ISU vs. SUNY Stony Brook

Deciding between Iowa State 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.

Iowa State University
Stony Brook University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ISU Ames, IA
  • SUNY Stony Brook Stony Brook, NY
  • Setting
  • ISU Small City
  • SUNY Stony Brook Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • ISU 30,380
  • SUNY Stony Brook 26,689
  • Type
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • SUNY Stony Brook Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ISU #343
  • SUNY Stony Brook #141
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ISU -
  • SUNY Stony Brook -
  • Status
  • ISU Non-profit
  • SUNY Stony Brook Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ISU
  • SUNY Stony Brook

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ISU $10,787
  • SUNY Stony Brook $10,931
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ISU $28,881
  • SUNY Stony Brook $32,741
  • Room & Board
  • ISU $10,808
  • SUNY Stony Brook $18,196
  • Average Net Price
  • ISU $17,779
  • SUNY Stony Brook $20,992
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ISU $10,791
  • SUNY Stony Brook $9,285
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ISU 77%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ISU 23,095
  • SUNY Stony Brook 55,880
  • Admitted
  • ISU 20,475
  • SUNY Stony Brook 27,406
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ISU 88.7%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 49%
  • Enrolled
  • ISU 28.8%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 14.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ISU 1240
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1420
  • Typical ACT score
  • ISU 24
  • SUNY Stony Brook 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • ISU 3.7
  • SUNY Stony Brook 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ISU A-
  • SUNY Stony Brook A
  • Admissions Standards
  • ISU Challenging
  • SUNY Stony Brook Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • ISU
  • SUNY Stony Brook Low
  • ACT Range
  • ISU 21/28
  • SUNY Stony Brook 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • ISU 1120/1360
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1330/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ISU Test optional
  • SUNY Stony Brook Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ISU
  • SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ISU 18:1
  • SUNY Stony Brook 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ISU
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • SUNY Stony Brook
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Health Professions (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Business (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ISU 68%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 67%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ISU $53,700
  • SUNY Stony Brook $59,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ISU 74%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ISU $23,868
  • SUNY Stony Brook $19,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ISU $246
  • SUNY Stony Brook $196

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ISU 54%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 47%
  • % Women
  • ISU 46%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ISU Low
  • SUNY Stony Brook Very High
  • HBCU
  • ISU No
  • SUNY Stony Brook No
  • % White
  • ISU 76%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 36%
  • % Asian
  • ISU 3%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 24%
  • % Black
  • ISU 3%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • ISU 5%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 11%
  • % Native American
  • ISU 0%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ISU 0%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ISU 2%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 2%
  • % International
  • ISU 7%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ISU 5%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ISU 54%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ISU 43%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 9%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Iowa State University in Ames, IA with Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Iowa State University is larger than SUNY Stony Brook based on total student enrollment (30,380 students vs. 26,689 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Iowa State University is located in Ames, IA (Small City setting); Stony Brook University is in Stony Brook, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • Iowa State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Stony Brook University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Iowa State University 18:1; Stony Brook University 19:1.

ISU vs. SUNY Stony Brook Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU 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 Iowa State University than SUNY Stony Brook ($17,779 vs. $20,992).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa State University are 40.6% lower than at Stony Brook University ($10,808 vs. $18,196).
  • Stony Brook University is 1.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than ISU (about $144 more per year; $10,931.00 vs. $10,787.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 13.4% higher at SUNY Stony Brook than at Iowa State University (about $3,860 more per year; $32,741.00 vs. $28,881.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Stony Brook University than at Iowa State University (98% vs. 77%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Iowa State University students is 16.2% larger than aid received by Stony Brook University students ($10,791 vs. $9,285).

ISU vs. SUNY Stony Brook Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ISU 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 ISU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Stony Brook University (1420) is 180 points higher than at ISU (1240).
  • Incoming SUNY Stony Brook students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 24 at ISU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Iowa State University 1120/1360; Stony Brook University 1330/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Iowa State University 21/28; Stony Brook University 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ISU - Test optional; SUNY Stony Brook - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman SUNY Stony Brook students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at ISU (3.7).
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (88.7%) than SUNY Stony Brook (49%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.8% at ISU vs. 14.7% at SUNY Stony Brook.

ISU vs. SUNY Stony Brook Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ISU 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).

  • Iowa State University's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than Stony Brook University's (67%).
  • Graduates from Stony Brook University earn a median of about $5,600 more per year than ISU graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,300 vs. $53,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Stony Brook University graduates have a $4,868 lower median loan debt than ISU graduates ($19,000 vs. $23,868).
  • Among borrowers, SUNY Stony Brook graduates have an estimated $50 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ISU graduates ($196 vs. $246).
  • More ISU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SUNY Stony Brook students, three years after graduation. (74% 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.