SUNY Stony Brook vs. Vassar

Deciding between Stony Brook University and Vassar College? 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
Vassar College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • SUNY Stony Brook Stony Brook, NY
  • Vassar Poughkeepsie, NY
  • Setting
  • SUNY Stony Brook Large Suburban
  • Vassar Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • SUNY Stony Brook 26,689
  • Vassar 2,462
  • Type
  • SUNY Stony Brook Public 4 Year
  • Vassar Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SUNY Stony Brook #141
  • Vassar #46
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SUNY Stony Brook -
  • Vassar -
  • Status
  • SUNY Stony Brook Non-profit
  • Vassar Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SUNY Stony Brook
  • Vassar

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SUNY Stony Brook $10,931
  • Vassar $71,030
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SUNY Stony Brook $32,741
  • Vassar $71,030
  • Room & Board
  • SUNY Stony Brook $18,196
  • Vassar $18,240
  • Average Net Price
  • SUNY Stony Brook $20,992
  • Vassar $29,981
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SUNY Stony Brook $9,285
  • Vassar $57,443
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SUNY Stony Brook 98%
  • Vassar 55%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SUNY Stony Brook 55,880
  • Vassar 12,447
  • Admitted
  • SUNY Stony Brook 27,406
  • Vassar 2,311
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SUNY Stony Brook 49%
  • Vassar 18.6%
  • Enrolled
  • SUNY Stony Brook 14.7%
  • Vassar 28.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1420
  • Vassar 1500
  • Typical ACT score
  • SUNY Stony Brook 31
  • Vassar 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • SUNY Stony Brook 3.94
  • Vassar 3.86
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SUNY Stony Brook A
  • Vassar A
  • Admissions Standards
  • SUNY Stony Brook Exceptional
  • Vassar Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • SUNY Stony Brook Low
  • Vassar Very High
  • ACT Range
  • SUNY Stony Brook 29/33
  • Vassar 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1330/1500
  • Vassar 1450/1550
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SUNY Stony Brook Test optional
  • Vassar Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027
  • Vassar Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SUNY Stony Brook 19:1
  • Vassar 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SUNY Stony Brook
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Health Professions (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Business (9%)
  • Vassar
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SUNY Stony Brook 67%
  • Vassar 91%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SUNY Stony Brook $59,300
  • Vassar $58,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SUNY Stony Brook 73%
  • Vassar 92%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SUNY Stony Brook $19,000
  • Vassar $15,780
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SUNY Stony Brook $196
  • Vassar $163

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SUNY Stony Brook 47%
  • Vassar 38%
  • % Women
  • SUNY Stony Brook 53%
  • Vassar 62%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SUNY Stony Brook Very High
  • Vassar High
  • HBCU
  • SUNY Stony Brook No
  • Vassar No
  • % White
  • SUNY Stony Brook 36%
  • Vassar 59%
  • % Asian
  • SUNY Stony Brook 24%
  • Vassar 11%
  • % Black
  • SUNY Stony Brook 7%
  • Vassar 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • SUNY Stony Brook 11%
  • Vassar 11%
  • % Native American
  • SUNY Stony Brook 0%
  • Vassar 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SUNY Stony Brook 0%
  • Vassar 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SUNY Stony Brook 2%
  • Vassar 6%
  • % International
  • SUNY Stony Brook 13%
  • Vassar 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SUNY Stony Brook 7%
  • Vassar 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SUNY Stony Brook 78%
  • Vassar 29%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SUNY Stony Brook 9%
  • Vassar 63%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Stony Brook University is larger than Vassar based on total student enrollment (26,689 students vs. 2,462 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Stony Brook University is located in Stony Brook, NY (Large Suburban setting); Vassar College is in Poughkeepsie, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • Stony Brook University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Vassar College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Stony Brook University 19:1; Vassar College 7:1.

SUNY Stony Brook vs. Vassar Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SUNY Stony Brook or Vassar? 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 Vassar ($20,992 vs. $29,981).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Stony Brook University are 0.2% lower than at Vassar College ($18,196 vs. $18,240).
  • Vassar College is 549.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY Stony Brook (about $60,099 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $10,931.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 116.9% higher at Vassar than at Stony Brook University (about $38,289 more per year; $71,030.00 vs. $32,741.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Stony Brook University than at Vassar College (98% vs. 55%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Vassar College students is 518.7% larger than aid received by Stony Brook University students ($57,443 vs. $9,285).

SUNY Stony Brook vs. Vassar Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Vassar College (1500) is 80 points higher than at SUNY Stony Brook (1420).
  • Incoming Vassar students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 31 at SUNY Stony Brook).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Stony Brook University 1330/1500; Vassar College 1450/1550.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Stony Brook University 29/33; Vassar College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SUNY Stony Brook - Test optional; Vassar - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027; Vassar Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman SUNY Stony Brook students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Vassar (3.86).
  • SUNY Stony Brook has a higher acceptance rate (49%) than Vassar (18.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.7% at SUNY Stony Brook vs. 28.8% at Vassar.

SUNY Stony Brook vs. Vassar Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • Vassar College's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than Stony Brook University's (67%).
  • Graduates from Stony Brook University earn a median of about $900 more per year than Vassar graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,300 vs. $58,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Vassar College graduates have a $3,220 lower median loan debt than SUNY Stony Brook graduates ($15,780 vs. $19,000).
  • Among borrowers, Vassar graduates have an estimated $33 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SUNY Stony Brook graduates ($163 vs. $196).
  • More Vassar graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SUNY Stony Brook students, three years after graduation. (92% 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.