UC Berkeley vs. SUNY Stony Brook

Deciding between University of California Berkeley 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.

University of California Berkeley
Stony Brook University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UC Berkeley Berkeley, CA
  • SUNY Stony Brook Stony Brook, NY
  • Setting
  • UC Berkeley Midsize City
  • SUNY Stony Brook Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UC Berkeley 45,882
  • SUNY Stony Brook 26,689
  • Type
  • UC Berkeley Public 4 Year
  • SUNY Stony Brook Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UC Berkeley #65
  • SUNY Stony Brook #141
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UC Berkeley -
  • SUNY Stony Brook -
  • Status
  • UC Berkeley Non-profit
  • SUNY Stony Brook Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UC Berkeley
  • SUNY Stony Brook

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UC Berkeley $16,347
  • SUNY Stony Brook $10,931
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UC Berkeley $50,547
  • SUNY Stony Brook $32,741
  • Room & Board
  • UC Berkeley $23,750
  • SUNY Stony Brook $18,196
  • Average Net Price
  • UC Berkeley $16,538
  • SUNY Stony Brook $20,992
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UC Berkeley $29,608
  • SUNY Stony Brook $9,285
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UC Berkeley 53%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UC Berkeley 124,242
  • SUNY Stony Brook 55,880
  • Admitted
  • UC Berkeley 13,639
  • SUNY Stony Brook 27,406
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UC Berkeley 11%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 49%
  • Enrolled
  • UC Berkeley 46%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 14.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UC Berkeley 1420
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1420
  • Typical ACT score
  • UC Berkeley 32
  • SUNY Stony Brook 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • UC Berkeley 3.87
  • SUNY Stony Brook 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UC Berkeley A
  • SUNY Stony Brook A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UC Berkeley Elite
  • SUNY Stony Brook Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UC Berkeley Very High
  • SUNY Stony Brook Low
  • ACT Range
  • UC Berkeley 30/35
  • SUNY Stony Brook 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • UC Berkeley 1310/1530
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1330/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UC Berkeley Test-free
  • SUNY Stony Brook Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UC Berkeley Nov 30, 2026
  • SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UC Berkeley 18:1
  • SUNY Stony Brook 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UC Berkeley
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • English and Literature (5%)
    • Natural Resources Conservation (5%)
  • SUNY Stony Brook
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Health Professions (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Business (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UC Berkeley 90%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 67%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UC Berkeley $74,700
  • SUNY Stony Brook $59,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UC Berkeley 79%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UC Berkeley $14,200
  • SUNY Stony Brook $19,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UC Berkeley $146
  • SUNY Stony Brook $196

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UC Berkeley 46%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 47%
  • % Women
  • UC Berkeley 54%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UC Berkeley Very High
  • SUNY Stony Brook Very High
  • HBCU
  • UC Berkeley No
  • SUNY Stony Brook No
  • % White
  • UC Berkeley 27%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 36%
  • % Asian
  • UC Berkeley 35%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 24%
  • % Black
  • UC Berkeley 2%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • UC Berkeley 14%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 11%
  • % Native American
  • UC Berkeley 0%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UC Berkeley 0%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UC Berkeley 5%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 2%
  • % International
  • UC Berkeley 14%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UC Berkeley 3%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UC Berkeley 84%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UC Berkeley 9%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 9%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Berkeley is larger than SUNY Stony Brook based on total student enrollment (45,882 students vs. 26,689 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Berkeley is located in Berkeley, CA (Midsize City setting); Stony Brook University is in Stony Brook, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of California Berkeley is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Stony Brook University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Berkeley 18:1; Stony Brook University 19:1.

UC Berkeley vs. SUNY Stony Brook Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Berkeley 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 University of California Berkeley than SUNY Stony Brook ($16,538 vs. $20,992).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Stony Brook University are 23.4% lower than at University of California Berkeley ($18,196 vs. $23,750).
  • University of California Berkeley is 49.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY Stony Brook (about $5,416 more per year; $16,347.00 vs. $10,931.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 54.4% higher at UC Berkeley than at Stony Brook University (about $17,806 more per year; $50,547.00 vs. $32,741.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Stony Brook University than at University of California Berkeley (98% vs. 53%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Berkeley students is 218.9% larger than aid received by Stony Brook University students ($29,608 vs. $9,285).

UC Berkeley vs. SUNY Stony Brook Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UC Berkeley 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 UC Berkeley.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Berkeley (1420) is the same as at SUNY Stony Brook (1420).
  • Incoming UC Berkeley students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 31 at SUNY Stony Brook).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Berkeley 1310/1530; Stony Brook University 1330/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Berkeley 30/35; Stony Brook University 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Berkeley - Test-free; SUNY Stony Brook - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UC Berkeley Nov 30, 2026; SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman SUNY Stony Brook students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at UC Berkeley (3.87).
  • SUNY Stony Brook has a higher acceptance rate (49%) than UC Berkeley (11%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 46% at UC Berkeley vs. 14.7% at SUNY Stony Brook.

UC Berkeley vs. SUNY Stony Brook Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Berkeley 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).

  • University of California Berkeley's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than Stony Brook University's (67%).
  • Graduates from University of California Berkeley earn a median of about $15,400 more per year than SUNY Stony Brook graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,700 vs. $59,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Berkeley graduates have a $4,800 lower median loan debt than SUNY Stony Brook graduates ($14,200 vs. $19,000).
  • Among borrowers, UC Berkeley graduates have an estimated $50 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SUNY Stony Brook graduates ($146 vs. $196).
  • More UC Berkeley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SUNY Stony Brook students, three years after graduation. (79% 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.