SUNY Stony Brook vs. SUNY-ESF

Comparable Facts

Compare Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, NY with SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Stony Brook University is larger than SUNY-ESF based on total student enrollment (26,689 students vs. 2,757 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Stony Brook University is located in Stony Brook, NY (Large Suburban setting); SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry is in Syracuse, NY (Midsize City setting).
• Stony Brook University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Stony Brook University 19:1; SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry 14:1.

SUNY Stony Brook vs. SUNY-ESF Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SUNY Stony Brook or SUNY-ESF? 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 SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry than SUNY Stony Brook ($19,814 vs. $20,992).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry are 0.6% lower than at Stony Brook University ($18,080 vs. $18,196).
• Stony Brook University is 17.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY-ESF (about $1,628 more per year; $10,931.00 vs. $9,303.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 47.1% higher at SUNY Stony Brook than at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (about $10,478 more per year; $32,741.00 vs. $22,263.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Stony Brook University than at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (98% vs. 96%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Stony Brook University students is 6.7% larger than aid received by SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry students ($9,285 vs. $8,699).

SUNY Stony Brook vs. SUNY-ESF Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Stony Brook University (1420) is 200 points higher than at SUNY-ESF (1220).
• Incoming SUNY Stony Brook students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 27 at SUNY-ESF).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Stony Brook University 1330/1500; SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry 1130/1300.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Stony Brook University 29/33; SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry 24/30.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SUNY Stony Brook - Test optional; SUNY-ESF - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027; SUNY-ESF Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman SUNY Stony Brook students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at SUNY-ESF (3.7).
• SUNY-ESF has a higher acceptance rate (63.3%) than SUNY Stony Brook (49%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.7% at SUNY Stony Brook vs. 17.6% at SUNY-ESF.

SUNY Stony Brook vs. SUNY-ESF Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SUNY Stony Brook and SUNY-ESF? 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 SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry's (66%).
• Graduates from Stony Brook University earn a median of about $13,100 more per year than SUNY-ESF graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,300 vs. $46,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Stony Brook University graduates have a $750 lower median loan debt than SUNY-ESF graduates ($19,000 vs. $19,750).
• Among borrowers, SUNY Stony Brook graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SUNY-ESF graduates ($196 vs. $204).
• More SUNY-ESF graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SUNY Stony Brook students, three years after graduation. (78% 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.