Colgate vs. SUNY Stony Brook

Deciding between Colgate 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.

Colgate University
Stony Brook University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Colgate Hamilton, NY
  • SUNY Stony Brook Stony Brook, NY
  • Setting
  • Colgate Distant Town
  • SUNY Stony Brook Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Colgate 3,211
  • SUNY Stony Brook 26,689
  • Type
  • Colgate Private 4 Year
  • SUNY Stony Brook Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Colgate #30
  • SUNY Stony Brook #141
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Colgate -
  • SUNY Stony Brook -
  • Status
  • Colgate Non-profit
  • SUNY Stony Brook Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Colgate
  • SUNY Stony Brook

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Colgate $70,306
  • SUNY Stony Brook $10,931
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Colgate $70,306
  • SUNY Stony Brook $32,741
  • Room & Board
  • Colgate $17,610
  • SUNY Stony Brook $18,196
  • Average Net Price
  • Colgate $28,736
  • SUNY Stony Brook $20,992
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Colgate $58,334
  • SUNY Stony Brook $9,285
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Colgate 43%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Colgate 20,682
  • SUNY Stony Brook 55,880
  • Admitted
  • Colgate 2,871
  • SUNY Stony Brook 27,406
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Colgate 13.9%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 49%
  • Enrolled
  • Colgate 28.7%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 14.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Colgate 1490
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1420
  • Typical ACT score
  • Colgate 33
  • SUNY Stony Brook 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Colgate 3.77
  • SUNY Stony Brook 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Colgate A-
  • SUNY Stony Brook A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Colgate Exceptional
  • SUNY Stony Brook Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Colgate Very High
  • SUNY Stony Brook Low
  • ACT Range
  • Colgate 33/34
  • SUNY Stony Brook 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • Colgate 1430/1540
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1330/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Colgate Test optional
  • SUNY Stony Brook Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Colgate Jan 15, 2027
  • SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Colgate 9:1
  • SUNY Stony Brook 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Colgate
    • Social Sciences (33%)
    • English and Literature (11%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Philosophy and Religious Studies (7%)
  • SUNY Stony Brook
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Health Professions (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Business (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Colgate 92%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 67%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Colgate $75,300
  • SUNY Stony Brook $59,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Colgate 86%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Colgate $16,125
  • SUNY Stony Brook $19,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Colgate $166
  • SUNY Stony Brook $196

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Colgate 43%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 47%
  • % Women
  • Colgate 57%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Colgate Medium
  • SUNY Stony Brook Very High
  • HBCU
  • Colgate No
  • SUNY Stony Brook No
  • % White
  • Colgate 67%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 36%
  • % Asian
  • Colgate 4%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 24%
  • % Black
  • Colgate 4%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Colgate 9%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 11%
  • % Native American
  • Colgate 0%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Colgate 0%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Colgate 3%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 2%
  • % International
  • Colgate 9%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Colgate 4%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Colgate 25%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Colgate 66%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 9%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Colgate University in Hamilton, NY 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 Colgate based on total student enrollment (26,689 students vs. 3,211 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Colgate University is located in Hamilton, NY (Distant Town setting); Stony Brook University is in Stony Brook, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • Colgate University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Stony Brook University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Colgate University 9:1; Stony Brook University 19:1.

Colgate vs. SUNY Stony Brook Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colgate 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 Colgate ($20,992 vs. $28,736).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colgate University are 3.2% lower than at Stony Brook University ($17,610 vs. $18,196).
  • Colgate University is 543.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY Stony Brook (about $59,375 more per year; $70,306.00 vs. $10,931.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 114.7% higher at Colgate than at Stony Brook University (about $37,565 more per year; $70,306.00 vs. $32,741.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Stony Brook University than at Colgate University (98% vs. 43%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colgate University students is 528.3% larger than aid received by Stony Brook University students ($58,334 vs. $9,285).

Colgate vs. SUNY Stony Brook Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Colgate 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 Colgate.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Colgate University (1490) is 70 points higher than at SUNY Stony Brook (1420).
  • Incoming Colgate students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 31 at SUNY Stony Brook).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Colgate University 1430/1540; Stony Brook University 1330/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Colgate University 33/34; Stony Brook University 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Colgate - Test optional; SUNY Stony Brook - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Colgate Jan 15, 2027; SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman SUNY Stony Brook students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Colgate (3.77).
  • SUNY Stony Brook has a higher acceptance rate (49%) than Colgate (13.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.7% at Colgate vs. 14.7% at SUNY Stony Brook.

Colgate vs. SUNY Stony Brook Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Colgate 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).

  • Colgate University's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than Stony Brook University's (67%).
  • Graduates from Colgate University earn a median of about $16,000 more per year than SUNY Stony Brook graduates about ten years after starting college ($75,300 vs. $59,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Colgate University graduates have a $2,875 lower median loan debt than SUNY Stony Brook graduates ($16,125 vs. $19,000).
  • Among borrowers, Colgate graduates have an estimated $30 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SUNY Stony Brook graduates ($166 vs. $196).
  • More Colgate graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SUNY Stony Brook students, three years after graduation. (86% 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.