Tufts vs. SUNY Stony Brook

Deciding between Tufts University and Stony Brook 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.

Tufts University
Stony Brook University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Tufts Medford, MA
  • SUNY Stony Brook Stony Brook, NY
  • Setting
  • Tufts Large Suburban
  • SUNY Stony Brook Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Tufts 13,599
  • SUNY Stony Brook 26,689
  • Type
  • Tufts Private 4 Year
  • SUNY Stony Brook Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Tufts #33
  • SUNY Stony Brook #141
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Tufts -
  • SUNY Stony Brook -
  • Status
  • Tufts Non-profit
  • SUNY Stony Brook Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Tufts
  • SUNY Stony Brook

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Tufts $70,704
  • SUNY Stony Brook $10,931
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Tufts $70,704
  • SUNY Stony Brook $32,741
  • Room & Board
  • Tufts $18,588
  • SUNY Stony Brook $18,196
  • Average Net Price
  • Tufts $32,367
  • SUNY Stony Brook $20,992
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Tufts $55,933
  • SUNY Stony Brook $9,285
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Tufts 39%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Tufts 34,432
  • SUNY Stony Brook 55,880
  • Admitted
  • Tufts 3,957
  • SUNY Stony Brook 27,406
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Tufts 11.5%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 49%
  • Enrolled
  • Tufts 45.5%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 14.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Tufts 1520
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1420
  • Typical ACT score
  • Tufts 34
  • SUNY Stony Brook 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Tufts 3.91
  • SUNY Stony Brook 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Tufts A
  • SUNY Stony Brook A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Tufts Elite
  • SUNY Stony Brook Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Tufts Very High
  • SUNY Stony Brook Low
  • ACT Range
  • Tufts 33/35
  • SUNY Stony Brook 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • Tufts 1470/1560
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1330/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Tufts Test optional
  • SUNY Stony Brook Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Tufts Jan 1, 2027
  • SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Tufts 10:1
  • SUNY Stony Brook 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Tufts
    • Social Sciences (31%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • SUNY Stony Brook
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Health Professions (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Business (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Tufts 90%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 67%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Tufts $83,100
  • SUNY Stony Brook $59,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Tufts 91%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Tufts $18,000
  • SUNY Stony Brook $19,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Tufts $186
  • SUNY Stony Brook $196

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Tufts 41%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 47%
  • % Women
  • Tufts 59%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Tufts High
  • SUNY Stony Brook Very High
  • HBCU
  • Tufts No
  • SUNY Stony Brook No
  • % White
  • Tufts 58%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 36%
  • % Asian
  • Tufts 11%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 24%
  • % Black
  • Tufts 4%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Tufts 6%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 11%
  • % Native American
  • Tufts 0%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Tufts 0%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Tufts 4%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 2%
  • % International
  • Tufts 9%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Tufts 7%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Tufts 22%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Tufts 63%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 9%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Stony Brook University is larger than Tufts based on total student enrollment (26,689 students vs. 13,599 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Tufts University is located in Medford, MA (Large Suburban setting); Stony Brook University is in Stony Brook, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • Tufts University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Stony Brook University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Tufts University 10:1; Stony Brook University 19:1.

Tufts vs. SUNY Stony Brook Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Tufts or SUNY Stony Brook? 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 Tufts ($20,992 vs. $32,367).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Stony Brook University are 2.1% lower than at Tufts University ($18,196 vs. $18,588).
  • Tufts University is 546.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY Stony Brook (about $59,773 more per year; $70,704.00 vs. $10,931.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 115.9% higher at Tufts than at Stony Brook University (about $37,963 more per year; $70,704.00 vs. $32,741.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Stony Brook University than at Tufts University (98% vs. 39%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Tufts University students is 502.4% larger than aid received by Stony Brook University students ($55,933 vs. $9,285).

Tufts vs. SUNY Stony Brook Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Tufts University (1520) is 100 points higher than at SUNY Stony Brook (1420).
  • Incoming Tufts 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: Tufts University 1470/1560; Stony Brook University 1330/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Tufts University 33/35; Stony Brook University 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Tufts - Test optional; SUNY Stony Brook - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Tufts Jan 1, 2027; SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman SUNY Stony Brook students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Tufts (3.91).
  • SUNY Stony Brook has a higher acceptance rate (49%) than Tufts (11.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 45.5% at Tufts vs. 14.7% at SUNY Stony Brook.

Tufts vs. SUNY Stony Brook Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • Tufts University's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than Stony Brook University's (67%).
  • Graduates from Tufts University earn a median of about $23,800 more per year than SUNY Stony Brook graduates about ten years after starting college ($83,100 vs. $59,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Tufts University graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than SUNY Stony Brook graduates ($18,000 vs. $19,000).
  • Among borrowers, Tufts graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SUNY Stony Brook graduates ($186 vs. $196).
  • More Tufts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SUNY Stony Brook students, three years after graduation. (91% 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.