SUNY Stony Brook vs. UNC Chapel Hill

Deciding between Stony Brook University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill? 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
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • SUNY Stony Brook Stony Brook, NY
  • UNC Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC
  • Setting
  • SUNY Stony Brook Large Suburban
  • UNC Chapel Hill Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • SUNY Stony Brook 26,689
  • UNC Chapel Hill 32,438
  • Type
  • SUNY Stony Brook Public 4 Year
  • UNC Chapel Hill Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SUNY Stony Brook #141
  • UNC Chapel Hill #59
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SUNY Stony Brook -
  • UNC Chapel Hill -
  • Status
  • SUNY Stony Brook Non-profit
  • UNC Chapel Hill Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SUNY Stony Brook
  • UNC Chapel Hill

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SUNY Stony Brook $10,931
  • UNC Chapel Hill $8,994
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SUNY Stony Brook $32,741
  • UNC Chapel Hill $41,203
  • Room & Board
  • SUNY Stony Brook $18,196
  • UNC Chapel Hill $13,804
  • Average Net Price
  • SUNY Stony Brook $20,992
  • UNC Chapel Hill $10,154
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SUNY Stony Brook $9,285
  • UNC Chapel Hill $17,814
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SUNY Stony Brook 98%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 38%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SUNY Stony Brook 55,880
  • UNC Chapel Hill 66,535
  • Admitted
  • SUNY Stony Brook 27,406
  • UNC Chapel Hill 10,209
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SUNY Stony Brook 49%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 15.3%
  • Enrolled
  • SUNY Stony Brook 14.7%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 45.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1420
  • UNC Chapel Hill 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • SUNY Stony Brook 31
  • UNC Chapel Hill 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • SUNY Stony Brook 3.94
  • UNC Chapel Hill 3.83
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SUNY Stony Brook A
  • UNC Chapel Hill A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • SUNY Stony Brook Exceptional
  • UNC Chapel Hill Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • SUNY Stony Brook Low
  • UNC Chapel Hill Very High
  • ACT Range
  • SUNY Stony Brook 29/33
  • UNC Chapel Hill 28/34
  • SAT Range
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1330/1500
  • UNC Chapel Hill 1390/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SUNY Stony Brook Test optional
  • UNC Chapel Hill Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027
  • UNC Chapel Hill Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SUNY Stony Brook 19:1
  • UNC Chapel Hill 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SUNY Stony Brook
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Health Professions (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Business (9%)
  • UNC Chapel Hill
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Communication (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SUNY Stony Brook 67%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 89%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SUNY Stony Brook $59,300
  • UNC Chapel Hill $66,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SUNY Stony Brook 73%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 82%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SUNY Stony Brook $19,000
  • UNC Chapel Hill $16,479
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SUNY Stony Brook $196
  • UNC Chapel Hill $170

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SUNY Stony Brook 47%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 40%
  • % Women
  • SUNY Stony Brook 53%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SUNY Stony Brook Very High
  • UNC Chapel Hill Medium
  • HBCU
  • SUNY Stony Brook No
  • UNC Chapel Hill No
  • % White
  • SUNY Stony Brook 36%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 64%
  • % Asian
  • SUNY Stony Brook 24%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 10%
  • % Black
  • SUNY Stony Brook 7%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • SUNY Stony Brook 11%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 8%
  • % Native American
  • SUNY Stony Brook 0%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SUNY Stony Brook 0%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SUNY Stony Brook 2%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 4%
  • % International
  • SUNY Stony Brook 13%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SUNY Stony Brook 7%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SUNY Stony Brook 78%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 84%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SUNY Stony Brook 9%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 11%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, NY with University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Chapel Hill, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is larger than SUNY Stony Brook based on total student enrollment (32,438 students vs. 26,689 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Stony Brook University is located in Stony Brook, NY (Large Suburban setting); University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is in Chapel Hill, NC (Small City setting).
  • Stony Brook University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Stony Brook University 19:1; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 15:1.

SUNY Stony Brook vs. UNC Chapel Hill Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SUNY Stony Brook or UNC Chapel Hill? 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 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill than SUNY Stony Brook ($10,154 vs. $20,992).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are 24.1% lower than at Stony Brook University ($13,804 vs. $18,196).
  • Stony Brook University is 21.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than UNC Chapel Hill (about $1,937 more per year; $10,931.00 vs. $8,994.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 25.8% higher at UNC Chapel Hill than at Stony Brook University (about $8,462 more per year; $41,203.00 vs. $32,741.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Stony Brook University than at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (98% vs. 38%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill students is 91.9% larger than aid received by Stony Brook University students ($17,814 vs. $9,285).

SUNY Stony Brook vs. UNC Chapel Hill Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SUNY Stony Brook or UNC Chapel Hill? 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 UNC Chapel Hill and SUNY Stony Brook.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1460) is 40 points higher than at SUNY Stony Brook (1420).
  • Incoming SUNY Stony Brook students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 31) as students at UNC Chapel Hill (31).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Stony Brook University 1330/1500; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 1390/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Stony Brook University 29/33; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 28/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SUNY Stony Brook - Test optional; UNC Chapel Hill - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027; UNC Chapel Hill Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman SUNY Stony Brook students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at UNC Chapel Hill (3.83).
  • SUNY Stony Brook has a higher acceptance rate (49%) than UNC Chapel Hill (15.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.7% at SUNY Stony Brook vs. 45.5% at UNC Chapel Hill.

SUNY Stony Brook vs. UNC Chapel Hill Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SUNY Stony Brook and UNC Chapel Hill? 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).

  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's six-year graduation rate (89%) is higher than Stony Brook University's (67%).
  • Graduates from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill earn a median of about $6,800 more per year than SUNY Stony Brook graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,100 vs. $59,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduates have a $2,521 lower median loan debt than SUNY Stony Brook graduates ($16,479 vs. $19,000).
  • Among borrowers, UNC Chapel Hill graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SUNY Stony Brook graduates ($170 vs. $196).
  • More UNC Chapel Hill graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SUNY Stony Brook students, three years after graduation. (82% 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.