UCI vs. SUNY Stony Brook

Deciding between University of California Irvine 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 Irvine
Stony Brook University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCI Irvine, CA
  • SUNY Stony Brook Stony Brook, NY
  • Setting
  • UCI Rural Fringe
  • SUNY Stony Brook Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UCI 37,297
  • SUNY Stony Brook 26,689
  • Type
  • UCI Public 4 Year
  • SUNY Stony Brook Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCI #98
  • SUNY Stony Brook #141
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCI -
  • SUNY Stony Brook -
  • Status
  • UCI Non-profit
  • SUNY Stony Brook Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCI
  • SUNY Stony Brook

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCI $15,722
  • SUNY Stony Brook $10,931
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCI $49,922
  • SUNY Stony Brook $32,741
  • Room & Board
  • UCI $18,991
  • SUNY Stony Brook $18,196
  • Average Net Price
  • UCI $15,889
  • SUNY Stony Brook $20,992
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCI $23,110
  • SUNY Stony Brook $9,285
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCI 55%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCI 122,699
  • SUNY Stony Brook 55,880
  • Admitted
  • UCI 35,054
  • SUNY Stony Brook 27,406
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCI 28.6%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 49%
  • Enrolled
  • UCI 19.2%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 14.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCI 1330
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1420
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCI 29
  • SUNY Stony Brook 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCI 3.75
  • SUNY Stony Brook 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCI A-
  • SUNY Stony Brook A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCI Very High
  • SUNY Stony Brook Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCI High
  • SUNY Stony Brook Low
  • ACT Range
  • UCI 26/33
  • SUNY Stony Brook 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • UCI 1230/1430
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1330/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCI Test-free
  • SUNY Stony Brook Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UCI Nov 30, 2026
  • SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCI 19:1
  • SUNY Stony Brook 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCI
    • Social Sciences (23%)
    • Biology (16%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Engineering (8%)
  • SUNY Stony Brook
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Health Professions (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Business (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCI 85%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 67%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCI $61,800
  • SUNY Stony Brook $59,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCI 76%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCI $17,000
  • SUNY Stony Brook $19,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCI $175
  • SUNY Stony Brook $196

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCI 45%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 47%
  • % Women
  • UCI 55%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCI Very High
  • SUNY Stony Brook Very High
  • HBCU
  • UCI No
  • SUNY Stony Brook No
  • % White
  • UCI 15%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 36%
  • % Asian
  • UCI 37%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 24%
  • % Black
  • UCI 2%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCI 25%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 11%
  • % Native American
  • UCI 0%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCI 0%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCI 4%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 2%
  • % International
  • UCI 16%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCI 1%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCI 74%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCI 7%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 9%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Irvine in Irvine, 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 Irvine is larger than SUNY Stony Brook based on total student enrollment (37,297 students vs. 26,689 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Irvine is located in Irvine, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Stony Brook University is in Stony Brook, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of California Irvine 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 Irvine 19:1; Stony Brook University 19:1.

UCI vs. SUNY Stony Brook Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCI 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 Irvine than SUNY Stony Brook ($15,889 vs. $20,992).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Stony Brook University are 4.2% lower than at University of California Irvine ($18,196 vs. $18,991).
  • University of California Irvine is 43.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY Stony Brook (about $4,791 more per year; $15,722.00 vs. $10,931.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 52.5% higher at UCI than at Stony Brook University (about $17,181 more per year; $49,922.00 vs. $32,741.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Stony Brook University than at University of California Irvine (98% vs. 55%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Irvine students is 148.9% larger than aid received by Stony Brook University students ($23,110 vs. $9,285).

UCI vs. SUNY Stony Brook Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCI 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 UCI.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Stony Brook University (1420) is 90 points higher than at UCI (1330).
  • Incoming SUNY Stony Brook students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 29 at UCI).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Irvine 1230/1430; Stony Brook University 1330/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Irvine 26/33; Stony Brook University 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCI - Test-free; SUNY Stony Brook - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCI Nov 30, 2026; SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman SUNY Stony Brook students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at UCI (3.75).
  • SUNY Stony Brook has a higher acceptance rate (49%) than UCI (28.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.2% at UCI vs. 14.7% at SUNY Stony Brook.

UCI vs. SUNY Stony Brook Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCI 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 Irvine's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Stony Brook University's (67%).
  • Graduates from University of California Irvine earn a median of about $2,500 more per year than SUNY Stony Brook graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,800 vs. $59,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Irvine graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than SUNY Stony Brook graduates ($17,000 vs. $19,000).
  • Among borrowers, UCI graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SUNY Stony Brook graduates ($175 vs. $196).
  • More UCI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SUNY Stony Brook students, three years after graduation. (76% 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.