SUNY Stony Brook vs. Penn State

Deciding between Stony Brook University and Penn State Main Campus? 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
Penn State Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • SUNY Stony Brook Stony Brook, NY
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • SUNY Stony Brook Large Suburban
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • SUNY Stony Brook 26,689
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • SUNY Stony Brook Public 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SUNY Stony Brook #141
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SUNY Stony Brook -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • SUNY Stony Brook Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SUNY Stony Brook
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SUNY Stony Brook $10,931
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SUNY Stony Brook $32,741
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • SUNY Stony Brook $18,196
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • SUNY Stony Brook $20,992
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SUNY Stony Brook $9,285
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SUNY Stony Brook 98%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SUNY Stony Brook 55,880
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • SUNY Stony Brook 27,406
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SUNY Stony Brook 49%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • SUNY Stony Brook 14.7%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1420
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • SUNY Stony Brook 31
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • SUNY Stony Brook 3.94
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SUNY Stony Brook A
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • SUNY Stony Brook Exceptional
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • SUNY Stony Brook Low
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • SUNY Stony Brook 29/33
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1330/1500
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SUNY Stony Brook Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SUNY Stony Brook 19:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SUNY Stony Brook
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Health Professions (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Business (9%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SUNY Stony Brook 67%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SUNY Stony Brook $59,300
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SUNY Stony Brook 73%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SUNY Stony Brook $19,000
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SUNY Stony Brook $196
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SUNY Stony Brook 47%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • SUNY Stony Brook 53%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SUNY Stony Brook Very High
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • SUNY Stony Brook No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • SUNY Stony Brook 36%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • SUNY Stony Brook 24%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • SUNY Stony Brook 7%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • SUNY Stony Brook 11%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • SUNY Stony Brook 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SUNY Stony Brook 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SUNY Stony Brook 2%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • SUNY Stony Brook 13%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SUNY Stony Brook 7%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SUNY Stony Brook 78%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SUNY Stony Brook 9%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, NY with Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Main Campus is larger than SUNY Stony Brook based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 26,689 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Stony Brook University is located in Stony Brook, NY (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Stony Brook University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Stony Brook University 19:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

SUNY Stony Brook vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SUNY Stony Brook or Penn State? 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 Penn State ($20,992 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 20.5% lower than at Stony Brook University ($14,474 vs. $18,196).
  • Penn State Main Campus is 88.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY Stony Brook (about $9,713 more per year; $20,644.00 vs. $10,931.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 27.6% higher at Penn State than at Stony Brook University (about $9,049 more per year; $41,790.00 vs. $32,741.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Stony Brook University than at Penn State Main Campus (98% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Main Campus students is 22.1% larger than aid received by Stony Brook University students ($11,336 vs. $9,285).

SUNY Stony Brook vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Stony Brook University (1420) is 90 points higher than at Penn State (1330).
  • Incoming SUNY Stony Brook students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 29 at Penn State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Stony Brook University 1330/1500; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Stony Brook University 29/33; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SUNY Stony Brook - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027.
  • Penn State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than SUNY Stony Brook (49%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.7% at SUNY Stony Brook vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

SUNY Stony Brook vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • Penn State Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Stony Brook University's (67%).
  • Graduates from Stony Brook University earn a median of about $4,000 more per year than Penn State graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,300 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Stony Brook University graduates have a $7,818 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($19,000 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, SUNY Stony Brook graduates have an estimated $81 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($196 vs. $277).
  • More SUNY Stony Brook graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 69%)

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.