Stony Brook vs Virginia - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The lower acceptance rate belongs to Virginia: 16.8% against 49% (Stony Brook).
The share of international students differs sharply: 10.2% (Stony Brook) against 4.9% (Virginia).
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), Virginia does not.
The cheaper tuition belongs to Stony Brook: $32,741 against $62,923, or $30,182 less a year.
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
Virginia is the more selective of the two (16.81% vs 49.04% acceptance). Virginia ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#301-400 vs #201-300). Virginia graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($87K vs $75K). Stony Brook has lower sticker-price tuition ($32,741 vs $62,923 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 Virginia 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
Virginia is more selective (16.81% vs 49.04% acceptance); Virginia has a higher median SAT (1470 vs 1410).
Virginia graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($87K vs $75K); Virginia has a higher 6-year graduation rate (95.6% vs 75.6%).
Stony Brook has lower sticker-price tuition ($32,741 vs $62,923); Virginia offers a larger average aid package ($37,123 vs $15,261).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Stony Brook | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #301-400 | #201-300 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 49.04% | 16.81% |
| Yield rate | 14.7% | 40% |
| Median SAT | 1410 | 1470 |
| Avg. GPA | - | - |
| Number of applications | 55,880 | 58,951 |
| International students | 10.2% | 4.9% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $75K | $87K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $49K | $59K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $107K | $130K |
| Graduation rate | 75.6% | 95.6% |
| Retention rate | 89.7% | 97.9% |
| Median debt | $18,228 | $17,500 |
| Tuition · year | $32,741 | $62,923 |
| Avg. aid package | $15,261 | $37,123 |
| % of need met | 0.6% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $23,558 | $25,137 |
| Application fee | - | $75 |
| Enrollment | 26,689 | 26,470 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Stony Brook or Virginia?
It's harder to get into Virginia. Stony Brook accepts 49.04% of applicants, while Virginia accepts 16.81%.
Do Stony Brook or Virginia graduates earn more?
Virginia graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $87K vs $75K.
How much is tuition at Stony Brook vs Virginia?
Sticker-price tuition is $32,741 per year at Stony Brook and $62,923 per year at Virginia.
What SAT score do you need for Stony Brook or Virginia?
The median admitted SAT score is 1410 at Stony Brook and 1470 at Virginia; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Stony Brook or Virginia?
Virginia ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #301-400 for Stony Brook vs #201-300 for Virginia.
Which university offers more financial aid - Stony Brook or Virginia?
The average aid package is $15,261 at Stony Brook and $37,123 at Virginia.
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