Rhode Island vs Stony Brook - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
Stony Brook admits 49% of applicants, while Rhode Island admits 72.2%.
The share of international students differs sharply: 10.2% (Stony Brook) against 1.2% (Rhode Island).
For an applicant from outside the US the difference is financial: Rhode Island awards international students $26,565 on average, Stony Brook awards $2,834.
On both axes at once the winner is Stony Brook: lower tuition ($32,741 against $38,398) and a higher median salary ($75K against $70K, Rhode Island).
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
Stony Brook is the more selective of the two (49.04% vs 72.2% acceptance). Stony Brook ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#801-900 vs #301-400). Stony Brook graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($75K vs $70K). Stony Brook has lower sticker-price tuition ($32,741 vs $38,398 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 Rhode Island for: a larger aid package.
Choose Stony Brook for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Stony Brook is more selective (49.04% vs 72.2% acceptance); Stony Brook has a higher median SAT (1410 vs 1160).
Stony Brook graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($75K vs $70K); Stony Brook has a higher 6-year graduation rate (75.6% vs 73.3%).
Stony Brook has lower sticker-price tuition ($32,741 vs $38,398); Rhode Island offers a larger average aid package ($17,595 vs $15,261).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Rhode Island | Stony Brook |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #801-900 | #301-400 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 72.2% | 49.04% |
| Yield rate | 16.4% | 14.7% |
| Median SAT | 1160 | 1410 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.65 | - |
| Number of applications | 28,021 | 55,880 |
| International students | 1.2% | 10.2% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $70K | $75K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $44K | $49K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $102K | $107K |
| Graduation rate | 73.3% | 75.6% |
| Retention rate | 85% | 89.7% |
| Median debt | $22,250 | $18,228 |
| Tuition · year | $38,398 | $32,741 |
| Avg. aid package | $17,595 | $15,261 |
| % of need met | 57% | 0.6% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $42,945 | $23,558 |
| Application fee | $65 | - |
| Enrollment | 14,466 | 26,689 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Rhode Island or Stony Brook?
It's harder to get into Stony Brook. Rhode Island accepts 72.2% of applicants, while Stony Brook accepts 49.04%.
Do Rhode Island or Stony Brook graduates earn more?
Stony Brook graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $75K vs $70K.
How much is tuition at Rhode Island vs Stony Brook?
Sticker-price tuition is $38,398 per year at Rhode Island and $32,741 per year at Stony Brook.
What SAT score do you need for Rhode Island or Stony Brook?
The median admitted SAT score is 1160 at Rhode Island and 1410 at Stony Brook; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Rhode Island or Stony Brook?
Stony Brook ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #801-900 for Rhode Island vs #301-400 for Stony Brook.
Which university offers more financial aid - Rhode Island or Stony Brook?
The average aid package is $17,595 at Rhode Island and $15,261 at Stony Brook.
Harvard
Stanford
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Princeton
Yale
Cornell
Penn
Johns Hopkins
Washington University
Northwestern