AU vs. SUNY Stony Brook

Deciding between American University and Stony Brook University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

American University
Stony Brook University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • AU Washington, DC
  • SUNY Stony Brook Stony Brook, NY
  • Setting
  • AU Large City
  • SUNY Stony Brook Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • AU 12,321
  • SUNY Stony Brook 26,689
  • Type
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • SUNY Stony Brook Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AU #94
  • SUNY Stony Brook #141
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AU United Methodist
  • SUNY Stony Brook -
  • Status
  • AU Non-profit
  • SUNY Stony Brook Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AU
  • SUNY Stony Brook

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AU $58,771
  • SUNY Stony Brook $10,931
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AU $58,771
  • SUNY Stony Brook $32,741
  • Room & Board
  • AU $17,982
  • SUNY Stony Brook $18,196
  • Average Net Price
  • AU $39,676
  • SUNY Stony Brook $20,992
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AU $36,349
  • SUNY Stony Brook $9,285
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AU 67%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AU 17,173
  • SUNY Stony Brook 55,880
  • Admitted
  • AU 10,640
  • SUNY Stony Brook 27,406
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AU 62%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 49%
  • Enrolled
  • AU 15.6%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 14.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AU 1370
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1420
  • Typical ACT score
  • AU 30
  • SUNY Stony Brook 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • AU 3.7
  • SUNY Stony Brook 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AU A-
  • SUNY Stony Brook A
  • Admissions Standards
  • AU Very High
  • SUNY Stony Brook Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • AU Low
  • SUNY Stony Brook Low
  • ACT Range
  • AU 29/32
  • SUNY Stony Brook 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • AU 1280/1460
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1330/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AU Test optional
  • SUNY Stony Brook Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • AU Jan 15, 2027
  • SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • AU 10:1
  • SUNY Stony Brook 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • AU
    • Social Sciences (43%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • Psychology (3%)
  • SUNY Stony Brook
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Health Professions (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Business (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • AU 77%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 67%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • AU $64,800
  • SUNY Stony Brook $59,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • AU 80%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • AU $24,250
  • SUNY Stony Brook $19,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • AU $250
  • SUNY Stony Brook $196

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AU 37%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 47%
  • % Women
  • AU 63%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AU High
  • SUNY Stony Brook Very High
  • HBCU
  • AU No
  • SUNY Stony Brook No
  • % White
  • AU 58%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 36%
  • % Asian
  • AU 7%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 24%
  • % Black
  • AU 7%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • AU 12%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 11%
  • % Native American
  • AU 0%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AU 0%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AU 5%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 2%
  • % International
  • AU 7%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AU 4%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • AU 3%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • AU 94%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 9%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • AU Yes
  • SUNY Stony Brook Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • AU No
  • SUNY Stony Brook No
  • Meal Plan
  • AU Yes
  • SUNY Stony Brook Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • AU Yes
  • SUNY Stony Brook No
  • Daycare Facility
  • AU Yes
  • SUNY Stony Brook Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare American University in Washington, DC with Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Stony Brook University is larger than AU based on total student enrollment (26,689 students vs. 12,321 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • American University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); Stony Brook University is in Stony Brook, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • American University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Stony Brook University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: American University 10:1; Stony Brook University 19:1.

AU vs. SUNY Stony Brook Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or SUNY Stony Brook? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Stony Brook University than AU ($20,992 vs. $39,676).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American University are 1.2% lower than at Stony Brook University ($17,982 vs. $18,196).
  • American University is 437.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY Stony Brook (about $47,840 more per year; $58,771.00 vs. $10,931.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 79.5% higher at AU than at Stony Brook University (about $26,030 more per year; $58,771.00 vs. $32,741.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Stony Brook University than at American University (98% vs. 67%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 291.5% larger than aid received by Stony Brook University students ($36,349 vs. $9,285).

AU vs. SUNY Stony Brook Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or SUNY Stony Brook? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between SUNY Stony Brook and AU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Stony Brook University (1420) is 50 points higher than at AU (1370).
  • Incoming SUNY Stony Brook students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at AU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 1280/1460; Stony Brook University 1330/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 29/32; Stony Brook University 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AU - Test optional; SUNY Stony Brook - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: AU Jan 15, 2027; SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman SUNY Stony Brook students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at AU (3.7).
  • AU has a higher acceptance rate (62%) than SUNY Stony Brook (49%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.6% at AU vs. 14.7% at SUNY Stony Brook.

AU vs. SUNY Stony Brook Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AU and SUNY Stony Brook? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • American University's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than Stony Brook University's (67%).
  • Graduates from American University earn a median of about $5,500 more per year than SUNY Stony Brook graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,800 vs. $59,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Stony Brook University graduates have a $5,250 lower median loan debt than AU graduates ($19,000 vs. $24,250).
  • Among borrowers, SUNY Stony Brook graduates have an estimated $54 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AU graduates ($196 vs. $250).
  • More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SUNY Stony Brook students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 73%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.