National university
#20 Best colleges for social work in AmericaStony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY · Public · 4-year
Your real cost
Average price after aid $18,784 a year
Median debt at graduation: $18,228 (all students)
Estimate your own price · the college’s net price calculator
Rankings
Where this college places on our top lists. Lists are worked out from official data and our own research; places in the top quarter of each list are shown. See every list
In America
- Best colleges for social work in America#20 of 605
- Best colleges for nursing in America#44 of 1,068
- Best value colleges in the Northeast in America#14 of 239
- Best colleges for business in America#93 of 1,563
- Best colleges for communications and journalism in America#78 of 1,238
- Best colleges for education in America#85 of 1,318
Show 27 more
- Best value colleges in America#53 of 674
- Best colleges in America#153 of 1,829
- Best colleges for psychology in America#124 of 1,418
- Best test-optional colleges in America#134 of 1,481
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in America#127 of 1,358
- Best colleges for English in America#124 of 1,283
- Best colleges for history in America#127 of 1,247
- Best colleges for art and design in America#123 of 1,187
- Best colleges for mathematics in America#129 of 1,215
- Best colleges for chemistry in America#128 of 1,162
- Best colleges for political science and pre-law in America#127 of 1,116
- Best colleges for computer science in America#86 of 750
- Best colleges for music in America#123 of 1,063
- Colleges with the best earnings for the price in America#79 of 681
- Best colleges for engineering in America#98 of 749
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in America#259 of 1,829
- Colleges that pay for themselves fastest in America#90 of 598
- Best large colleges in America#39 of 256
- Best colleges in the New York area#16 of 103
- Best colleges for economics in America#125 of 788
- Colleges with the lowest student debt in America#115 of 684
- Colleges where Pell Grant students thrive in America#27 of 154
- Colleges that spend the most on teaching in America#131 of 704
- Best colleges for NCAA Division I athletes in America#72 of 367
- Most affordable colleges with strong academics in America#157 of 690
- Best colleges under $20,000 a year in America#46 of 197
- Most selective colleges in America#171 of 683
In New York
- Best colleges for communications and journalism in New York#6 of 82
- Best value colleges in New York#6 of 75
- Best value colleges in the Northeast in New York#6 of 75
- Best colleges for nursing in New York#5 of 58
- Best colleges for business in New York#11 of 109
- Colleges with the best earnings for the price in New York#9 of 77
Show 23 more
- Best colleges for education in New York#10 of 78
- Best test-optional colleges in New York#17 of 125
- Best colleges for social work in New York#4 of 29
- Best colleges in New York#20 of 135
- Best colleges for psychology in New York#15 of 96
- Best colleges for English in New York#13 of 81
- Best colleges for art and design in New York#14 of 85
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in New York#15 of 88
- Best colleges for history in New York#14 of 82
- Colleges where Pell Grant students thrive in New York#4 of 23
- Best colleges for computer science in New York#8 of 46
- Most affordable colleges with strong academics in New York#14 of 79
- Colleges that pay for themselves fastest in New York#12 of 67
- Best colleges for political science and pre-law in New York#14 of 77
- Best colleges for mathematics in New York#15 of 81
- Best colleges for chemistry in New York#15 of 76
- Best colleges under $20,000 a year in New York#4 of 20
- Colleges with the lowest student debt in New York#15 of 75
- Best colleges for economics in New York#15 of 73
- Best large colleges in New York#4 of 19
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in New York#31 of 135
- Colleges that spend the most on teaching in New York#19 of 80
- Best colleges for music in New York#15 of 59
Academic Excellence
Each measure counts for the share shown.
- Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.76%
- First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.90%
- Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,419 · ACT 31
- Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.19 to 1
- Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$22,608
Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.
Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))
What families pay, by income
Average yearly price after grants and scholarships, for students who receive federal aid.
| Family income | Price after aid |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | |
| $30,001–$48,000 | |
| $48,001–$75,000 | |
| $75,001–$110,000 | |
| Over $110,000 |
Full cost of attendance before aid: $30,539 a year.
Use the college’s net price calculator for your own estimate.
Cost and value
Federal data: what families pay after aid, what graduates earn, and what they owe.
| Undergraduate students Fall enrollment (IPEDS) | 17,549 |
|---|---|
| Men and women College Scorecard, fall 2023 | Men 49% · Women 51% |
| First-generation students College Scorecard | 36% |
| First-year students from another state IPEDS, fall 2023 | 10% |
| Total students | 25,865 |
| Average net price (per year) After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid | $18,784 |
| Cost of attendance (per year) | $30,539 |
| Median federal debt at graduation | $18,228 |
| Graduation rate First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time | 76% |
| Graduation rate for Pell grant recipients College Scorecard, within 6 years | 74% |
| Graduation rate for first-generation students College Scorecard, within 6 years | 73% |
| Borrowers paying down their loans within 3 years College Scorecard, within 3 years | 72% |
| First-year retention | 90% |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $74,502 |
| Admission rate | 49% |
| Application fee IPEDS, 2023–24 | $50 |
| Early action deadline College website, 2026-27 | November 1 |
| Regular decision deadline College website, 2026-27 | January 15 |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 39% |
| Average SAT | 1419 |
|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 650–730 |
| SAT math | 680–770 |
| ACT composite | 29–33 |
| Test policy | Considered but not required |
Value: Exceptional · Top 6% (how it’s computed)
Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.
Earnings by major
Median earnings of bachelor’s graduates a few years after finishing, by major (College Scorecard).
| Major | Median earnings |
|---|---|
| Computing and information science | |
| Computer engineering | |
| Nursing | |
| Clinical laboratory science | |
| Allied health | |
| Electrical engineering | |
| Civil engineering | |
| Mechanical engineering | |
| Information science | |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | |
| Chemical Engineering | |
| Engineering (general) | |
| Human Computer Interaction | |
| Applied mathematics | |
| Health sciences | |
| Economics | |
| Business administration | |
| Chemistry | |
| Political science | |
| Journalism | |
| Physics | |
| Linguistics | |
| Mathematics | |
| Biology | |
| Interdisciplinary studies | |
| Biochemistry | |
| Social work | |
| Sociology | |
| Anthropology | |
| Psychology | |
| English | |
| Ecology and evolutionary biology | |
| History | |
| Natural resources and conservation | |
| Romance languages | |
| Fine arts |
Also offered (no earnings published yet): Area studies, Astronomy and Astrophysics, Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, Biological and physical sciences, Communication studies, Computer science, Engineering Science, Environmental Design, Ethnic and gender studies, Geology and earth science, German, Global studies, Marine Sciences, Music, Other health professions and related clinical sciences, Other physical sciences, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Philosophy, Secondary education, Sustainability Studies, Teaching English as a second language, Theatre, Visual and performing arts, Writing and rhetoric.
What students study most
Share of bachelor’s degrees by field, first majors in 2023–24 (IPEDS).
| Field | Share of degrees |
|---|---|
| Health professions | |
| Biology | |
| Psychology | |
| Business | |
| Computer and information sciences |
Campus life
| School colors | |
|---|---|
| Setting | Suburb |
| Part-time undergraduates | 5% |
| Undergraduates aged 25 and older | 6% |
| On-campus room and board (per year) | $18,196 |
| Sports | NCAA Division I · Colonial Athletic Association |
| ROTC | Army · Navy · Air Force |
| Study abroad | Offered |
| Students per faculty member | 19 to 1 |
| Undergraduates registered with the disability office | About 7%IPEDS, 2023–24 |
| Disability services | Visit the office’s pageThe college’s own page |
| Faculty who are full-time | 62%College Scorecard, fall 2023 |
| Endowment per student | $16,633IPEDS, 2023, per student |
| Dorm space | For about 60% of studentsBeds per undergraduate; not who lives on campus |
| Nearest airport with airline service | Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP)About 8 miles away · about 20 minutes by car |
| Nearest major airport | John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)About 39 miles away |
| Town population | 12,868Census, 2020–2024 |
| Nearest city of 250,000 people or more | New YorkAbout 46 miles away · about 1 hour 25 minutes by car |
| Typical weather | 33°F in January · 74°F in JulyNOAA, 1991–2020, from Setauket Strong, NY, about 3 miles away |
Federal data (IPEDS and College Scorecard), except school colors.
Campus safety reports
On-campus crimes reported in 2024, per 1,000 students.
| Category | This campus | U.S. rate |
|---|---|---|
| Rape | 0.19 | 0.07 |
| Robbery | 0.04 | 0.01 |
| Aggravated assault | 0.30 | 0.04 |
| Burglary | 0.34 | 0.08 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 0.11 | 0.15 |
Numbers reflect what each campus reported. They differ with campus size and how reporting is done, so compare with care. U.S. rate: total reported offenses divided by total students at every institution in the report.
Questions families ask
- What is Stony Brook University’s Compass Score?
- Exceptional (grade A). It ranks in the top 9% of rated colleges. The grade comes from outcomes (40%: graduation, retention and earnings), entering students (40%: test scores and selectivity), cost (15%: debt and price after aid) and teaching (5%: class size), all from federal data.
- How much does Stony Brook University cost after financial aid?
- The average net price is $18,784 a year for students who receive federal aid, after grants and scholarships. What your family pays depends on income; the college’s net price calculator gives your own estimate.
- How hard is it to get into Stony Brook University?
- Stony Brook University admitted 49% of applicants in the most recent federal data.
- How do Stony Brook University’s graduates do?
- 76% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years; the median earnings of former students ten years after entry are $74,502; the median federal debt at graduation is $18,228.
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About this school’s data
- IPEDS unit ID 196097
- Carnegie classification: Doctoral university (very high research)
- Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
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