SUNY Stony Brook vs. Lehigh

Deciding between Stony Brook University and Lehigh 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
Lehigh University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • SUNY Stony Brook Stony Brook, NY
  • Lehigh Bethlehem, PA
  • Setting
  • SUNY Stony Brook Large Suburban
  • Lehigh Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • SUNY Stony Brook 26,689
  • Lehigh 7,692
  • Type
  • SUNY Stony Brook Public 4 Year
  • Lehigh Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SUNY Stony Brook #141
  • Lehigh #53
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SUNY Stony Brook -
  • Lehigh -
  • Status
  • SUNY Stony Brook Non-profit
  • Lehigh Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SUNY Stony Brook
  • Lehigh

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SUNY Stony Brook $10,931
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SUNY Stony Brook $32,741
  • Lehigh $64,980
  • Room & Board
  • SUNY Stony Brook $18,196
  • Lehigh $17,220
  • Average Net Price
  • SUNY Stony Brook $20,992
  • Lehigh $34,154
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SUNY Stony Brook $9,285
  • Lehigh $46,731
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SUNY Stony Brook 98%
  • Lehigh 65%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SUNY Stony Brook 55,880
  • Lehigh 20,396
  • Admitted
  • SUNY Stony Brook 27,406
  • Lehigh 5,289
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SUNY Stony Brook 49%
  • Lehigh 25.9%
  • Enrolled
  • SUNY Stony Brook 14.7%
  • Lehigh 28.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1420
  • Lehigh 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • SUNY Stony Brook 31
  • Lehigh 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • SUNY Stony Brook 3.94
  • Lehigh 3.81
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SUNY Stony Brook A
  • Lehigh A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • SUNY Stony Brook Exceptional
  • Lehigh Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • SUNY Stony Brook Low
  • Lehigh High
  • ACT Range
  • SUNY Stony Brook 29/33
  • Lehigh 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1330/1500
  • Lehigh 1370/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SUNY Stony Brook Test optional
  • Lehigh Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027
  • Lehigh Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SUNY Stony Brook 19:1
  • Lehigh 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SUNY Stony Brook
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Health Professions (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Business (9%)
  • Lehigh
    • Business (34%)
    • Engineering (24%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Biology (5%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SUNY Stony Brook 67%
  • Lehigh 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SUNY Stony Brook $59,300
  • Lehigh $89,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SUNY Stony Brook 73%
  • Lehigh 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SUNY Stony Brook $19,000
  • Lehigh $24,256
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SUNY Stony Brook $196
  • Lehigh $250

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SUNY Stony Brook 47%
  • Lehigh 52%
  • % Women
  • SUNY Stony Brook 53%
  • Lehigh 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SUNY Stony Brook Very High
  • Lehigh Medium
  • HBCU
  • SUNY Stony Brook No
  • Lehigh No
  • % White
  • SUNY Stony Brook 36%
  • Lehigh 66%
  • % Asian
  • SUNY Stony Brook 24%
  • Lehigh 9%
  • % Black
  • SUNY Stony Brook 7%
  • Lehigh 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • SUNY Stony Brook 11%
  • Lehigh 9%
  • % Native American
  • SUNY Stony Brook 0%
  • Lehigh 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SUNY Stony Brook 0%
  • Lehigh 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SUNY Stony Brook 2%
  • Lehigh 3%
  • % International
  • SUNY Stony Brook 13%
  • Lehigh 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SUNY Stony Brook 7%
  • Lehigh 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SUNY Stony Brook 78%
  • Lehigh 25%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SUNY Stony Brook 9%
  • Lehigh 69%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Stony Brook University is larger than Lehigh based on total student enrollment (26,689 students vs. 7,692 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Stony Brook University is located in Stony Brook, NY (Large Suburban setting); Lehigh University is in Bethlehem, PA (Small City setting).
  • Stony Brook University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Lehigh University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Stony Brook University 19:1; Lehigh University 10:1.

SUNY Stony Brook vs. Lehigh Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SUNY Stony Brook or Lehigh? 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 Lehigh ($20,992 vs. $34,154).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lehigh University are 5.4% lower than at Stony Brook University ($17,220 vs. $18,196).
  • Lehigh University is 494.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY Stony Brook (about $54,049 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $10,931.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 98.5% higher at Lehigh than at Stony Brook University (about $32,239 more per year; $64,980.00 vs. $32,741.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Stony Brook University than at Lehigh University (98% vs. 65%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lehigh University students is 403.3% larger than aid received by Stony Brook University students ($46,731 vs. $9,285).

SUNY Stony Brook vs. Lehigh Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lehigh University (1440) is 20 points higher than at SUNY Stony Brook (1420).
  • Incoming Lehigh students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 31 at SUNY Stony Brook).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Stony Brook University 1330/1500; Lehigh University 1370/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Stony Brook University 29/33; Lehigh University 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SUNY Stony Brook - Test optional; Lehigh - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027; Lehigh Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman SUNY Stony Brook students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Lehigh (3.81).
  • SUNY Stony Brook has a higher acceptance rate (49%) than Lehigh (25.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.7% at SUNY Stony Brook vs. 28.4% at Lehigh.

SUNY Stony Brook vs. Lehigh Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • Lehigh University's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Stony Brook University's (67%).
  • Graduates from Lehigh University earn a median of about $29,900 more per year than SUNY Stony Brook graduates about ten years after starting college ($89,200 vs. $59,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Stony Brook University graduates have a $5,256 lower median loan debt than Lehigh graduates ($19,000 vs. $24,256).
  • Among borrowers, SUNY Stony Brook graduates have an estimated $54 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lehigh graduates ($196 vs. $250).
  • More Lehigh 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.