City College of New York vs. SUNY Stony Brook

Deciding between CUNY City 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.

CUNY City College
Stony Brook University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • City College of New York New York, NY
  • SUNY Stony Brook Stony Brook, NY
  • Setting
  • City College of New York Large City
  • SUNY Stony Brook Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • City College of New York 15,544
  • SUNY Stony Brook 26,689
  • Type
  • City College of New York Public 4 Year
  • SUNY Stony Brook Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • City College of New York #313
  • SUNY Stony Brook #141
  • Religious Affiliation
  • City College of New York -
  • SUNY Stony Brook -
  • Status
  • City College of New York Non-profit
  • SUNY Stony Brook Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • City College of New York
  • SUNY Stony Brook
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • City College of New York $7,340
  • SUNY Stony Brook $10,931
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • City College of New York $15,290
  • SUNY Stony Brook $32,741
  • Room & Board
  • City College of New York $18,840
  • SUNY Stony Brook $18,196
  • Average Net Price
  • City College of New York $4,664
  • SUNY Stony Brook $20,992
  • Average Grant Aid
  • City College of New York $9,763
  • SUNY Stony Brook $9,285
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • City College of New York 88%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 98%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • City College of New York 34,322
  • SUNY Stony Brook 55,880
  • Admitted
  • City College of New York 20,600
  • SUNY Stony Brook 27,406
  • Acceptance Rate
  • City College of New York 60%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 49%
  • Enrolled
  • City College of New York 12.3%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 14.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • City College of New York 1250
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1420
  • Typical ACT score
  • City College of New York
  • SUNY Stony Brook 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • City College of New York 3.2
  • SUNY Stony Brook 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • City College of New York B+
  • SUNY Stony Brook A
  • Admissions Standards
  • City College of New York Very High
  • SUNY Stony Brook Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • City College of New York Low
  • SUNY Stony Brook Low
  • ACT Range
  • City College of New York
  • SUNY Stony Brook 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • City College of New York 1070/1430
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1330/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • City College of New York Test optional
  • SUNY Stony Brook Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • City College of New York Feb 1, 2027
  • SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • City College of New York 15:1
  • SUNY Stony Brook 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • City College of New York
    • Psychology (15%)
    • Engineering (13%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • SUNY Stony Brook
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Health Professions (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Business (9%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • City College of New York 40%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 67%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • City College of New York $49,800
  • SUNY Stony Brook $59,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • City College of New York 52%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • City College of New York $11,400
  • SUNY Stony Brook $19,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • City College of New York $117
  • SUNY Stony Brook $196
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • City College of New York 47%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 47%
  • % Women
  • City College of New York 53%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • City College of New York Very High
  • SUNY Stony Brook Very High
  • HBCU
  • City College of New York No
  • SUNY Stony Brook No
  • % White
  • City College of New York 15%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 36%
  • % Asian
  • City College of New York 25%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 24%
  • % Black
  • City College of New York 16%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • City College of New York 35%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 11%
  • % Native American
  • City College of New York 0%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • City College of New York 0%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • City College of New York 2%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 2%
  • % International
  • City College of New York 6%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • City College of New York 0%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 7%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • City College of New York 83%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • City College of New York 0%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 9%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • City College of New York Yes
  • SUNY Stony Brook Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • City College of New York No
  • SUNY Stony Brook No
  • Meal Plan
  • City College of New York No
  • SUNY Stony Brook Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • City College of New York No
  • SUNY Stony Brook No
  • Daycare Facility
  • City College of New York Yes
  • SUNY Stony Brook Yes
  • Learn More
  • City College of New York Details
  • SUNY Stony Brook Details

Comparable Facts

Compare CUNY City College in New York, 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 City College of New York based on total student enrollment (26,689 students vs. 15,544 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • CUNY City College is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); Stony Brook University is in Stony Brook, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • CUNY City College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Stony Brook University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: CUNY City College 15:1; Stony Brook University 19:1.

City College of New York vs. SUNY Stony Brook Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, City College of New York 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 CUNY City College than SUNY Stony Brook ($4,664 vs. $20,992).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Stony Brook University are 3.4% lower than at CUNY City College ($18,196 vs. $18,840).
  • Stony Brook University is 48.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than City College of New York (about $3,591 more per year; $10,931.00 vs. $7,340.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 114.1% higher at SUNY Stony Brook than at CUNY City College (about $17,451 more per year; $32,741.00 vs. $15,290.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Stony Brook University than at CUNY City College (98% vs. 88%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by CUNY City College students is 5.1% larger than aid received by Stony Brook University students ($9,763 vs. $9,285).

City College of New York vs. SUNY Stony Brook Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, City College of New York 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 City College of New York.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Stony Brook University (1420) is 170 points higher than at City College of New York (1250).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: CUNY City College 1070/1430; Stony Brook University 1330/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsStony Brook University 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: City College of New York - Test optional; SUNY Stony Brook - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: City College of New York Feb 1, 2027; SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman SUNY Stony Brook students have a 0.74 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at City College of New York (3.2).
  • City College of New York has a higher acceptance rate (60%) than SUNY Stony Brook (49%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at City College of New York vs. 14.7% at SUNY Stony Brook.

City College of New York vs. SUNY Stony Brook Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for City College of New York 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).

  • Stony Brook University's six-year graduation rate (67%) is higher than CUNY City College's (40%).
  • Graduates from Stony Brook University earn a median of about $9,500 more per year than City College of New York graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,300 vs. $49,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY City College graduates have a $7,600 lower median loan debt than SUNY Stony Brook graduates ($11,400 vs. $19,000).
  • Among borrowers, City College of New York graduates have an estimated $79 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SUNY Stony Brook graduates ($117 vs. $196).
  • More SUNY Stony Brook graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former City College of New York students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 52%)

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.