Penn vs Stony Brook - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
Penn admits 5.4% of applicants, while Stony Brook admits 49%.
Average aid for an international student is $75,356 (Penn) and $2,834 (Stony Brook).
The order of prices reverses once aid is counted: Penn starts at $92,524 against $55,085 and ends at $21,553 against $39,824 (Stony Brook).
Ten years on, graduates of Penn earn noticeably more: $111K 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
Penn is the more selective of the two (5.4% vs 49.04% acceptance). Penn ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#14 vs #301-400). Penn graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($111K vs $75K). Stony Brook has lower sticker-price tuition ($32,741 vs $71,236 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 Penn 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
Penn is more selective (5.4% vs 49.04% acceptance); Penn has a higher median SAT (1553 vs 1410).
Penn graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($111K vs $75K); Penn has a higher 6-year graduation rate (96.5% vs 75.6%).
Stony Brook has lower sticker-price tuition ($32,741 vs $71,236); Penn offers a larger average aid package ($70,971 vs $15,261).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Penn | Stony Brook |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #14 | #301-400 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 5.4% | 49.04% |
| Yield rate | 68% | 14.7% |
| Median SAT | 1553 | 1410 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.90 | - |
| Number of applications | 65,236 | 55,880 |
| International students | 13.3% | 10.2% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $111K | $75K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $70K | $49K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $183K | $107K |
| Graduation rate | 96.5% | 75.6% |
| Retention rate | 98.8% | 89.7% |
| Median debt | $15,715 | $18,228 |
| Tuition · year | $71,236 | $32,741 |
| Avg. aid package | $70,971 | $15,261 |
| % of need met | 100% | 0.6% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $32,558 | $23,558 |
| Application fee | $75 | - |
| Enrollment | 24,023 | 26,689 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Penn or Stony Brook?
It's harder to get into Penn. Penn accepts 5.4% of applicants, while Stony Brook accepts 49.04%.
Do Penn or Stony Brook graduates earn more?
Penn graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $111K vs $75K.
How much is tuition at Penn vs Stony Brook?
Sticker-price tuition is $71,236 per year at Penn and $32,741 per year at Stony Brook.
What SAT score do you need for Penn or Stony Brook?
The median admitted SAT score is 1553 at Penn and 1410 at Stony Brook; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Penn or Stony Brook?
Penn ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #14 for Penn vs #301-400 for Stony Brook.
Which university offers more financial aid - Penn or Stony Brook?
The average aid package is $70,971 at Penn and $15,261 at Stony Brook.
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