SUNY Stony Brook vs. Wisconsin

Deciding between Stony Brook University and University of Wisconsin Madison? 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 Wisconsin Madison

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • SUNY Stony Brook Stony Brook, NY
  • Wisconsin Madison, WI
  • Setting
  • SUNY Stony Brook Large Suburban
  • Wisconsin Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • SUNY Stony Brook 26,689
  • Wisconsin 51,044
  • Type
  • SUNY Stony Brook Public 4 Year
  • Wisconsin Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SUNY Stony Brook #141
  • Wisconsin #109
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SUNY Stony Brook -
  • Wisconsin -
  • Status
  • SUNY Stony Brook Non-profit
  • Wisconsin Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SUNY Stony Brook
  • Wisconsin

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SUNY Stony Brook $10,931
  • Wisconsin $11,603
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SUNY Stony Brook $32,741
  • Wisconsin $42,103
  • Room & Board
  • SUNY Stony Brook $18,196
  • Wisconsin $14,124
  • Average Net Price
  • SUNY Stony Brook $20,992
  • Wisconsin $14,235
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SUNY Stony Brook $9,285
  • Wisconsin $17,741
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SUNY Stony Brook 98%
  • Wisconsin 35%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SUNY Stony Brook 55,880
  • Wisconsin 65,894
  • Admitted
  • SUNY Stony Brook 27,406
  • Wisconsin 29,782
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SUNY Stony Brook 49%
  • Wisconsin 45.2%
  • Enrolled
  • SUNY Stony Brook 14.7%
  • Wisconsin 28.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1420
  • Wisconsin 1450
  • Typical ACT score
  • SUNY Stony Brook 31
  • Wisconsin 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • SUNY Stony Brook 3.94
  • Wisconsin 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SUNY Stony Brook A
  • Wisconsin A
  • Admissions Standards
  • SUNY Stony Brook Exceptional
  • Wisconsin Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • SUNY Stony Brook Low
  • Wisconsin Low
  • ACT Range
  • SUNY Stony Brook 29/33
  • Wisconsin 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1330/1500
  • Wisconsin 1380/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SUNY Stony Brook Test optional
  • Wisconsin Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027
  • Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SUNY Stony Brook 19:1
  • Wisconsin 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SUNY Stony Brook
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Health Professions (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Business (9%)
  • Wisconsin
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Business (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Communication (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SUNY Stony Brook 67%
  • Wisconsin 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SUNY Stony Brook $59,300
  • Wisconsin $64,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SUNY Stony Brook 73%
  • Wisconsin 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SUNY Stony Brook $19,000
  • Wisconsin $22,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SUNY Stony Brook $196
  • Wisconsin $230

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SUNY Stony Brook 47%
  • Wisconsin 47%
  • % Women
  • SUNY Stony Brook 53%
  • Wisconsin 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SUNY Stony Brook Very High
  • Wisconsin Low
  • HBCU
  • SUNY Stony Brook No
  • Wisconsin No
  • % White
  • SUNY Stony Brook 36%
  • Wisconsin 76%
  • % Asian
  • SUNY Stony Brook 24%
  • Wisconsin 6%
  • % Black
  • SUNY Stony Brook 7%
  • Wisconsin 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • SUNY Stony Brook 11%
  • Wisconsin 5%
  • % Native American
  • SUNY Stony Brook 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SUNY Stony Brook 0%
  • Wisconsin 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SUNY Stony Brook 2%
  • Wisconsin 3%
  • % International
  • SUNY Stony Brook 13%
  • Wisconsin 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SUNY Stony Brook 7%
  • Wisconsin 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SUNY Stony Brook 78%
  • Wisconsin 45%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SUNY Stony Brook 9%
  • Wisconsin 46%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Wisconsin Madison is larger than SUNY Stony Brook based on total student enrollment (51,044 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 Wisconsin Madison is in Madison, WI (Midsize City setting).
  • Stony Brook University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Wisconsin Madison is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Stony Brook University 19:1; University of Wisconsin Madison 18:1.

SUNY Stony Brook vs. Wisconsin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SUNY Stony Brook or Wisconsin? 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 Wisconsin Madison than SUNY Stony Brook ($14,235 vs. $20,992).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin Madison are 22.4% lower than at Stony Brook University ($14,124 vs. $18,196).
  • University of Wisconsin Madison is 6.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY Stony Brook (about $672 more per year; $11,603.00 vs. $10,931.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 28.6% higher at Wisconsin than at Stony Brook University (about $9,362 more per year; $42,103.00 vs. $32,741.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Stony Brook University than at University of Wisconsin Madison (98% vs. 35%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Wisconsin Madison students is 91.1% larger than aid received by Stony Brook University students ($17,741 vs. $9,285).

SUNY Stony Brook vs. Wisconsin Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Wisconsin Madison (1450) is 30 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 Wisconsin (31).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Stony Brook University 1330/1500; University of Wisconsin Madison 1380/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Stony Brook University 29/33; University of Wisconsin Madison 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SUNY Stony Brook - Test optional; Wisconsin - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027; Wisconsin Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman SUNY Stony Brook students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Wisconsin (3.88).
  • SUNY Stony Brook has a higher acceptance rate (49%) than Wisconsin (45.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.7% at SUNY Stony Brook vs. 28.6% at Wisconsin.

SUNY Stony Brook vs. Wisconsin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SUNY Stony Brook and Wisconsin? 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 Wisconsin Madison's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than Stony Brook University's (67%).
  • Graduates from University of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of about $5,500 more per year than SUNY Stony Brook graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,800 vs. $59,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Stony Brook University graduates have a $3,250 lower median loan debt than Wisconsin graduates ($19,000 vs. $22,250).
  • Among borrowers, SUNY Stony Brook graduates have an estimated $34 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wisconsin graduates ($196 vs. $230).
  • More Wisconsin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SUNY Stony Brook students, three years after graduation. (84% 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.