Connecticut vs Stony Brook - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
Average aid for an international student is $17,282 (Connecticut) and $2,834 (Stony Brook).
On paper the cheaper option is Stony Brook: $32,741 against $44,004, which is $11,263 less a year.
70 points separate the SAT profiles: 1410 (Stony Brook) against 1340.
With housing and meals included, the full cost of a year is $55,085 (Stony Brook) against $64,100.
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
Stony Brook is the more selective of the two (49.04% vs 52.39% acceptance). Median earnings 10 years after enrollment are effectively tied ($74K vs $75K). Stony Brook has lower sticker-price tuition ($32,741 vs $44,004 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 Connecticut for: a higher graduation rate, higher retention, a larger aid package.
Choose Stony Brook for: higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings, lower tuition.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Stony Brook is more selective (49.04% vs 52.39% acceptance); Stony Brook has a higher median SAT (1410 vs 1340).
Stony Brook graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($75K vs $74K); Connecticut has a higher 6-year graduation rate (83.3% vs 75.6%).
Stony Brook has lower sticker-price tuition ($32,741 vs $44,004); Connecticut offers a larger average aid package ($21,535 vs $15,261).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Connecticut | Stony Brook |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #301-400 | #301-400 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 52.39% | 49.04% |
| Yield rate | 15.4% | 14.7% |
| Median SAT | 1340 | 1410 |
| Avg. GPA | - | - |
| Number of applications | 55,479 | 55,880 |
| International students | 7.4% | 10.2% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $74K | $75K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $50K | $49K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $109K | $107K |
| Graduation rate | 83.3% | 75.6% |
| Retention rate | 92% | 89.7% |
| Median debt | $21,500 | $18,228 |
| Tuition · year | $44,004 | $32,741 |
| Avg. aid package | $21,535 | $15,261 |
| % of need met | 61.6% | 0.6% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $28,506 | $23,558 |
| Application fee | $80 | - |
| Enrollment | 28,306 | 26,689 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Connecticut or Stony Brook?
It's harder to get into Stony Brook. Connecticut accepts 52.39% of applicants, while Stony Brook accepts 49.04%.
Do Connecticut or Stony Brook graduates earn more?
Earnings are practically equal - 10 years after enrollment, the median is $74K at Connecticut and $75K at Stony Brook.
How much is tuition at Connecticut vs Stony Brook?
Sticker-price tuition is $44,004 per year at Connecticut and $32,741 per year at Stony Brook.
What SAT score do you need for Connecticut or Stony Brook?
The median admitted SAT score is 1340 at Connecticut and 1410 at Stony Brook; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university offers more financial aid - Connecticut or Stony Brook?
The average aid package is $21,535 at Connecticut and $15,261 at Stony Brook.
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