UMass vs. SUNY Stony Brook

Deciding between University of Massachusetts Amherst 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 Massachusetts Amherst
Stony Brook University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UMass Amherst, MA
  • SUNY Stony Brook Stony Brook, NY
  • Setting
  • UMass Town Fringe
  • SUNY Stony Brook Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UMass 31,726
  • SUNY Stony Brook 26,689
  • Type
  • UMass Public 4 Year
  • SUNY Stony Brook Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UMass #169
  • SUNY Stony Brook #141
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UMass -
  • SUNY Stony Brook -
  • Status
  • UMass Non-profit
  • SUNY Stony Brook Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UMass
  • SUNY Stony Brook

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UMass $17,772
  • SUNY Stony Brook $10,931
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UMass $40,449
  • SUNY Stony Brook $32,741
  • Room & Board
  • UMass $16,710
  • SUNY Stony Brook $18,196
  • Average Net Price
  • UMass $22,948
  • SUNY Stony Brook $20,992
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UMass $13,110
  • SUNY Stony Brook $9,285
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UMass 81%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UMass 50,261
  • SUNY Stony Brook 55,880
  • Admitted
  • UMass 30,020
  • SUNY Stony Brook 27,406
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UMass 59.7%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 49%
  • Enrolled
  • UMass 17.9%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 14.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UMass 1410
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1420
  • Typical ACT score
  • UMass 31
  • SUNY Stony Brook 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • UMass 3.99
  • SUNY Stony Brook 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UMass A
  • SUNY Stony Brook A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UMass Exceptional
  • SUNY Stony Brook Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UMass Low
  • SUNY Stony Brook Low
  • ACT Range
  • UMass 30/33
  • SUNY Stony Brook 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • UMass 1310/1500
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1330/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UMass Test optional
  • SUNY Stony Brook Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UMass Jan 15, 2027
  • SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UMass 17:1
  • SUNY Stony Brook 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UMass
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • SUNY Stony Brook
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Health Professions (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Business (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UMass 67%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 67%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UMass $55,200
  • SUNY Stony Brook $59,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UMass 76%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UMass $24,000
  • SUNY Stony Brook $19,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UMass $248
  • SUNY Stony Brook $196

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UMass 48%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 47%
  • % Women
  • UMass 52%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UMass Medium
  • SUNY Stony Brook Very High
  • HBCU
  • UMass No
  • SUNY Stony Brook No
  • % White
  • UMass 67%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 36%
  • % Asian
  • UMass 9%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 24%
  • % Black
  • UMass 4%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • UMass 5%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 11%
  • % Native American
  • UMass 0%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UMass 0%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UMass 3%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 2%
  • % International
  • UMass 4%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UMass 8%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UMass 69%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UMass 22%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 9%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Massachusetts Amherst in Amherst, MA with Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Massachusetts Amherst is larger than SUNY Stony Brook based on total student enrollment (31,726 students vs. 26,689 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Massachusetts Amherst is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); Stony Brook University is in Stony Brook, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst 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 Massachusetts Amherst 17:1; Stony Brook University 19:1.

UMass vs. SUNY Stony Brook Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMass 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 UMass ($20,992 vs. $22,948).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Massachusetts Amherst are 8.2% lower than at Stony Brook University ($16,710 vs. $18,196).
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst is 62.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY Stony Brook (about $6,841 more per year; $17,772.00 vs. $10,931.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 23.5% higher at UMass than at Stony Brook University (about $7,708 more per year; $40,449.00 vs. $32,741.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Stony Brook University than at University of Massachusetts Amherst (98% vs. 81%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Massachusetts Amherst students is 41.2% larger than aid received by Stony Brook University students ($13,110 vs. $9,285).

UMass vs. SUNY Stony Brook Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UMass 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 UMass.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Stony Brook University (1420) is 10 points higher than at UMass (1410).
  • Incoming UMass 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 Massachusetts Amherst 1310/1500; Stony Brook University 1330/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Massachusetts Amherst 30/33; Stony Brook University 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UMass - Test optional; SUNY Stony Brook - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UMass Jan 15, 2027; SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UMass students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.99) than students at SUNY Stony Brook (3.94).
  • UMass has a higher acceptance rate (59.7%) than SUNY Stony Brook (49%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.9% at UMass vs. 14.7% at SUNY Stony Brook.

UMass vs. SUNY Stony Brook Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UMass 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).

  • The graduation rate at UMass is the same as at Stony Brook University (67% vs. 67%).
  • Graduates from Stony Brook University earn a median of about $4,100 more per year than UMass graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,300 vs. $55,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Stony Brook University graduates have a $5,000 lower median loan debt than UMass graduates ($19,000 vs. $24,000).
  • Among borrowers, SUNY Stony Brook graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UMass graduates ($196 vs. $248).
  • More UMass 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.