Rutgers vs. SUNY Stony Brook

Deciding between Rutgers University New Brunswick 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.

Rutgers University New Brunswick
Stony Brook University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • SUNY Stony Brook Stony Brook, NY
  • Setting
  • Rutgers Small City
  • SUNY Stony Brook Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • SUNY Stony Brook 26,689
  • Type
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • SUNY Stony Brook Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Rutgers #114
  • SUNY Stony Brook #141
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Rutgers -
  • SUNY Stony Brook -
  • Status
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • SUNY Stony Brook Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Rutgers
  • SUNY Stony Brook

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • SUNY Stony Brook $10,931
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • SUNY Stony Brook $32,741
  • Room & Board
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • SUNY Stony Brook $18,196
  • Average Net Price
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • SUNY Stony Brook $20,992
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • SUNY Stony Brook $9,285
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Rutgers 50%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • SUNY Stony Brook 55,880
  • Admitted
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • SUNY Stony Brook 27,406
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 49%
  • Enrolled
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 14.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Rutgers 1410
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1420
  • Typical ACT score
  • Rutgers 30
  • SUNY Stony Brook 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • SUNY Stony Brook 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Rutgers B+
  • SUNY Stony Brook A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • SUNY Stony Brook Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Rutgers Low
  • SUNY Stony Brook Low
  • ACT Range
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • SUNY Stony Brook 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1330/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • SUNY Stony Brook Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Rutgers
  • SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • SUNY Stony Brook 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
  • SUNY Stony Brook
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Health Professions (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Business (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Rutgers 77%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 67%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • SUNY Stony Brook $59,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Rutgers 68%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • SUNY Stony Brook $19,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Rutgers $229
  • SUNY Stony Brook $196

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Rutgers 46%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 47%
  • % Women
  • Rutgers 54%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Rutgers Very High
  • SUNY Stony Brook Very High
  • HBCU
  • Rutgers No
  • SUNY Stony Brook No
  • % White
  • Rutgers 42%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 36%
  • % Asian
  • Rutgers 26%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 24%
  • % Black
  • Rutgers 7%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Rutgers 13%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 11%
  • % Native American
  • Rutgers 0%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Rutgers 0%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Rutgers 3%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 2%
  • % International
  • Rutgers 7%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Rutgers 2%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Rutgers 75%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Rutgers 13%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 9%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ with Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than SUNY Stony Brook based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 26,689 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is located in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting); Stony Brook University is in Stony Brook, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Stony Brook University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1; Stony Brook University 19:1.

Rutgers vs. SUNY Stony Brook Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rutgers 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick than SUNY Stony Brook ($20,522 vs. $20,992).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 13.6% lower than at Stony Brook University ($15,714 vs. $18,196).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is 64% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY Stony Brook (about $6,998 more per year; $17,929.00 vs. $10,931.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 14.4% higher at Rutgers than at Stony Brook University (about $4,700 more per year; $37,441.00 vs. $32,741.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Stony Brook University than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (98% vs. 50%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students is 80.3% larger than aid received by Stony Brook University students ($16,742 vs. $9,285).

Rutgers vs. SUNY Stony Brook Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rutgers 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 Rutgers.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Stony Brook University (1420) is 10 points higher than at Rutgers (1410).
  • Incoming SUNY Stony Brook students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at Rutgers).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500; Stony Brook University 1330/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33; Stony Brook University 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Rutgers - 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 0.64 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than SUNY Stony Brook (49%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.5% at Rutgers vs. 14.7% at SUNY Stony Brook.

Rutgers vs. SUNY Stony Brook Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rutgers 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).

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than Stony Brook University's (67%).
  • Graduates from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of about $6,900 more per year than SUNY Stony Brook graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,200 vs. $59,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Stony Brook University graduates have a $3,215 lower median loan debt than Rutgers graduates ($19,000 vs. $22,215).
  • Among borrowers, SUNY Stony Brook graduates have an estimated $33 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rutgers graduates ($196 vs. $229).
  • More SUNY Stony Brook graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 68%)

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.