Stony Brook vs Northeastern - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
Northeastern admits 5.2% of applicants, while Stony Brook admits 49%.
For an applicant from outside the US the difference is financial: Northeastern awards international students $24,539 on average, Stony Brook awards $2,834.
The cheaper tuition belongs to Stony Brook: $32,741 against $69,289, or $36,548 less a year.
The higher median salary ten years after enrolment belongs to Northeastern: $93K against $75K.
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
Northeastern is the more selective of the two (5.2% vs 49.04% acceptance). Northeastern ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#301-400 vs #201-300). Northeastern graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($93K vs $75K). Stony Brook has lower sticker-price tuition ($32,741 vs $69,289 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, lower graduate debt.
Choose Northeastern 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
Northeastern is more selective (5.2% vs 49.04% acceptance); Northeastern has a higher median SAT (1490 vs 1410).
Northeastern graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($93K vs $75K); Northeastern has a higher 6-year graduation rate (90.5% vs 75.6%).
Stony Brook has lower sticker-price tuition ($32,741 vs $69,289); Northeastern offers a larger average aid package ($46,555 vs $15,261).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Stony Brook | Northeastern |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #301-400 | #201-300 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 49.04% | 5.2% |
| Yield rate | 14.7% | 53.8% |
| Median SAT | 1410 | 1490 |
| Avg. GPA | - | - |
| Number of applications | 55,880 | 98,425 |
| International students | 10.2% | 13.1% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $75K | $93K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $49K | $62K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $107K | $135K |
| Graduation rate | 75.6% | 90.5% |
| Retention rate | 89.7% | 96.9% |
| Median debt | $18,228 | $24,250 |
| Tuition · year | $32,741 | $69,289 |
| Avg. aid package | $15,261 | $46,555 |
| % of need met | 0.6% | 86.7% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $23,558 | $32,461 |
| Application fee | - | $75 |
| Enrollment | 26,689 | 39,774 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Stony Brook or Northeastern?
It's harder to get into Northeastern. Stony Brook accepts 49.04% of applicants, while Northeastern accepts 5.2%.
Do Stony Brook or Northeastern graduates earn more?
Northeastern graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $93K vs $75K.
How much is tuition at Stony Brook vs Northeastern?
Sticker-price tuition is $32,741 per year at Stony Brook and $69,289 per year at Northeastern.
What SAT score do you need for Stony Brook or Northeastern?
The median admitted SAT score is 1410 at Stony Brook and 1490 at Northeastern; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Stony Brook or Northeastern?
Northeastern ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #301-400 for Stony Brook vs #201-300 for Northeastern.
Which university offers more financial aid - Stony Brook or Northeastern?
The average aid package is $15,261 at Stony Brook and $46,555 at Northeastern.
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