UCSB vs. SUNY Stony Brook

Deciding between University of California Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara
Stony Brook University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCSB Santa Barbara, CA
  • SUNY Stony Brook Stony Brook, NY
  • Setting
  • UCSB Midsize Suburban
  • SUNY Stony Brook Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UCSB 26,133
  • SUNY Stony Brook 26,689
  • Type
  • UCSB Public 4 Year
  • SUNY Stony Brook Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCSB #112
  • SUNY Stony Brook #141
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCSB -
  • SUNY Stony Brook -
  • Status
  • UCSB Non-profit
  • SUNY Stony Brook Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCSB
  • SUNY Stony Brook

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCSB $16,414
  • SUNY Stony Brook $10,931
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCSB $50,614
  • SUNY Stony Brook $32,741
  • Room & Board
  • UCSB $20,279
  • SUNY Stony Brook $18,196
  • Average Net Price
  • UCSB $17,658
  • SUNY Stony Brook $20,992
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCSB $24,695
  • SUNY Stony Brook $9,285
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCSB 53%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCSB 110,259
  • SUNY Stony Brook 55,880
  • Admitted
  • UCSB 36,347
  • SUNY Stony Brook 27,406
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCSB 33%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 49%
  • Enrolled
  • UCSB 13.8%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 14.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCSB 1350
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1420
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCSB 31
  • SUNY Stony Brook 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCSB 3.82
  • SUNY Stony Brook 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCSB A-
  • SUNY Stony Brook A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCSB Exceptional
  • SUNY Stony Brook Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCSB High
  • SUNY Stony Brook Low
  • ACT Range
  • UCSB 28/34
  • SUNY Stony Brook 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • UCSB 1230/1460
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1330/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCSB Test-free
  • SUNY Stony Brook Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UCSB Nov 30, 2026
  • SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCSB 17:1
  • SUNY Stony Brook 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCSB
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • SUNY Stony Brook
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Health Professions (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Business (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCSB 80%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 67%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCSB $59,000
  • SUNY Stony Brook $59,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCSB 73%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCSB $16,451
  • SUNY Stony Brook $19,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCSB $170
  • SUNY Stony Brook $196

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCSB 43%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 47%
  • % Women
  • UCSB 57%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCSB Very High
  • SUNY Stony Brook Very High
  • HBCU
  • UCSB No
  • SUNY Stony Brook No
  • % White
  • UCSB 35%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 36%
  • % Asian
  • UCSB 19%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 24%
  • % Black
  • UCSB 2%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCSB 26%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 11%
  • % Native American
  • UCSB 0%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCSB 0%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCSB 8%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 2%
  • % International
  • UCSB 7%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCSB 3%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCSB 82%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCSB 9%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 9%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara, CA 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 UCSB based on total student enrollment (26,689 students vs. 26,133 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Santa Barbara is located in Santa Barbara, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Stony Brook University is in Stony Brook, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of California Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara 17:1; Stony Brook University 19:1.

UCSB vs. SUNY Stony Brook Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSB 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 Santa Barbara than SUNY Stony Brook ($17,658 vs. $20,992).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Stony Brook University are 10.3% lower than at University of California Santa Barbara ($18,196 vs. $20,279).
  • University of California Santa Barbara is 50.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY Stony Brook (about $5,483 more per year; $16,414.00 vs. $10,931.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 54.6% higher at UCSB than at Stony Brook University (about $17,873 more per year; $50,614.00 vs. $32,741.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Stony Brook University than at University of California Santa Barbara (98% vs. 53%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Barbara students is 166% larger than aid received by Stony Brook University students ($24,695 vs. $9,285).

UCSB vs. SUNY Stony Brook Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCSB 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 UCSB.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Stony Brook University (1420) is 70 points higher than at UCSB (1350).
  • Incoming UCSB 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 Santa Barbara 1230/1460; Stony Brook University 1330/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Barbara 28/34; Stony Brook University 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSB - Test-free; SUNY Stony Brook - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCSB 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 UCSB (3.82).
  • SUNY Stony Brook has a higher acceptance rate (49%) than UCSB (33%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.8% at UCSB vs. 14.7% at SUNY Stony Brook.

UCSB vs. SUNY Stony Brook Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSB 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 Santa Barbara's six-year graduation rate (80%) is higher than Stony Brook University's (67%).
  • Graduates from Stony Brook University earn a median of about $300 more per year than UCSB graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,300 vs. $59,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Santa Barbara graduates have a $2,549 lower median loan debt than SUNY Stony Brook graduates ($16,451 vs. $19,000).
  • Among borrowers, UCSB graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SUNY Stony Brook graduates ($170 vs. $196).
  • More UCSB graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SUNY Stony Brook students, three years after graduation. (73% 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.