RIT vs. SUNY Stony Brook

Comparable Facts

Compare Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, 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 RIT based on total student enrollment (26,689 students vs. 17,098 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Rochester Institute of Technology is located in Rochester, NY (Large Suburban setting); Stony Brook University is in Stony Brook, NY (Large Suburban setting).
• Rochester Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Stony Brook University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Rochester Institute of Technology 13:1; Stony Brook University 19:1.

RIT vs. SUNY Stony Brook Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RIT 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 RIT ($20,992 vs. $39,534).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rochester Institute of Technology are 11.3% lower than at Stony Brook University ($16,142 vs. $18,196).
• Rochester Institute of Technology is 442.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY Stony Brook (about $48,343 more per year; $59,274.00 vs. $10,931.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 81% higher at RIT than at Stony Brook University (about $26,533 more per year; $59,274.00 vs. $32,741.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Rochester Institute of Technology as at Stony Brook University (98% vs. 98%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Rochester Institute of Technology students is 277.8% larger than aid received by Stony Brook University students ($35,077 vs. $9,285).

RIT vs. SUNY Stony Brook Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, RIT 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 RIT .

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Stony Brook University (1420) is 40 points higher than at RIT (1380).
• Incoming RIT students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 31) as students at SUNY Stony Brook (31).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rochester Institute of Technology 1300/1460; Stony Brook University 1330/1500.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rochester Institute of Technology 29/33; Stony Brook University 29/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: RIT - Test optional; SUNY Stony Brook - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: RIT Jan 15, 2027; 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 RIT (3.7).
• RIT has a higher acceptance rate (66.9%) than SUNY Stony Brook (49%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.3% at RIT vs. 14.7% at SUNY Stony Brook.

RIT vs. SUNY Stony Brook Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for RIT 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 Rochester Institute of Technology's (64%).
• Graduates from Rochester Institute of Technology earn a median of about $5,600 more per year than SUNY Stony Brook graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,900 vs. $59,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Stony Brook University graduates have a $9,000 lower median loan debt than RIT graduates ($19,000 vs. $28,000).
• Among borrowers, SUNY Stony Brook graduates have an estimated $93 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RIT graduates ($196 vs. $289).
• More RIT graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SUNY Stony Brook students, three years after graduation. (75% 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.