SUNY Stony Brook vs. Bucknell

Deciding between Stony Brook University and Bucknell 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.

Stony Brook University
Bucknell University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • SUNY Stony Brook Stony Brook, NY
  • Bucknell Lewisburg, PA
  • Setting
  • SUNY Stony Brook Large Suburban
  • Bucknell Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • SUNY Stony Brook 26,689
  • Bucknell 3,969
  • Type
  • SUNY Stony Brook Public 4 Year
  • Bucknell Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SUNY Stony Brook #141
  • Bucknell #71
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SUNY Stony Brook -
  • Bucknell -
  • Status
  • SUNY Stony Brook Non-profit
  • Bucknell Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SUNY Stony Brook
  • Bucknell

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SUNY Stony Brook $10,931
  • Bucknell $67,812
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SUNY Stony Brook $32,741
  • Bucknell $67,812
  • Room & Board
  • SUNY Stony Brook $18,196
  • Bucknell $16,924
  • Average Net Price
  • SUNY Stony Brook $20,992
  • Bucknell $39,003
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SUNY Stony Brook $9,285
  • Bucknell $44,734
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SUNY Stony Brook 98%
  • Bucknell 59%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SUNY Stony Brook 55,880
  • Bucknell 11,377
  • Admitted
  • SUNY Stony Brook 27,406
  • Bucknell 3,291
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SUNY Stony Brook 49%
  • Bucknell 28.9%
  • Enrolled
  • SUNY Stony Brook 14.7%
  • Bucknell 30.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1420
  • Bucknell 1390
  • Typical ACT score
  • SUNY Stony Brook 31
  • Bucknell 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • SUNY Stony Brook 3.94
  • Bucknell 3.62
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SUNY Stony Brook A
  • Bucknell A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • SUNY Stony Brook Exceptional
  • Bucknell Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • SUNY Stony Brook Low
  • Bucknell High
  • ACT Range
  • SUNY Stony Brook 29/33
  • Bucknell 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1330/1500
  • Bucknell 1310/1470
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SUNY Stony Brook Test optional
  • Bucknell Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027
  • Bucknell Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SUNY Stony Brook 19:1
  • Bucknell 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SUNY Stony Brook
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Health Professions (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Business (9%)
  • Bucknell
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Engineering (14%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • English and Literature (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SUNY Stony Brook 67%
  • Bucknell 91%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SUNY Stony Brook $59,300
  • Bucknell $76,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SUNY Stony Brook 73%
  • Bucknell 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SUNY Stony Brook $19,000
  • Bucknell $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SUNY Stony Brook $196
  • Bucknell $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SUNY Stony Brook 47%
  • Bucknell 48%
  • % Women
  • SUNY Stony Brook 53%
  • Bucknell 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SUNY Stony Brook Very High
  • Bucknell Low
  • HBCU
  • SUNY Stony Brook No
  • Bucknell No
  • % White
  • SUNY Stony Brook 36%
  • Bucknell 77%
  • % Asian
  • SUNY Stony Brook 24%
  • Bucknell 4%
  • % Black
  • SUNY Stony Brook 7%
  • Bucknell 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • SUNY Stony Brook 11%
  • Bucknell 6%
  • % Native American
  • SUNY Stony Brook 0%
  • Bucknell 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SUNY Stony Brook 0%
  • Bucknell 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SUNY Stony Brook 2%
  • Bucknell 4%
  • % International
  • SUNY Stony Brook 13%
  • Bucknell 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SUNY Stony Brook 7%
  • Bucknell 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SUNY Stony Brook 78%
  • Bucknell 19%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SUNY Stony Brook 9%
  • Bucknell 77%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, NY with Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Stony Brook University is larger than Bucknell based on total student enrollment (26,689 students vs. 3,969 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Stony Brook University is located in Stony Brook, NY (Large Suburban setting); Bucknell University is in Lewisburg, PA (Distant Town setting).
  • Stony Brook University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Bucknell University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Stony Brook University 19:1; Bucknell University 9:1.

SUNY Stony Brook vs. Bucknell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SUNY Stony Brook or Bucknell? 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 Bucknell ($20,992 vs. $39,003).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bucknell University are 7% lower than at Stony Brook University ($16,924 vs. $18,196).
  • Bucknell University is 520.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY Stony Brook (about $56,881 more per year; $67,812.00 vs. $10,931.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 107.1% higher at Bucknell than at Stony Brook University (about $35,071 more per year; $67,812.00 vs. $32,741.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Stony Brook University than at Bucknell University (98% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bucknell University students is 381.8% larger than aid received by Stony Brook University students ($44,734 vs. $9,285).

SUNY Stony Brook vs. Bucknell Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SUNY Stony Brook or Bucknell? 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 Bucknell and SUNY Stony Brook.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Stony Brook University (1420) is 30 points higher than at Bucknell (1390).
  • Incoming SUNY Stony Brook students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 31) as students at Bucknell (31).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Stony Brook University 1330/1500; Bucknell University 1310/1470.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Stony Brook University 29/33; Bucknell University 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SUNY Stony Brook - Test optional; Bucknell - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027; Bucknell Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman SUNY Stony Brook students have a 0.32 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Bucknell (3.62).
  • SUNY Stony Brook has a higher acceptance rate (49%) than Bucknell (28.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.7% at SUNY Stony Brook vs. 30.1% at Bucknell.

SUNY Stony Brook vs. Bucknell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SUNY Stony Brook and Bucknell? 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).

  • Bucknell University's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than Stony Brook University's (67%).
  • Graduates from Bucknell University earn a median of about $17,000 more per year than SUNY Stony Brook graduates about ten years after starting college ($76,300 vs. $59,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Stony Brook University graduates have a $8,000 lower median loan debt than Bucknell graduates ($19,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, SUNY Stony Brook graduates have an estimated $83 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bucknell graduates ($196 vs. $279).
  • More Bucknell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SUNY Stony Brook students, three years after graduation. (89% 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.