Stony Brook University
PublicStony Brook, NY
Stony Brook University was founded in 1957 as a college to prepare secondary-school teachers of mathematics and science, initially operating on a former Oyster Bay estate before relocating in 1962 to its current site on land donated by philanthropist Ward Melville. Under President John S. Toll in the 1960s and 1970s, the university expanded rapidly, adding schools of medicine, dentistry, nursing, and social work and recruiting scholars including Nobel laureate C.N. Yang. It is part of the State University of New York system.
Admissions
Cost & outcomes
From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field.
Where do you stand against Stony Brook University's numbers?
Check your chances hereHow Stony Brook University weighs your application
From Stony Brook University's own Common Data Set, 2024-25, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?
See full profile -- financial aid, campus life, and what Stony Brook University weighs in your application
Paying it back
"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.
Majors & earnings
Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.
Campus life
Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.
What matters in your application
From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.
Frequently asked questions
What does Stony Brook University look for in applicants?
Per Stony Brook University's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, standardized test scores, application essay as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.
What is Stony Brook University's acceptance rate?
Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, NY admits approximately 49% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.
What SAT score do I need for Stony Brook University?
Admitted students at Stony Brook University typically score between 1330–1500 on the SAT (25th–75th percentile).
What ACT score do I need for Stony Brook University?
Admitted students at Stony Brook University typically score between 29–33 on the ACT (25th–75th percentile).
How much does Stony Brook University cost?
Stony Brook University's total cost of attendance is reported at $30,539 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.
When is the application deadline for Stony Brook University?
Stony Brook University's earliest deadline is Nov 1, 2026 (EA), per its own published admissions calendar.
Does Stony Brook University require students to live on campus?
No -- Stony Brook University doesn't require students to live in on-campus housing.
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