Stony Brook vs Harvard - 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: Harvard admits 3.6%, Stony Brook admits 49%.
The share of international students differs sharply: 15.7% (Harvard) against 10.2% (Stony Brook).
Average aid for an international student is $81,046 (Harvard) and $2,834 (Stony Brook).
The one that looks dearer ends up cheaper: Harvard lists $87,926 against $55,085 (Stony Brook), but after average aid what remains is $13,539 against $39,824.
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
Harvard is the more selective of the two (3.65% vs 49.04% acceptance). Harvard ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#301-400 vs #1). Harvard graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($102K vs $75K). Stony Brook has lower sticker-price tuition ($32,741 vs $64,796 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 Stony Brook for: lower tuition.
Choose Harvard 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
Harvard is more selective (3.65% vs 49.04% acceptance); Harvard has a higher median SAT (1553 vs 1410).
Harvard graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($102K vs $75K); Harvard has a higher 6-year graduation rate (97.6% vs 75.6%).
Stony Brook has lower sticker-price tuition ($32,741 vs $64,796); Harvard offers a larger average aid package ($74,387 vs $15,261).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Stony Brook | Harvard |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #301-400 | #1 |
| Rank · THE | - | #3 |
| Acceptance rate | 49.04% | 3.65% |
| Yield rate | 14.7% | 83.6% |
| Median SAT | 1410 | 1553 |
| Avg. GPA | - | 4.21 |
| Number of applications | 55,880 | 54,008 |
| International students | 10.2% | 15.7% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $75K | $102K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $49K | $65K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $107K | $200K |
| Graduation rate | 75.6% | 97.6% |
| Retention rate | 89.7% | 98% |
| Median debt | $18,228 | $14,000 |
| Tuition · year | $32,741 | $64,796 |
| Avg. aid package | $15,261 | $74,387 |
| % of need met | 0.6% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $23,558 | $22,262 |
| Application fee | - | $85 |
| Enrollment | 26,689 | 21,189 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Stony Brook or Harvard?
It's harder to get into Harvard. Stony Brook accepts 49.04% of applicants, while Harvard accepts 3.65%.
Do Stony Brook or Harvard graduates earn more?
Harvard graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $102K vs $75K.
How much is tuition at Stony Brook vs Harvard?
Sticker-price tuition is $32,741 per year at Stony Brook and $64,796 per year at Harvard.
What SAT score do you need for Stony Brook or Harvard?
The median admitted SAT score is 1410 at Stony Brook and 1553 at Harvard; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Stony Brook or Harvard?
Harvard ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #301-400 for Stony Brook vs #1 for Harvard.
Which university offers more financial aid - Stony Brook or Harvard?
The average aid package is $15,261 at Stony Brook and $74,387 at Harvard.
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