Cornell vs. SUNY Stony Brook

Deciding between Cornell 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.

Cornell University
Stony Brook University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Cornell Ithaca, NY
  • SUNY Stony Brook Stony Brook, NY
  • Setting
  • Cornell Small City
  • SUNY Stony Brook Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Cornell 26,793
  • SUNY Stony Brook 26,689
  • Type
  • Cornell Private 4 Year
  • SUNY Stony Brook Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cornell #19
  • SUNY Stony Brook #141
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cornell -
  • SUNY Stony Brook -
  • Status
  • Cornell Non-profit
  • SUNY Stony Brook Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cornell
  • SUNY Stony Brook

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • SUNY Stony Brook $10,931
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • SUNY Stony Brook $32,741
  • Room & Board
  • Cornell $19,428
  • SUNY Stony Brook $18,196
  • Average Net Price
  • Cornell $26,361
  • SUNY Stony Brook $20,992
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cornell $61,779
  • SUNY Stony Brook $9,285
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cornell 48%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Cornell 62,993
  • SUNY Stony Brook 55,880
  • Admitted
  • Cornell 5,516
  • SUNY Stony Brook 27,406
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Cornell 8.8%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 49%
  • Enrolled
  • Cornell 63.9%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 14.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cornell 1540
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1420
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cornell 34
  • SUNY Stony Brook 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Cornell 3.9
  • SUNY Stony Brook 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Cornell A
  • SUNY Stony Brook A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Cornell Elite
  • SUNY Stony Brook Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Cornell Extreme
  • SUNY Stony Brook Low
  • ACT Range
  • Cornell 33/35
  • SUNY Stony Brook 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • Cornell 1500/1570
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1330/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Cornell Required
  • SUNY Stony Brook Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Cornell Jan 2, 2027
  • SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cornell 9:1
  • SUNY Stony Brook 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cornell
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
  • SUNY Stony Brook
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Health Professions (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Business (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cornell 93%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 67%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cornell $98,400
  • SUNY Stony Brook $59,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cornell 87%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cornell $12,000
  • SUNY Stony Brook $19,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cornell $124
  • SUNY Stony Brook $196

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cornell 47%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 47%
  • % Women
  • Cornell 53%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cornell Very High
  • SUNY Stony Brook Very High
  • HBCU
  • Cornell No
  • SUNY Stony Brook No
  • % White
  • Cornell 41%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 36%
  • % Asian
  • Cornell 18%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 24%
  • % Black
  • Cornell 6%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cornell 12%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 11%
  • % Native American
  • Cornell 0%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cornell 0%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cornell 4%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 2%
  • % International
  • Cornell 10%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cornell 8%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cornell 32%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cornell 55%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 9%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Cornell University is larger than SUNY Stony Brook based on total student enrollment (26,793 students vs. 26,689 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Cornell vs. SUNY Stony Brook Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cornell 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 Cornell ($20,992 vs. $26,361).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Stony Brook University are 6.3% lower than at Cornell University ($18,196 vs. $19,428).
  • Cornell University is 534.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY Stony Brook (about $58,383 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $10,931.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 111.7% higher at Cornell than at Stony Brook University (about $36,573 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $32,741.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Stony Brook University than at Cornell University (98% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cornell University students is 565.4% larger than aid received by Stony Brook University students ($61,779 vs. $9,285).

Cornell vs. SUNY Stony Brook Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cornell 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 Cornell.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Cornell University (1540) is 120 points higher than at SUNY Stony Brook (1420).
  • Incoming Cornell 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: Cornell University 1500/1570; Stony Brook University 1330/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cornell University 33/35; Stony Brook University 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cornell - Required; SUNY Stony Brook - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cornell Jan 2, 2027; SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman SUNY Stony Brook students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Cornell (3.9).
  • SUNY Stony Brook has a higher acceptance rate (49%) than Cornell (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 63.9% at Cornell vs. 14.7% at SUNY Stony Brook.

Cornell vs. SUNY Stony Brook Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cornell 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).

  • Cornell University's six-year graduation rate (93%) is higher than Stony Brook University's (67%).
  • Graduates from Cornell University earn a median of about $39,100 more per year than SUNY Stony Brook graduates about ten years after starting college ($98,400 vs. $59,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cornell University graduates have a $7,000 lower median loan debt than SUNY Stony Brook graduates ($12,000 vs. $19,000).
  • Among borrowers, Cornell graduates have an estimated $72 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SUNY Stony Brook graduates ($124 vs. $196).
  • More Cornell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SUNY Stony Brook students, three years after graduation. (87% 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.