Public
Accredited · Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Stony Brook, New York
49% Acceptance Rate
Stony Brook University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
49%Acceptance Rate
3.94Avg GPA
1410Avg SAT
31Avg ACT
$29,174Annual Cost
$74,502Grad Salary
38.4%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
49%
Avg GPA
3.94
Avg SAT
1410
Avg ACT
31
Selectivity
Selective
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
SAT Middle 50%
1320–1490
ACT Middle 50%
28–33
Avg Net Price
$18,430
Need-Based Aid
38.4% receive Pell
Stony Brook University Stony Brook University, established in 1957 on Long Island, is a flagship institution of the State University of New York (SUNY) system and a premier public research university. The 1,454-acre campus offers comprehensive programs with particular strengths in health sciences, engineering, and marine sciences. Stony Brook is classified as an R1 research university and is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. The campus features modern facilities including the Simons Center for Geometry and Physics and the new Student Activities Center. Stony Brook Medicine includes the only academic medical center on Long Island, providing exceptional clinical training opportunities.
Stony Brook takes pride in its diverse student body and commitment to accessibility and social mobility. The university maintains a 19:1 student-faculty ratio while offering the resources of a major research institution. Stony Brook's athletic teams, the Seawolves, compete in NCAA Division I. Recent additions include the new Innovation and Discovery Center. The university's combination of academic rigor, research impact, and Long Island location makes it a powerhouse in the SUNY system and a driver of regional economic development.
Stony Brook University Acceptance Rate
Stony Brook University admits roughly 49% of its applicant pool, keeping it competitive without being out of reach for a solid student.
What SUNY Stony Brook Admissions Looks For
- Test Scores Help: Where submitted, scores near or above the middle 50% strengthen an application.
- Solid, Not Perfect: A GPA trending upward matters more than one that's flat.
Selectivity at a Glance
Selective
Selectivity scale: Selective — 49% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Slightly below-average GPA? A strong test score or clear leadership track record can still keep you competitive.
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.94 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.74 – 3.93
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.49
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Stony Brook University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Stony Brook University follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline, though the priority deadline of November 1 is recommended for the best chances of admission and financial aid.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 83 days left — Early Action
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
SUNY Stony Brook reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
Early Action
November 1
Rolling
November 1
Regular Decision
February 1
💡 The scholarship deadline (March 15, 2026) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
SUNY Stony Brook GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at SUNY Stony Brook is 3.94. That makes admissions here extremely selective. Most admitted students carry straight A's, with very little room for a B.
If your GPA sits between 3.64 and 3.94, a high SAT or ACT score is the most reliable way to compensate.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently. For an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 4.14–4.34.SUNY Stony Brook GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Extreme selectivity; requires elite academic standing.
Recommended Strategy: High Course Rigor (AP/IB/Honors) to validate the grade.
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.94 – 4.00
Academic Target
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.74 – 3.93
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.54 – 3.73
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.53
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- No general supplemental essay; only Honors College/WISE, Health Sciences, Simons STEM, Music, and BFA Creative Writing tracks require program-specific essays or materials.
- Test-optional, but standardized test scores are listed as "very important" to admissions when submitted, alongside course rigor.
- Home-schooled applicants are explicitly welcomed and reviewed.
- EOP (Educational Opportunity Program) offers income-based admission consideration and support services, with published annual income guidelines.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: A slightly lower GPA (say 3.8) paired with multiple AP or IB courses often outweighs a flat 4.0 from a standard curriculum.
- Trajectory Matters: A lower start in 9th or 10th grade, followed by a clear upward trend senior year, reads as academic resilience rather than a weakness.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at SUNY Stony Brook
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Stony Brook University's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Stony Brook University (SUNY Stony Brook) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if SUNY Stony Brook is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into SUNY Stony Brook Without SAT or ACT?
SUNY Stony Brook considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
Stony Brook University Average SAT Score: 1410
The average SAT score of admitted students at Stony Brook University is 1410 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1410 — Very Competitive
A 1410 average puts SUNY Stony Brook well above the national mean SAT score.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1490 SAT or 33 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Stony Brook University allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 1320, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at SUNY Stony Brook. Retaking multiple times is completely normal. Most competitive applicants sit for it two or three times. There's no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 725 | 680 | 770 |
| SAT Reading | 680 | 640 | 720 |
| SAT Composite | 1410 | 1320 | 1490 |
Below 1320, you're behind most admitted students; at 1490 or above, you're ahead of 75% of them. (25th/75th percentile = the score below which that share of admitted students fall.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1400
Can I get into Stony Brook University (SUNY Stony Brook) with a 1500 SAT?
A 1500 SAT puts you ahead of most of SUNY Stony Brook's admitted class, but admissions still weighs GPA, course rigor, and essays alongside it. A strong score opens the door; the rest of your profile decides what happens next.
Stony Brook University (SUNY Stony Brook) ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at SUNY Stony Brook is 31.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 31 — Very Competitive
An average of 31 is well above the national ACT mean.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 30 | 27 | 33 |
| ACT English | 31 | 27 | 34 |
| ACT Composite | 31 | 28 | 33 |
Can I get into Stony Brook University with a 33 ACT?
A 33 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of SUNY Stony Brook's admitted students. That's a strong position, though the ACT is only one benchmark among several that admissions weighs.
Unlike the SAT, the ACT scores four separate sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science, each on a 1–36 scale. A noticeably weak section, especially Science at STEM-focused schools, stands out to reviewers, so it's worth checking your section breakdown for outliers before applying.
Your ACT score clears the first filter, but GPA, course rigor, extracurricular depth, recommendations, and essays are what carry an application the rest of the way at SUNY Stony Brook.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for SUNY Stony Brook
Selective Strategy: Competitive Positioning
Competitive positioning at SUNY Stony Brook means clearing the academic bar comfortably, then using the rest of your application to show genuine fit.
Skip the general supplemental essay - it doesn't exist - but check for a program-specific one
Stony Brook requires no general supplemental essay beyond the Common App personal statement, but several specific programs do require their own: Honors College/University Scholars/WISE (250 words on program fit), Health Sciences pre-professional tracks (650 words on what intrigues you about medicine/dental medicine), and the Simons STEM Scholars Program (two prompts, 250 words each). Confirm which of these applies to your intended program before assuming you're done writing once your Common App essay is finished.
If pursuing Music or BFA Creative Writing, prepare program-specific materials well before the general deadline
Music majors require a separate application and audition; BFA Creative Writing requires a statement of purpose and a writing sample submitted through the SBU portal, with an optional (or required, if used as your single letter) recommendation specifically addressing your creative writing. Start audition prep or manuscript selection months ahead, since these components run on their own timeline separate from general admission.
Check EOP eligibility if your family income falls within SUNY's published guidelines
Stony Brook's Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) has specific income guidelines that update annually (with an additional allowance per household member beyond eight). If your family's income is at or near the threshold, apply for EOP consideration specifically, since it opens support services and admission consideration beyond the standard review process.
Address test-optional status deliberately rather than defaulting to submit or withhold
Stony Brook lists standardized test scores as "very important" to admissions decisions despite currently being test-optional - an unusual combination worth strategizing around. If your scores are at or above the mid-50% range (SAT 1340-1480, ACT 29-33 for recent cycles), submit them; if meaningfully below, use the test-optional policy and lean harder into course rigor and essays instead.
Expert Insight:
Don't assume "test-optional" means test scores don't matter here - Stony Brook explicitly lists them as "very important" alongside course rigor when submitted, which is a stronger emphasis than many test-optional peer schools place on scores; decide deliberately whether submitting helps or hurts your specific profile.
SUNY Stony Brook Profile
Full Name
Stony Brook University (SUNY Stony Brook)
City
Stony Brook
State
New York
ZIP Code
11794-0701
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSACHE)
Is a SUNY Stony Brook Degree Worth It?
SUNY Stony Brook offers a rigorous academic environment, but 'worth it' is a personal calculation of cost, program fit, and outcomes. The figures below are a starting point.
The average household income among admitted students is $76,200, with a graduate unemployment rate of 3.56%.
How much does a degree from SUNY Stony Brook Cost?
The sticker price is $29,174/year, but the average net price students actually pay, after Pell and federal grants, is closer to $18,430.
38.4% of students receive a Pell Grant and 36.4% take federal loans at SUNY Stony Brook. File your FAFSA early and list SUNY Stony Brook as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a SUNY Stony Brook Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $74,502. That's about 84% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Stony Brook University. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pepperdine University | Malibu, CA | 1367 | 29 |
| Westmont College | Santa Barbara, CA | 1367 | 32 |
| United States Air Force Academy | USAF Academy, CO | 1362 | 30 |
| Trinity College | Hartford, CT | 1396 | 32 |
| American University | Washington, DC | 1392 | 31 |
| University of Florida | Gainesville, FL | 1397 | 31 |
| Wheaton College | Wheaton, IL | 1363 | 30 |
| Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Terre Haute, IN | 1389 | 32 |
| St. John's College | Annapolis, MD | 1381 | 31 |
| University of Massachusetts-Amherst | Amherst, MA | 1393 | 31 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Stony Brook University. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Clara University | Santa Clara, CA | 1417 | 32 |
| Colorado School of Mines | Golden, CO | 1403 | 31 |
| Connecticut College | New London, CT | 1412 | 32 |
| University of Miami | Coral Gables, FL | 1416 | 32 |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Champaign, IL | 1418 | 32 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Stony Brook University. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeastern University Oakland | Oakland, CA | 1472 | 32 |
| Occidental College | Los Angeles, CA | 1461 | 33 |
| Scripps College | Claremont, CA | 1480 | 33 |
| Colorado College | Colorado Springs, CO | 1445 | 33 |
| Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus | Atlanta, GA | 1447 | 31 |
Degree Programs at SUNY Stony Brook
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About SUNY Stony Brook Admissions
Median graduate earnings at Stony Brook University run about $74,502 a year.
At about $29,174 a year, Stony Brook University is on the more affordable end.
About 38.4% receive a Pell Grant at Stony Brook University. The odds are moderate and largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
At 49%, Stony Brook University's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at Stony Brook University average a 3.94 GPA.
Stony Brook University doesn't publish a hard GPA floor, but landing at or above 3.64 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 3.54, Stony Brook University becomes a harder reach, though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
A strong SAT score matters at Stony Brook University — aim above 1410, ideally within the 1320–1490 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for Stony Brook University is November 1 for Early Action applicants. Rolling Admissions is also offered, so applying early improves your chances.
The application fee is 50. Fee waivers may be available. Check with admissions.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is March 15, 2026. Submit FAFSA before then for maximum consideration.
Yes, transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most, along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.
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