Stony Brook vs Rhode Island - 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 (#301-400 vs #801-900). 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 Stony Brook for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
Choose Rhode Island for: a larger aid package.
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 | Stony Brook | Rhode Island |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #301-400 | #801-900 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 49.04% | 72.2% |
| Yield rate | 14.7% | 16.4% |
| Median SAT | 1410 | 1160 |
| Avg. GPA | - | 3.65 |
| Number of applications | 55,880 | 28,021 |
| International students | 10.2% | 1.2% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $75K | $70K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $49K | $44K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $107K | $102K |
| Graduation rate | 75.6% | 73.3% |
| Retention rate | 89.7% | 85% |
| Median debt | $18,228 | $22,250 |
| Tuition · year | $32,741 | $38,398 |
| Avg. aid package | $15,261 | $17,595 |
| % of need met | 0.6% | 57% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $23,558 | $42,945 |
| Application fee | - | $65 |
| Enrollment | 26,689 | 14,466 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Stony Brook or Rhode Island?
It's harder to get into Stony Brook. Stony Brook accepts 49.04% of applicants, while Rhode Island accepts 72.2%.
Do Stony Brook or Rhode Island graduates earn more?
Stony Brook graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $75K vs $70K.
How much is tuition at Stony Brook vs Rhode Island?
Sticker-price tuition is $32,741 per year at Stony Brook and $38,398 per year at Rhode Island.
What SAT score do you need for Stony Brook or Rhode Island?
The median admitted SAT score is 1410 at Stony Brook and 1160 at Rhode Island; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Stony Brook or Rhode Island?
Stony Brook ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #301-400 for Stony Brook vs #801-900 for Rhode Island.
Which university offers more financial aid - Stony Brook or Rhode Island?
The average aid package is $15,261 at Stony Brook and $17,595 at Rhode Island.
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