Central Florida vs Stony Brook - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The larger international cohort belongs to Stony Brook: 10.2% of students against 3.3% (Central Florida).
The tuition gap is $8,665 a year: $24,076 (Central Florida) against $32,741.
The higher median salary ten years after enrolment belongs to Stony Brook: $75K against $58K.
Candidates with higher SAT scores go to Stony Brook: a midpoint of 1410 against 1260, a difference of 150 points.
None of these figures decides on its own; what decides is which course you want to be on, and on what budget.
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
Central Florida is the more selective of the two (44.71% vs 49.04% acceptance). Stony Brook ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#401-500 vs #301-400). Stony Brook graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($75K vs $58K). Central Florida has lower sticker-price tuition ($24,076 vs $32,741 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 Central Florida for: higher selectivity, a higher graduation rate, higher retention.
Choose Stony Brook for: a higher world ranking, higher graduate earnings, a larger aid package.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Central Florida is more selective (44.71% vs 49.04% acceptance); Stony Brook has a higher median SAT (1410 vs 1260).
Stony Brook graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($75K vs $58K); Central Florida has a higher 6-year graduation rate (78% vs 75.6%).
Central Florida has lower sticker-price tuition ($24,076 vs $32,741); Stony Brook offers a larger average aid package ($15,261 vs $11,814).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Central Florida | Stony Brook |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #401-500 | #301-400 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 44.71% | 49.04% |
| Yield rate | 33.5% | 14.7% |
| Median SAT | 1260 | 1410 |
| Avg. GPA | 4.16 | - |
| Number of applications | 55,135 | 55,880 |
| International students | 3.3% | 10.2% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $58K | $75K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $39K | $49K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $86K | $107K |
| Graduation rate | 78% | 75.6% |
| Retention rate | 92.3% | 89.7% |
| Median debt | $18,190 | $18,228 |
| Tuition · year | $24,076 | $32,741 |
| Avg. aid package | $11,814 | $15,261 |
| % of need met | 65% | 0.6% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $20,529 | $23,558 |
| Application fee | $30 | - |
| Enrollment | 69,338 | 26,689 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Central Florida or Stony Brook?
It's harder to get into Central Florida. Central Florida accepts 44.71% of applicants, while Stony Brook accepts 49.04%.
Do Central Florida or Stony Brook graduates earn more?
Stony Brook graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $75K vs $58K.
How much is tuition at Central Florida vs Stony Brook?
Sticker-price tuition is $24,076 per year at Central Florida and $32,741 per year at Stony Brook.
What SAT score do you need for Central Florida or Stony Brook?
The median admitted SAT score is 1260 at Central Florida and 1410 at Stony Brook; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Central Florida or Stony Brook?
Stony Brook ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #401-500 for Central Florida vs #301-400 for Stony Brook.
Which university offers more financial aid - Central Florida or Stony Brook?
The average aid package is $11,814 at Central Florida and $15,261 at Stony Brook.
Harvard
Stanford
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Princeton
Yale
Cornell
Penn
Johns Hopkins
Washington University
Northwestern