UCLA vs. SUNY Stony Brook

Deciding between University of California Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles
Stony Brook University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCLA Los Angeles, CA
  • SUNY Stony Brook Stony Brook, NY
  • Setting
  • UCLA Large City
  • SUNY Stony Brook Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UCLA 47,335
  • SUNY Stony Brook 26,689
  • Type
  • UCLA Public 4 Year
  • SUNY Stony Brook Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCLA #66
  • SUNY Stony Brook #141
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCLA -
  • SUNY Stony Brook -
  • Status
  • UCLA Non-profit
  • SUNY Stony Brook Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCLA
  • SUNY Stony Brook

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCLA $15,203
  • SUNY Stony Brook $10,931
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCLA $49,403
  • SUNY Stony Brook $32,741
  • Room & Board
  • UCLA $18,369
  • SUNY Stony Brook $18,196
  • Average Net Price
  • UCLA $14,512
  • SUNY Stony Brook $20,992
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCLA $25,627
  • SUNY Stony Brook $9,285
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCLA 49%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCLA 146,272
  • SUNY Stony Brook 55,880
  • Admitted
  • UCLA 13,114
  • SUNY Stony Brook 27,406
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCLA 9%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 49%
  • Enrolled
  • UCLA 50.4%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 14.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCLA 1420
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1420
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCLA 32
  • SUNY Stony Brook 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCLA 3.92
  • SUNY Stony Brook 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCLA A
  • SUNY Stony Brook A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCLA Elite
  • SUNY Stony Brook Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCLA Extreme
  • SUNY Stony Brook Low
  • ACT Range
  • UCLA 29/35
  • SUNY Stony Brook 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • UCLA 1300/1530
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1330/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCLA Test-free
  • SUNY Stony Brook Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UCLA Nov 30, 2026
  • SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCLA 20:1
  • SUNY Stony Brook 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCLA
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • History (7%)
  • SUNY Stony Brook
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Health Professions (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Business (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCLA 90%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 67%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCLA $70,700
  • SUNY Stony Brook $59,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCLA 78%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCLA $16,300
  • SUNY Stony Brook $19,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCLA $168
  • SUNY Stony Brook $196

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCLA 43%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 47%
  • % Women
  • UCLA 57%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCLA Very High
  • SUNY Stony Brook Very High
  • HBCU
  • UCLA No
  • SUNY Stony Brook No
  • % White
  • UCLA 27%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 36%
  • % Asian
  • UCLA 29%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 24%
  • % Black
  • UCLA 3%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCLA 21%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 11%
  • % Native American
  • UCLA 0%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCLA 0%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCLA 5%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 2%
  • % International
  • UCLA 13%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCLA 2%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCLA 79%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCLA 12%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 9%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Los Angeles in Los Angeles, 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 Los Angeles is larger than SUNY Stony Brook based on total student enrollment (47,335 students vs. 26,689 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); Stony Brook University is in Stony Brook, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of California Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles 20:1; Stony Brook University 19:1.

UCLA vs. SUNY Stony Brook Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCLA 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 Los Angeles than SUNY Stony Brook ($14,512 vs. $20,992).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Stony Brook University are 0.9% lower than at University of California Los Angeles ($18,196 vs. $18,369).
  • University of California Los Angeles is 39.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY Stony Brook (about $4,272 more per year; $15,203.00 vs. $10,931.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 50.9% higher at UCLA than at Stony Brook University (about $16,662 more per year; $49,403.00 vs. $32,741.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Stony Brook University than at University of California Los Angeles (98% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Los Angeles students is 176% larger than aid received by Stony Brook University students ($25,627 vs. $9,285).

UCLA vs. SUNY Stony Brook Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCLA 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 UCLA.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Los Angeles (1420) is the same as at SUNY Stony Brook (1420).
  • Incoming UCLA 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 Los Angeles 1300/1530; Stony Brook University 1330/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Los Angeles 29/35; Stony Brook University 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCLA - Test-free; SUNY Stony Brook - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCLA Nov 30, 2026; SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman SUNY Stony Brook students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at UCLA (3.92).
  • SUNY Stony Brook has a higher acceptance rate (49%) than UCLA (9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 50.4% at UCLA vs. 14.7% at SUNY Stony Brook.

UCLA vs. SUNY Stony Brook Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCLA 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 Los Angeles's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than Stony Brook University's (67%).
  • Graduates from University of California Los Angeles earn a median of about $11,400 more per year than SUNY Stony Brook graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,700 vs. $59,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Los Angeles graduates have a $2,700 lower median loan debt than SUNY Stony Brook graduates ($16,300 vs. $19,000).
  • Among borrowers, UCLA graduates have an estimated $28 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SUNY Stony Brook graduates ($168 vs. $196).
  • More UCLA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SUNY Stony Brook students, three years after graduation. (78% 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.