Stony Brook vs Washington University - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
Washington University admits 12.1% of applicants, while Stony Brook admits 49%.
Average aid for an international student is $68,438 (Washington University) and $2,834 (Stony Brook).
The order of prices reverses once aid is counted: Washington University starts at $94,289 against $55,085 and ends at $18,685 against $39,824 (Stony Brook).
The gap in median earnings after a decade favours Washington University: $86K 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
Washington University is the more selective of the two (12.1% vs 49.04% acceptance). Washington University ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#301-400 vs #23). Washington University graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($86K vs $75K). Stony Brook has lower sticker-price tuition ($32,741 vs $69,594 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 Washington University 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
Washington University is more selective (12.1% vs 49.04% acceptance); Washington University has a higher median SAT (1540 vs 1410).
Washington University graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($86K vs $75K); Washington University has a higher 6-year graduation rate (94.3% vs 75.6%).
Stony Brook has lower sticker-price tuition ($32,741 vs $69,594); Washington University offers a larger average aid package ($75,604 vs $15,261).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Stony Brook | Washington University |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #301-400 | #23 |
| Rank · THE | - | #69 |
| Acceptance rate | 49.04% | 12.1% |
| Yield rate | 14.7% | 46.7% |
| Median SAT | 1410 | 1540 |
| Avg. GPA | - | 4.19 |
| Number of applications | 55,880 | 32,754 |
| International students | 10.2% | 9.4% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $75K | $86K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $49K | $61K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $107K | $137K |
| Graduation rate | 75.6% | 94.3% |
| Retention rate | 89.7% | 95% |
| Median debt | $18,228 | $17,500 |
| Tuition · year | $32,741 | $69,594 |
| Avg. aid package | $15,261 | $75,604 |
| % of need met | 0.6% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $23,558 | $26,666 |
| Application fee | - | $75 |
| Enrollment | 26,689 | 16,357 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Stony Brook or Washington University?
It's harder to get into Washington University. Stony Brook accepts 49.04% of applicants, while Washington University accepts 12.1%.
Do Stony Brook or Washington University graduates earn more?
Washington University graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $86K vs $75K.
How much is tuition at Stony Brook vs Washington University?
Sticker-price tuition is $32,741 per year at Stony Brook and $69,594 per year at Washington University.
What SAT score do you need for Stony Brook or Washington University?
The median admitted SAT score is 1410 at Stony Brook and 1540 at Washington University; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Stony Brook or Washington University?
Washington University ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #301-400 for Stony Brook vs #23 for Washington University.
Which university offers more financial aid - Stony Brook or Washington University?
The average aid package is $15,261 at Stony Brook and $75,604 at Washington University.
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