Emerson vs. SUNY Stony Brook

Deciding between Emerson 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.

Emerson College
Stony Brook University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Emerson Boston, MA
  • SUNY Stony Brook Stony Brook, NY
  • Setting
  • Emerson Large City
  • SUNY Stony Brook Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Emerson 5,263
  • SUNY Stony Brook 26,689
  • Type
  • Emerson Private 4 Year
  • SUNY Stony Brook Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Emerson #208
  • SUNY Stony Brook #141
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Emerson -
  • SUNY Stony Brook -
  • Status
  • Emerson Non-profit
  • SUNY Stony Brook Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Emerson
  • SUNY Stony Brook

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Emerson $57,056
  • SUNY Stony Brook $10,931
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Emerson $57,056
  • SUNY Stony Brook $32,741
  • Room & Board
  • Emerson $20,920
  • SUNY Stony Brook $18,196
  • Average Net Price
  • Emerson $53,432
  • SUNY Stony Brook $20,992
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Emerson $26,997
  • SUNY Stony Brook $9,285
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Emerson 77%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Emerson 10,378
  • SUNY Stony Brook 55,880
  • Admitted
  • Emerson 5,325
  • SUNY Stony Brook 27,406
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Emerson 51.3%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 49%
  • Enrolled
  • Emerson 15.5%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 14.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Emerson 1350
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1420
  • Typical ACT score
  • Emerson 30
  • SUNY Stony Brook 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Emerson 3.73
  • SUNY Stony Brook 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Emerson A-
  • SUNY Stony Brook A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Emerson Very High
  • SUNY Stony Brook Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Emerson Low
  • SUNY Stony Brook Low
  • ACT Range
  • Emerson 29/32
  • SUNY Stony Brook 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • Emerson 1270/1420
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1330/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Emerson Test optional
  • SUNY Stony Brook Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Emerson Feb 20, 2027
  • SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Emerson 14:1
  • SUNY Stony Brook 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Emerson
    • Communication (33%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (29%)
    • English and Literature (19%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Health Professions (2%)
  • SUNY Stony Brook
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Health Professions (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Business (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Emerson 81%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 67%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Emerson $49,200
  • SUNY Stony Brook $59,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Emerson 80%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Emerson $23,500
  • SUNY Stony Brook $19,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Emerson $242
  • SUNY Stony Brook $196

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Emerson 29%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 47%
  • % Women
  • Emerson 71%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Emerson Medium
  • SUNY Stony Brook Very High
  • HBCU
  • Emerson No
  • SUNY Stony Brook No
  • % White
  • Emerson 67%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 36%
  • % Asian
  • Emerson 4%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 24%
  • % Black
  • Emerson 3%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Emerson 11%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 11%
  • % Native American
  • Emerson 0%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Emerson 0%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Emerson 4%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 2%
  • % International
  • Emerson 7%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Emerson 3%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Emerson 15%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Emerson 67%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 9%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Emerson College in Boston, 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 Emerson based on total student enrollment (26,689 students vs. 5,263 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Emerson College is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Stony Brook University is in Stony Brook, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • Emerson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Stony Brook University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Emerson College 14:1; Stony Brook University 19:1.

Emerson vs. SUNY Stony Brook Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Emerson 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 Emerson ($20,992 vs. $53,432).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Stony Brook University are 13% lower than at Emerson College ($18,196 vs. $20,920).
  • Emerson College is 422% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY Stony Brook (about $46,125 more per year; $57,056.00 vs. $10,931.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 74.3% higher at Emerson than at Stony Brook University (about $24,315 more per year; $57,056.00 vs. $32,741.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Stony Brook University than at Emerson College (98% vs. 77%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Emerson College students is 190.8% larger than aid received by Stony Brook University students ($26,997 vs. $9,285).

Emerson vs. SUNY Stony Brook Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Emerson 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 Emerson.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Stony Brook University (1420) is 70 points higher than at Emerson (1350).
  • Incoming SUNY Stony Brook students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at Emerson).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Emerson College 1270/1420; Stony Brook University 1330/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Emerson College 29/32; Stony Brook University 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Emerson - Test optional; SUNY Stony Brook - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Emerson Feb 20, 2027; SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman SUNY Stony Brook students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Emerson (3.73).
  • Emerson has a higher acceptance rate (51.3%) than SUNY Stony Brook (49%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.5% at Emerson vs. 14.7% at SUNY Stony Brook.

Emerson vs. SUNY Stony Brook Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Emerson 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).

  • Emerson College's six-year graduation rate (81%) is higher than Stony Brook University's (67%).
  • Graduates from Stony Brook University earn a median of about $10,100 more per year than Emerson graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,300 vs. $49,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Stony Brook University graduates have a $4,500 lower median loan debt than Emerson graduates ($19,000 vs. $23,500).
  • Among borrowers, SUNY Stony Brook graduates have an estimated $46 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Emerson graduates ($196 vs. $242).
  • More Emerson 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.