Carnegie Mellon vs Stony Brook - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The lower acceptance rate belongs to Carnegie Mellon: 11.7% against 49% (Stony Brook).
The larger international cohort belongs to Carnegie Mellon: 23.3% of students against 10.2% (Stony Brook).
Carnegie Mellon reports no financial aid for international students, while Stony Brook awards them $2,834 on average. For an applicant from outside the US that is usually the most important difference on this page.
The one that looks dearer ends up cheaper: Carnegie Mellon lists $88,670 against $55,085 (Stony Brook), but after average aid what remains is $27,761 against $39,824.
The indicators describe a university as a whole, and your own course can sit a long way from that average.
Every sentence above comes from a field we hold in canonical. Where the data is missing, or the gap is small enough to be noise, the sentence simply does not appear.
EXPERT TAKE
Carnegie Mellon is the more selective of the two (11.66% vs 49.04% acceptance). Carnegie Mellon ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#101-150 vs #301-400). Carnegie Mellon graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($115K vs $75K). Stony Brook has lower sticker-price tuition ($32,741 vs $68,776 per year).
Both universities have complete, comparable data in canonical - the choice should come down to fit (campus culture, major, aid package) alongside the differences visible in the numbers below.
Choose Carnegie Mellon for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
Choose Stony Brook for: lower tuition, lower graduate debt.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Carnegie Mellon is more selective (11.66% vs 49.04% acceptance); Carnegie Mellon has a higher median SAT (1540 vs 1410).
Carnegie Mellon graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($115K vs $75K); Carnegie Mellon has a higher 6-year graduation rate (94.1% vs 75.6%).
Stony Brook has lower sticker-price tuition ($32,741 vs $68,776); Carnegie Mellon offers a larger average aid package ($60,909 vs $15,261).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Carnegie Mellon | Stony Brook |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #101-150 | #301-400 |
| Rank · THE | #24 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 11.66% | 49.04% |
| Yield rate | 45.7% | 14.7% |
| Median SAT | 1540 | 1410 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.89 | - |
| Number of applications | 33,941 | 55,880 |
| International students | 23.3% | 10.2% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $115K | $75K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $73K | $49K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $183K | $107K |
| Graduation rate | 94.1% | 75.6% |
| Retention rate | 98% | 89.7% |
| Median debt | $21,750 | $18,228 |
| Tuition · year | $68,776 | $32,741 |
| Avg. aid package | $60,909 | $15,261 |
| % of need met | 100% | 0.6% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $31,298 | $23,558 |
| Application fee | $75 | - |
| Enrollment | 16,676 | 26,689 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Carnegie Mellon or Stony Brook?
It's harder to get into Carnegie Mellon. Carnegie Mellon accepts 11.66% of applicants, while Stony Brook accepts 49.04%.
Do Carnegie Mellon or Stony Brook graduates earn more?
Carnegie Mellon graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $115K vs $75K.
How much is tuition at Carnegie Mellon vs Stony Brook?
Sticker-price tuition is $68,776 per year at Carnegie Mellon and $32,741 per year at Stony Brook.
What SAT score do you need for Carnegie Mellon or Stony Brook?
The median admitted SAT score is 1540 at Carnegie Mellon and 1410 at Stony Brook; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Carnegie Mellon or Stony Brook?
Carnegie Mellon ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #101-150 for Carnegie Mellon vs #301-400 for Stony Brook.
Which university offers more financial aid - Carnegie Mellon or Stony Brook?
The average aid package is $60,909 at Carnegie Mellon and $15,261 at Stony Brook.
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