SUNY Stony Brook vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre

Comparable Facts

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

Stony Brook University is larger than Penn State Wilkes-Barre based on total student enrollment (26,689 students vs. 315 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Stony Brook University is located in Stony Brook, NY (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Wilkes Barre is in Dallas, PA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Stony Brook University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Wilkes Barre is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Stony Brook University 19:1; Penn State Wilkes Barre 10:1.

SUNY Stony Brook vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SUNY Stony Brook or Penn State Wilkes-Barre? 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 Penn State Wilkes Barre than SUNY Stony Brook ($16,621 vs. $20,992).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Wilkes Barre are 16.1% lower than at Stony Brook University ($15,274 vs. $18,196).
• Penn State Wilkes Barre is 30.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY Stony Brook (about $3,349 more per year; $14,280.00 vs. $10,931.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 36.4% higher at SUNY Stony Brook than at Penn State Wilkes Barre (about $8,735 more per year; $32,741.00 vs. $24,006.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Stony Brook University than at Penn State Wilkes Barre (98% vs. 89%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Wilkes Barre students is 4.9% larger than aid received by Stony Brook University students ($9,742 vs. $9,285).

SUNY Stony Brook vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Stony Brook University (1420) is 210 points higher than at Penn State Wilkes-Barre (1210).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Stony Brook University 1330/1500; Penn State Wilkes Barre 1090/1330.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Stony Brook University 29/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SUNY Stony Brook - Test optional; Penn State Wilkes-Barre - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027.
• Penn State Wilkes-Barre has a higher acceptance rate (97%) than SUNY Stony Brook (49%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.7% at SUNY Stony Brook vs. 15% at Penn State Wilkes-Barre.

SUNY Stony Brook vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SUNY Stony Brook and Penn State Wilkes-Barre? 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 Penn State Wilkes Barre's (47%).
• Graduates from Stony Brook University earn a median of about $4,000 more per year than Penn State Wilkes-Barre 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 Wilkes-Barre 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 Wilkes-Barre graduates ($196 vs. $277).
• More SUNY Stony Brook graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Wilkes-Barre 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.