Cornell vs Stony Brook - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
A place is harder to win where the bar sits higher: Cornell admits 8.4%, Stony Brook admits 49%.
Real money goes to international students at Cornell ($84,351 on average), while Stony Brook stops at $2,834.
The order of prices reverses once aid is counted: Cornell starts at $96,268 against $55,085 and ends at $32,043 against $39,824 (Stony Brook).
Ten years on, graduates of Cornell earn noticeably more: $104K against $75K.
These numbers describe the cohorts already enrolled, not your chances; treat them as a starting point rather than a forecast.
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
Cornell is the more selective of the two (8.41% vs 49.04% acceptance). Cornell ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#12 vs #301-400). Cornell graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($104K vs $75K). Stony Brook has lower sticker-price tuition ($32,741 vs $72,270 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 Cornell 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
Cornell is more selective (8.41% vs 49.04% acceptance); Cornell has a higher median SAT (1540 vs 1410).
Cornell graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($104K vs $75K); Cornell has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95.4% vs 75.6%).
Stony Brook has lower sticker-price tuition ($32,741 vs $72,270); Cornell offers a larger average aid package ($64,225 vs $15,261).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Cornell | Stony Brook |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #12 | #301-400 |
| Rank · THE | #20 | - |
| Acceptance rate | 8.41% | 49.04% |
| Yield rate | 63.9% | 14.7% |
| Median SAT | 1540 | 1410 |
| Avg. GPA | - | - |
| Number of applications | 65,612 | 55,880 |
| International students | 10.3% | 10.2% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $104K | $75K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $67K | $49K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $166K | $107K |
| Graduation rate | 95.4% | 75.6% |
| Retention rate | 98.1% | 89.7% |
| Median debt | $14,000 | $18,228 |
| Tuition · year | $72,270 | $32,741 |
| Avg. aid package | $64,225 | $15,261 |
| % of need met | 100% | 0.6% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $29,441 | $23,558 |
| Application fee | $80 | - |
| Enrollment | 26,793 | 26,689 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Cornell or Stony Brook?
It's harder to get into Cornell. Cornell accepts 8.41% of applicants, while Stony Brook accepts 49.04%.
Do Cornell or Stony Brook graduates earn more?
Cornell graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $104K vs $75K.
How much is tuition at Cornell vs Stony Brook?
Sticker-price tuition is $72,270 per year at Cornell and $32,741 per year at Stony Brook.
What SAT score do you need for Cornell or Stony Brook?
The median admitted SAT score is 1540 at Cornell and 1410 at Stony Brook; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Cornell or Stony Brook?
Cornell ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #12 for Cornell vs #301-400 for Stony Brook.
Which university offers more financial aid - Cornell or Stony Brook?
The average aid package is $64,225 at Cornell and $15,261 at Stony Brook.
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