CU Boulder vs. SUNY Stony Brook

Deciding between University of Colorado Boulder 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 Colorado Boulder
Stony Brook University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • CU Boulder Boulder, CO
  • SUNY Stony Brook Stony Brook, NY
  • Setting
  • CU Boulder Small City
  • SUNY Stony Brook Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • CU Boulder 38,799
  • SUNY Stony Brook 26,689
  • Type
  • CU Boulder Public 4 Year
  • SUNY Stony Brook Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CU Boulder #199
  • SUNY Stony Brook #141
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CU Boulder -
  • SUNY Stony Brook -
  • Status
  • CU Boulder Non-profit
  • SUNY Stony Brook Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CU Boulder
  • SUNY Stony Brook

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CU Boulder $15,666
  • SUNY Stony Brook $10,931
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CU Boulder $44,918
  • SUNY Stony Brook $32,741
  • Room & Board
  • CU Boulder $18,468
  • SUNY Stony Brook $18,196
  • Average Net Price
  • CU Boulder $26,231
  • SUNY Stony Brook $20,992
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CU Boulder $11,225
  • SUNY Stony Brook $9,285
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CU Boulder 53%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CU Boulder 67,286
  • SUNY Stony Brook 55,880
  • Admitted
  • CU Boulder 52,539
  • SUNY Stony Brook 27,406
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CU Boulder 78.1%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 49%
  • Enrolled
  • CU Boulder 14.1%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 14.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CU Boulder 1340
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1420
  • Typical ACT score
  • CU Boulder 31
  • SUNY Stony Brook 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • CU Boulder 3.68
  • SUNY Stony Brook 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CU Boulder A-
  • SUNY Stony Brook A
  • Admissions Standards
  • CU Boulder Very High
  • SUNY Stony Brook Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • CU Boulder
  • SUNY Stony Brook Low
  • ACT Range
  • CU Boulder 29/33
  • SUNY Stony Brook 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • CU Boulder 1240/1430
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1330/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CU Boulder Test optional
  • SUNY Stony Brook Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • CU Boulder Jan 15, 2027
  • SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CU Boulder 19:1
  • SUNY Stony Brook 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CU Boulder
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • SUNY Stony Brook
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Health Professions (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Business (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CU Boulder 68%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 67%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CU Boulder $56,900
  • SUNY Stony Brook $59,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CU Boulder 73%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CU Boulder $19,500
  • SUNY Stony Brook $19,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CU Boulder $201
  • SUNY Stony Brook $196

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CU Boulder 53%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 47%
  • % Women
  • CU Boulder 47%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CU Boulder Medium
  • SUNY Stony Brook Very High
  • HBCU
  • CU Boulder No
  • SUNY Stony Brook No
  • % White
  • CU Boulder 71%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 36%
  • % Asian
  • CU Boulder 5%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 24%
  • % Black
  • CU Boulder 2%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • CU Boulder 11%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 11%
  • % Native American
  • CU Boulder 0%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CU Boulder 0%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CU Boulder 5%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 2%
  • % International
  • CU Boulder 6%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CU Boulder 1%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CU Boulder 54%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CU Boulder 45%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 9%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Colorado Boulder in Boulder, CO with Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Colorado Boulder is larger than SUNY Stony Brook based on total student enrollment (38,799 students vs. 26,689 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Colorado Boulder is located in Boulder, CO (Small City setting); Stony Brook University is in Stony Brook, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of Colorado Boulder 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 Colorado Boulder 19:1; Stony Brook University 19:1.

CU Boulder vs. SUNY Stony Brook Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CU Boulder 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 Stony Brook University than CU Boulder ($20,992 vs. $26,231).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Stony Brook University are 1.5% lower than at University of Colorado Boulder ($18,196 vs. $18,468).
  • University of Colorado Boulder is 43.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY Stony Brook (about $4,735 more per year; $15,666.00 vs. $10,931.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 37.2% higher at CU Boulder than at Stony Brook University (about $12,177 more per year; $44,918.00 vs. $32,741.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Stony Brook University than at University of Colorado Boulder (98% vs. 53%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Colorado Boulder students is 20.9% larger than aid received by Stony Brook University students ($11,225 vs. $9,285).

CU Boulder vs. SUNY Stony Brook Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CU Boulder 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 CU Boulder.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Stony Brook University (1420) is 80 points higher than at CU Boulder (1340).
  • Incoming CU Boulder 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 Colorado Boulder 1240/1430; Stony Brook University 1330/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Colorado Boulder 29/33; Stony Brook University 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CU Boulder - Test optional; SUNY Stony Brook - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CU Boulder Jan 15, 2027; SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman SUNY Stony Brook students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at CU Boulder (3.68).
  • CU Boulder has a higher acceptance rate (78.1%) than SUNY Stony Brook (49%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.1% at CU Boulder vs. 14.7% at SUNY Stony Brook.

CU Boulder vs. SUNY Stony Brook Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CU Boulder 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 Colorado Boulder's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than Stony Brook University's (67%).
  • Graduates from Stony Brook University earn a median of about $2,400 more per year than CU Boulder graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,300 vs. $56,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Stony Brook University graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than CU Boulder graduates ($19,000 vs. $19,500).
  • Among borrowers, SUNY Stony Brook graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CU Boulder graduates ($196 vs. $201).
  • More CU Boulder 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.