Harvard vs. SUNY Stony Brook

Deciding between Harvard 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.

Harvard University
Stony Brook University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • SUNY Stony Brook Stony Brook, NY
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • SUNY Stony Brook Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • SUNY Stony Brook 26,689
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • SUNY Stony Brook Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • SUNY Stony Brook #141
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • SUNY Stony Brook -
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • SUNY Stony Brook Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • SUNY Stony Brook

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • SUNY Stony Brook $10,931
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • SUNY Stony Brook $32,741
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • SUNY Stony Brook $18,196
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • SUNY Stony Brook $20,992
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • SUNY Stony Brook $9,285
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • SUNY Stony Brook 55,880
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • SUNY Stony Brook 27,406
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 49%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 14.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1420
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • SUNY Stony Brook 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • SUNY Stony Brook 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • SUNY Stony Brook A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • SUNY Stony Brook Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • SUNY Stony Brook Low
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • SUNY Stony Brook 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1330/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required
  • SUNY Stony Brook Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • SUNY Stony Brook 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • SUNY Stony Brook
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Health Professions (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Business (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 67%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • SUNY Stony Brook $59,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • SUNY Stony Brook $19,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • SUNY Stony Brook $196

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 47%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • SUNY Stony Brook Very High
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • SUNY Stony Brook No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 36%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 24%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 11%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 2%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 9%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Harvard University is larger than SUNY Stony Brook based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 26,689 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvard University is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Stony Brook University is in Stony Brook, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Stony Brook University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Harvard University 7:1; Stony Brook University 19:1.

Harvard vs. SUNY Stony Brook Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard 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 Harvard University than SUNY Stony Brook ($17,525 vs. $20,992).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Stony Brook University are 14.1% lower than at Harvard University ($18,196 vs. $21,190).
  • Harvard University is 464.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY Stony Brook (about $50,745 more per year; $61,676.00 vs. $10,931.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 88.4% higher at Harvard than at Stony Brook University (about $28,935 more per year; $61,676.00 vs. $32,741.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Stony Brook University than at Harvard University (98% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 632.5% larger than aid received by Stony Brook University students ($68,015 vs. $9,285).

Harvard vs. SUNY Stony Brook Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Harvard 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 Harvard.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 130 points higher than at SUNY Stony Brook (1420).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 31 at SUNY Stony Brook).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; Stony Brook University 1330/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36; Stony Brook University 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; SUNY Stony Brook - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at SUNY Stony Brook (3.94).
  • SUNY Stony Brook has a higher acceptance rate (49%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 14.7% at SUNY Stony Brook.

Harvard vs. SUNY Stony Brook Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard 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).

  • Harvard University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than Stony Brook University's (67%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $77,400 more per year than SUNY Stony Brook graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $59,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $12,500 lower median loan debt than SUNY Stony Brook graduates ($6,500 vs. $19,000).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $129 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SUNY Stony Brook graduates ($67 vs. $196).
  • More SUNY Stony Brook graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 70%)

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.