SUNY Stony Brook vs. Syracuse

Deciding between Stony Brook University and Syracuse 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
Syracuse University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • SUNY Stony Brook Stony Brook, NY
  • Syracuse Syracuse, NY
  • Setting
  • SUNY Stony Brook Large Suburban
  • Syracuse Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • SUNY Stony Brook 26,689
  • Syracuse 22,589
  • Type
  • SUNY Stony Brook Public 4 Year
  • Syracuse Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SUNY Stony Brook #141
  • Syracuse #158
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SUNY Stony Brook -
  • Syracuse -
  • Status
  • SUNY Stony Brook Non-profit
  • Syracuse Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SUNY Stony Brook
  • Syracuse

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SUNY Stony Brook $10,931
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SUNY Stony Brook $32,741
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Room & Board
  • SUNY Stony Brook $18,196
  • Syracuse $19,188
  • Average Net Price
  • SUNY Stony Brook $20,992
  • Syracuse $48,215
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SUNY Stony Brook $9,285
  • Syracuse $36,417
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SUNY Stony Brook 98%
  • Syracuse 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SUNY Stony Brook 55,880
  • Syracuse 44,480
  • Admitted
  • SUNY Stony Brook 27,406
  • Syracuse 20,427
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SUNY Stony Brook 49%
  • Syracuse 45.9%
  • Enrolled
  • SUNY Stony Brook 14.7%
  • Syracuse 18.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1420
  • Syracuse 1360
  • Typical ACT score
  • SUNY Stony Brook 31
  • Syracuse 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • SUNY Stony Brook 3.94
  • Syracuse 3.69
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SUNY Stony Brook A
  • Syracuse A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • SUNY Stony Brook Exceptional
  • Syracuse Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • SUNY Stony Brook Low
  • Syracuse Low
  • ACT Range
  • SUNY Stony Brook 29/33
  • Syracuse 29/32
  • SAT Range
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1330/1500
  • Syracuse 1270/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SUNY Stony Brook Test optional
  • Syracuse Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027
  • Syracuse Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SUNY Stony Brook 19:1
  • Syracuse 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SUNY Stony Brook
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Health Professions (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Business (9%)
  • Syracuse
    • Business (18%)
    • Communication (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SUNY Stony Brook 67%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SUNY Stony Brook $59,300
  • Syracuse $65,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SUNY Stony Brook 73%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SUNY Stony Brook $19,000
  • Syracuse $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SUNY Stony Brook $196
  • Syracuse $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SUNY Stony Brook 47%
  • Syracuse 44%
  • % Women
  • SUNY Stony Brook 53%
  • Syracuse 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SUNY Stony Brook Very High
  • Syracuse High
  • HBCU
  • SUNY Stony Brook No
  • Syracuse No
  • % White
  • SUNY Stony Brook 36%
  • Syracuse 55%
  • % Asian
  • SUNY Stony Brook 24%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Black
  • SUNY Stony Brook 7%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • SUNY Stony Brook 11%
  • Syracuse 11%
  • % Native American
  • SUNY Stony Brook 0%
  • Syracuse 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SUNY Stony Brook 0%
  • Syracuse 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SUNY Stony Brook 2%
  • Syracuse 3%
  • % International
  • SUNY Stony Brook 13%
  • Syracuse 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SUNY Stony Brook 7%
  • Syracuse 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SUNY Stony Brook 78%
  • Syracuse 31%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SUNY Stony Brook 9%
  • Syracuse 63%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Stony Brook University is larger than Syracuse based on total student enrollment (26,689 students vs. 22,589 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Stony Brook University is located in Stony Brook, NY (Large Suburban setting); Syracuse University is in Syracuse, NY (Midsize City setting).
  • Stony Brook University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Syracuse University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Stony Brook University 19:1; Syracuse University 15:1.

SUNY Stony Brook vs. Syracuse Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SUNY Stony Brook or Syracuse? 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 Syracuse ($20,992 vs. $48,215).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Stony Brook University are 5.2% lower than at Syracuse University ($18,196 vs. $19,188).
  • Syracuse University is 499.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY Stony Brook (about $54,597 more per year; $65,528.00 vs. $10,931.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 100.1% higher at Syracuse than at Stony Brook University (about $32,787 more per year; $65,528.00 vs. $32,741.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Stony Brook University than at Syracuse University (98% vs. 76%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Syracuse University students is 292.2% larger than aid received by Stony Brook University students ($36,417 vs. $9,285).

SUNY Stony Brook vs. Syracuse Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Stony Brook University (1420) is 60 points higher than at Syracuse (1360).
  • Incoming SUNY Stony Brook students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at Syracuse).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Stony Brook University 1330/1500; Syracuse University 1270/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Stony Brook University 29/33; Syracuse University 29/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SUNY Stony Brook - Test optional; Syracuse - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027; Syracuse Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman SUNY Stony Brook students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Syracuse (3.69).
  • SUNY Stony Brook has a higher acceptance rate (49%) than Syracuse (45.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.7% at SUNY Stony Brook vs. 18.8% at Syracuse.

SUNY Stony Brook vs. Syracuse Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • Syracuse University's six-year graduation rate (80%) is higher than Stony Brook University's (67%).
  • Graduates from Syracuse University earn a median of about $6,600 more per year than SUNY Stony Brook graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,900 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 Syracuse graduates ($19,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, SUNY Stony Brook graduates have an estimated $83 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Syracuse graduates ($196 vs. $279).
  • More Syracuse graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SUNY Stony Brook students, three years after graduation. (80% 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.