Amherst vs. SUNY Stony Brook

Deciding between Amherst College 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.

Amherst College
Stony Brook University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Amherst Amherst, MA
  • SUNY Stony Brook Stony Brook, NY
  • Setting
  • Amherst Town Fringe
  • SUNY Stony Brook Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Amherst 1,914
  • SUNY Stony Brook 26,689
  • Type
  • Amherst Private 4 Year
  • SUNY Stony Brook Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Amherst #13
  • SUNY Stony Brook #141
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Amherst -
  • SUNY Stony Brook -
  • Status
  • Amherst Non-profit
  • SUNY Stony Brook Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Amherst
  • SUNY Stony Brook

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • SUNY Stony Brook $10,931
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • SUNY Stony Brook $32,741
  • Room & Board
  • Amherst $18,390
  • SUNY Stony Brook $18,196
  • Average Net Price
  • Amherst $19,049
  • SUNY Stony Brook $20,992
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Amherst $68,591
  • SUNY Stony Brook $9,285
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Amherst 59%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Amherst 13,743
  • SUNY Stony Brook 55,880
  • Admitted
  • Amherst 1,238
  • SUNY Stony Brook 27,406
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Amherst 9%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 49%
  • Enrolled
  • Amherst 38.8%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 14.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Amherst 1540
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1420
  • Typical ACT score
  • Amherst 34
  • SUNY Stony Brook 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Amherst 3.91
  • SUNY Stony Brook 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Amherst A
  • SUNY Stony Brook A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Amherst Elite
  • SUNY Stony Brook Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Amherst Extreme
  • SUNY Stony Brook Low
  • ACT Range
  • Amherst 33/35
  • SUNY Stony Brook 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • Amherst 1490/1580
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1330/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Amherst Test optional
  • SUNY Stony Brook Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Amherst Jan 2, 2027
  • SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Amherst 6:1
  • SUNY Stony Brook 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Amherst
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • SUNY Stony Brook
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Health Professions (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Business (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Amherst 96%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 67%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Amherst $82,000
  • SUNY Stony Brook $59,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Amherst 83%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Amherst $12,975
  • SUNY Stony Brook $19,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Amherst $134
  • SUNY Stony Brook $196

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Amherst 45%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 47%
  • % Women
  • Amherst 55%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Amherst Very High
  • SUNY Stony Brook Very High
  • HBCU
  • Amherst No
  • SUNY Stony Brook No
  • % White
  • Amherst 42%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 36%
  • % Asian
  • Amherst 14%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 24%
  • % Black
  • Amherst 12%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Amherst 13%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 11%
  • % Native American
  • Amherst 0%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Amherst 0%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Amherst 5%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 2%
  • % International
  • Amherst 10%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Amherst 4%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Amherst 13%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Amherst 70%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 9%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Amherst College in Amherst, MA 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 Amherst based on total student enrollment (26,689 students vs. 1,914 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Amherst College is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); Stony Brook University is in Stony Brook, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • Amherst College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Stony Brook University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Amherst College 6:1; Stony Brook University 19:1.

Amherst vs. SUNY Stony Brook Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Amherst 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 Amherst College than SUNY Stony Brook ($19,049 vs. $20,992).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Stony Brook University are 1.1% lower than at Amherst College ($18,196 vs. $18,390).
  • Amherst College is 544.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY Stony Brook (about $59,549 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $10,931.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 115.3% higher at Amherst than at Stony Brook University (about $37,739 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $32,741.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Stony Brook University than at Amherst College (98% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 638.7% larger than aid received by Stony Brook University students ($68,591 vs. $9,285).

Amherst vs. SUNY Stony Brook Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Amherst 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 Amherst.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Amherst College (1540) is 120 points higher than at SUNY Stony Brook (1420).
  • Incoming Amherst students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 31 at SUNY Stony Brook).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 1490/1580; Stony Brook University 1330/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 33/35; Stony Brook University 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Amherst - Test optional; SUNY Stony Brook - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Amherst Jan 2, 2027; SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman SUNY Stony Brook students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Amherst (3.91).
  • SUNY Stony Brook has a higher acceptance rate (49%) than Amherst (9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38.8% at Amherst vs. 14.7% at SUNY Stony Brook.

Amherst vs. SUNY Stony Brook Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Amherst 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).

  • Amherst College's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Stony Brook University's (67%).
  • Graduates from Amherst College earn a median of about $22,700 more per year than SUNY Stony Brook graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,000 vs. $59,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Amherst College graduates have a $6,025 lower median loan debt than SUNY Stony Brook graduates ($12,975 vs. $19,000).
  • Among borrowers, Amherst graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SUNY Stony Brook graduates ($134 vs. $196).
  • More Amherst graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SUNY Stony Brook students, three years after graduation. (83% 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.