Stony Brook vs North Carolina - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
North Carolina admits 15.3% of applicants, while Stony Brook admits 49%.
If you are applying from outside the US, budget without institutional support where there is none: only Stony Brook reports aid for international students ($2,834 on average), North Carolina does not.
The cheaper tuition belongs to Stony Brook: $32,741 against $45,228, or $12,487 less a year.
The higher mid-range SAT belongs to North Carolina: 1470 against 1410, a gap of 60 points.
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
North Carolina is the more selective of the two (15.34% vs 49.04% acceptance). North Carolina ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#301-400 vs #35). Stony Brook graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($75K vs $72K). Stony Brook has lower sticker-price tuition ($32,741 vs $45,228 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: higher graduate earnings, lower tuition.
Choose North Carolina for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, a higher graduation rate.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
North Carolina is more selective (15.34% vs 49.04% acceptance); North Carolina has a higher median SAT (1470 vs 1410).
Stony Brook graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($75K vs $72K); North Carolina has a higher 6-year graduation rate (91.2% vs 75.6%).
Stony Brook has lower sticker-price tuition ($32,741 vs $45,228); North Carolina offers a larger average aid package ($20,705 vs $15,261).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Stony Brook | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #301-400 | #35 |
| Rank · THE | - | #70 |
| Acceptance rate | 49.04% | 15.34% |
| Yield rate | 14.7% | 45.5% |
| Median SAT | 1410 | 1470 |
| Avg. GPA | - | 4.49 |
| Number of applications | 55,880 | 66,535 |
| International students | 10.2% | 6.4% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $75K | $72K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $49K | $48K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $107K | $112K |
| Graduation rate | 75.6% | 91.2% |
| Retention rate | 89.7% | 96.6% |
| Median debt | $18,228 | $14,000 |
| Tuition · year | $32,741 | $45,228 |
| Avg. aid package | $15,261 | $20,705 |
| % of need met | 0.6% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $23,558 | $20,382 |
| Application fee | - | $85 |
| Enrollment | 26,689 | 32,680 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Stony Brook or North Carolina?
It's harder to get into North Carolina. Stony Brook accepts 49.04% of applicants, while North Carolina accepts 15.34%.
Do Stony Brook or North Carolina graduates earn more?
Stony Brook graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $75K vs $72K.
How much is tuition at Stony Brook vs North Carolina?
Sticker-price tuition is $32,741 per year at Stony Brook and $45,228 per year at North Carolina.
What SAT score do you need for Stony Brook or North Carolina?
The median admitted SAT score is 1410 at Stony Brook and 1470 at North Carolina; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Stony Brook or North Carolina?
North Carolina ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #301-400 for Stony Brook vs #35 for North Carolina.
Which university offers more financial aid - Stony Brook or North Carolina?
The average aid package is $15,261 at Stony Brook and $20,705 at North Carolina.
Harvard
Stanford
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Princeton
Yale
Cornell
Penn
Johns Hopkins
Washington University
Northwestern