UCSD vs. SUNY Stony Brook

Deciding between University of California San Diego 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 San Diego
Stony Brook University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCSD La Jolla, CA
  • SUNY Stony Brook Stony Brook, NY
  • Setting
  • UCSD Large City
  • SUNY Stony Brook Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UCSD 44,256
  • SUNY Stony Brook 26,689
  • Type
  • UCSD Public 4 Year
  • SUNY Stony Brook Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCSD #87
  • SUNY Stony Brook #141
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCSD -
  • SUNY Stony Brook -
  • Status
  • UCSD Non-profit
  • SUNY Stony Brook Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCSD
  • SUNY Stony Brook

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCSD $16,758
  • SUNY Stony Brook $10,931
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCSD $50,958
  • SUNY Stony Brook $32,741
  • Room & Board
  • UCSD $18,970
  • SUNY Stony Brook $18,196
  • Average Net Price
  • UCSD $14,047
  • SUNY Stony Brook $20,992
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCSD $25,757
  • SUNY Stony Brook $9,285
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCSD 59%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCSD 134,450
  • SUNY Stony Brook 55,880
  • Admitted
  • UCSD 35,917
  • SUNY Stony Brook 27,406
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCSD 26.7%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 49%
  • Enrolled
  • UCSD 20.4%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 14.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCSD 1380
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1420
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCSD 31
  • SUNY Stony Brook 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCSD 3.82
  • SUNY Stony Brook 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCSD A-
  • SUNY Stony Brook A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCSD Exceptional
  • SUNY Stony Brook Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCSD High
  • SUNY Stony Brook Low
  • ACT Range
  • UCSD 28/34
  • SUNY Stony Brook 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • UCSD 1270/1480
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1330/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCSD Test-free
  • SUNY Stony Brook Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UCSD Nov 30, 2026
  • SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCSD 19:1
  • SUNY Stony Brook 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCSD
    • Biology (23%)
    • Social Sciences (21%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • General Studies (7%)
  • SUNY Stony Brook
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Health Professions (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Business (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCSD 85%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 67%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCSD $67,900
  • SUNY Stony Brook $59,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCSD 82%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCSD $18,500
  • SUNY Stony Brook $19,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCSD $191
  • SUNY Stony Brook $196

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCSD 47%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 47%
  • % Women
  • UCSD 53%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCSD Very High
  • SUNY Stony Brook Very High
  • HBCU
  • UCSD No
  • SUNY Stony Brook No
  • % White
  • UCSD 21%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 36%
  • % Asian
  • UCSD 37%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 24%
  • % Black
  • UCSD 1%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCSD 16%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 11%
  • % Native American
  • UCSD 0%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCSD 0%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCSD 5%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 2%
  • % International
  • UCSD 17%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCSD 2%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCSD 78%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCSD 9%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 9%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California San Diego in La Jolla, 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 San Diego is larger than SUNY Stony Brook based on total student enrollment (44,256 students vs. 26,689 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California San Diego is located in La Jolla, CA (Large City setting); Stony Brook University is in Stony Brook, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of California San Diego 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 San Diego 19:1; Stony Brook University 19:1.

UCSD vs. SUNY Stony Brook Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSD 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 San Diego than SUNY Stony Brook ($14,047 vs. $20,992).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Stony Brook University are 4.1% lower than at University of California San Diego ($18,196 vs. $18,970).
  • University of California San Diego is 53.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY Stony Brook (about $5,827 more per year; $16,758.00 vs. $10,931.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 55.6% higher at UCSD than at Stony Brook University (about $18,217 more per year; $50,958.00 vs. $32,741.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Stony Brook University than at University of California San Diego (98% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California San Diego students is 177.4% larger than aid received by Stony Brook University students ($25,757 vs. $9,285).

UCSD vs. SUNY Stony Brook Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCSD 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 UCSD.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Stony Brook University (1420) is 40 points higher than at UCSD (1380).
  • Incoming UCSD students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 31) as students at SUNY Stony Brook (31).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California San Diego 1270/1480; Stony Brook University 1330/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California San Diego 28/34; Stony Brook University 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSD - Test-free; SUNY Stony Brook - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCSD Nov 30, 2026; SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman SUNY Stony Brook students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at UCSD (3.82).
  • SUNY Stony Brook has a higher acceptance rate (49%) than UCSD (26.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.4% at UCSD vs. 14.7% at SUNY Stony Brook.

UCSD vs. SUNY Stony Brook Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSD 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 San Diego's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Stony Brook University's (67%).
  • Graduates from University of California San Diego earn a median of about $8,600 more per year than SUNY Stony Brook graduates about ten years after starting college ($67,900 vs. $59,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California San Diego graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than SUNY Stony Brook graduates ($18,500 vs. $19,000).
  • Among borrowers, UCSD graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SUNY Stony Brook graduates ($191 vs. $196).
  • More UCSD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SUNY Stony Brook students, three years after graduation. (82% 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.