With an enrollment of over 18,000 students, Stony Brook University caters to individuals looking for a solid education in fields like Health Professions, Biology, Psychology, Business, and Computer Science. The 49% acceptance rate indicates a competitive, yet accessible environment for students who are motivated to succeed. Those drawn to Stony Brook are likely seeking a diverse academic community that encourages exploration and growth in their chosen disciplines.

After graduation, students can expect a promising financial outlook, with a median earning of $74,502 ten years into their careers. This figure suggests that the education they receive translates effectively into well-paying jobs, particularly for those in health, tech, and business sectors. Affordability is a key factor here, as nearly 39% of students receive Pell Grants, which helps mitigate the financial burden and makes a quality education more attainable.

Looking at the cost, students can anticipate a net price of $18,784 after aid, which is manageable compared to many other institutions. The median debt of $18,228 is also relatively low, allowing graduates to start their careers without an overwhelming financial strain. Stony Brook seems to attract driven individuals who are ready to engage with their studies and build a future in dynamic fields.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Stony Brook University is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Stony Brook University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a public institution in Stony Brook, New York, Stony Brook University reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 49%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,419. The graduation rate is roughly 77%.

Acceptance Rate
49%
Retention Rate
90%
SAT Average
1419
ACT Midpoint
31
SAT Range
1330–1500
ACT Range
29–33
Full-Time Faculty
62%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$14,008
Student–Faculty Ratio
19:1
Diversity Index
0.77
First-Gen Students
36%
Applicants
40,513
Admitted
19,908

Can I Afford It?

What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.

Cost & Financial Aid

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Stony Brook University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Stony Brook University is $32,741, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $18,784. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,943 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $18,228 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$10,931
Out-of-State
$32,741
Avg Net Price
$18,784
Median Debt
$18,228
Pell Grant Rate
39%
Federal Loan Rate
35%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$12,943
Family Income $30K–$48K
$15,432
Family Income $48K–$75K
$20,728
Family Income $110K+
$27,716

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Graduate Outcomes

Is Stony Brook University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Stony Brook University earn a median of $74,502, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.

6 Years After Entry
$59,492
8 Years
$69,248
10 Years
$74,502
Debt-to-Earnings
0.24x
Earning > $25K
71%

Earnings Trajectory

$59,492 6yr $69,248 8yr $74,502 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (1,800)
63%
100% (1,800)
63%
100% (1,800)
63%
100% (1,800)
63%

How Stony Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation77%Earnings 10yr$75KNet Price$19KRetention90%Median Debt$18KPell Grant Rate39%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$13K$0-30K$15K$30-48K$21K$48-75K$28K$110K+

College ROI Calculator

Is Stony Brook University Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Stony Brook University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $18,784/year ($75,136 total). Graduates earn $74,502 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,988,526 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,913,390 (26.5× your investment). The median debt is $18,228, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 77% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$75,136
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,988,526
Net Return
$1,913,390
ROI Multiple
26.5×
Cost Per Year
$18,784
Median Debt
$18,228
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
77%

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Stony Brook University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Stony Brook University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.79, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.79
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
0.00
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
7.8%
Support Ratio
0.98
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Research & Teaching

Data: Times Higher Education World University Rankings

How Research-Intensive Is Stony Brook University? World Rank, Teaching & Citations

Times Higher Education places Stony Brook University at #78 worldwide, a mark of serious research standing. Its profile spans a research score of 44/100, teaching at 49/100, and citation impact of 86/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.

World Rank
#78
Teaching
48.5
Research
43.6
Citations
85.8
International
52.2

Innovation & Knowledge Creation

Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education

Research Score
44/100
Times Higher Ed
Academic Influence
86/100
Citation impact (THE)

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Investment Income
$5,689,891

Top Programs

The fields Stony Brook University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Stony Brook University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a public institution in Stony Brook, New York, Stony Brook University reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 49%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,419. The graduation rate is roughly 77%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Stony Brook University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Stony Brook University is $32,741, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $18,784. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,943 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $18,228 in federal student loans.

Is Stony Brook University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Stony Brook University earn a median of $74,502, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.

How Connected Is Stony Brook University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Stony Brook University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.79, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

How Research-Intensive Is Stony Brook University? World Rank, Teaching & Citations

Times Higher Education places Stony Brook University at #78 worldwide, a mark of serious research standing. Its profile spans a research score of 44/100, teaching at 49/100, and citation impact of 86/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.

Compare Stony Brook University

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