Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, New York · Public · 49.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 87/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Stony Brook University scores 87 (Strong Value) - an impressive result for a public institution, driven by a 5.4-year payback period, $44,000 average 6-year earnings, and strong STEM program outcomes. The median debt of $18,228 is modest relative to in-state tuition of $10,931 and net price of $18,784. The 75.6% completion rate is solid for a research university with an academically demanding curriculum. The headline earnings figure of $44,000 at six years is pulled down by a large cohort of pre-professional (pre-med, pre-law) and science students who either enter graduate programs or begin careers in lower-earning entry positions. Registered Nursing (196 graduates, $94,853 year-one, A grade), Computer and Information Sciences ($90,673 year-one, A grade), and Clinical/Medical Lab Science ($92,286 year-one, A grade) are the flagship programs that drive Stony Brook's strong ROI. Business Administration (493 graduates, $43,329 year-one) and Psychology (616 graduates, $32,306 year-one) are the high-enrollment, lower-earning programs that define the aggregate figure. Stony Brook is a genuine value for in-state students who target STEM, nursing, or health professions.
Stony Brook University scores in the top 7% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
Stony Brook University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $10,931/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $32,741/yr |
| Average net price | $18,784/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $75,136 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $74,502 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $44,000 |
| Median debt at graduation | $18,228 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $193 |
| Estimated payback period | 5.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 75.6% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 18,101 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $10,931/year ($32,741/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $18,784/year, or roughly $75,136 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $12,943/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $27,716/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $18,228, which works out to about $193 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($44,000) and comes to 0.41, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $12,943 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $15,432 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $20,728 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $23,424 |
| $110,001+ | $27,716 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $12,943 net price per year at Stony Brook - about $51,772 over four years. At $44,000 average 6-year earnings and a 5.4-year payback, the financial case for low-income students is strong, particularly for nursing and engineering programs where year-one earnings often exceed $80,000. The 39.4% Pell rate confirms Stony Brook serves this population at scale. A low-income student who completes nursing or EE here is in an excellent financial position.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-75,000 bracket pays $20,728 per year; the $75,001-110,000 bracket pays $23,424. These figures remain modest relative to the earning potential in health and STEM tracks. Middle-income families get excellent value in quantitative or health programs. Students in social sciences or humanities face a longer payback.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning over $110,000 pay $27,716 net price - roughly $110,864 over four years. At out-of-state tuition ($32,741), the calculus shifts: a full-pay, out-of-state student paying $130,000+ needs to be in a high-earning program for the ROI to work cleanly. In-state, the case is easy for STEM and nursing. For social sciences and arts, even the in-state price requires honest expectation-setting about earnings timelines.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Stony Brook University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $58,137 | C |
| Biology | $62,574 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $72,765 | C+ |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $77,075 | C |
| Applied Mathematics | $82,200 | B |
| Economics | $74,965 | C+ |
| Registered Nursing | $111,898 | A |
| Mathematics | $62,727 | C |
| Sociology | $58,966 | C |
| International Relations | $70,243 | C+ |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing is Stony Brook's highest-earning program by graduate count and consistency: 196 graduates, $94,853 year-one, $111,898 year-four, A ROI grade (debt-to-earnings 0.242). Median debt of $23,000 against near-six-figure year-one earnings is an exceptional financial position.
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences earns $90,673 year-one and $147,064 year-four with an A ROI grade (debt-to-earnings 0.186). Median debt of $16,868 against year-one earnings above $90,000 is an exceptional ratio. Note that the Scorecard reports 0 graduates in this specific CIP code, which likely reflects a reporting artifact - Stony Brook's CS program is large and well-regarded nationally. The earnings data is robust. This program feeds directly into New York City tech employers and major financial firms.
Electrical Engineering
Electrical Engineering (48 graduates) earns $79,571 year-one and $98,573 year-four with an A ROI grade (debt-to-earnings 0.182). Median debt of $14,500 reflects Stony Brook's modest in-state cost. EE graduates enter semiconductor, defense, telecom, and financial technology industries. The A grade and sub-0.2 debt ratio make this a financially efficient engineering program.
Applied Mathematics
Applied Mathematics is Stony Brook's largest program at 341 graduates. Year-one earnings of $44,972 are modest, but the four-year trajectory to $82,200 reflects the graduate school effect - many applied math graduates proceed to quantitative finance, data science, or graduate programs before their earnings accelerate. The B ROI grade (debt-to-earnings 0.422) is adequate. The large graduate volume suggests this is a broad-access track that produces variable outcomes depending on post-graduation choices.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is Stony Brook's second-largest program by graduates (493), with $43,329 year-one and $72,765 year-four. The C+ ROI grade (debt-to-earnings 0.45) is unremarkable - Stony Brook's business program is functional.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 74.5% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 78.6% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 77.1% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 79.5% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Stony Brook University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 49.0% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 680-770 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 650-730 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 29-33 |
| Enrollment | 18,101 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 39.4% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $14,008 |
SAT Math 680-770 is a meaningful floor for engineering and computer science programs; students below that range may struggle in the most competitive tracks.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Stony Brook's ROI score is 87.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stony Brook University (this school) | 87 | $18,784 | $74,502 |
| CUNY Bernard M Baruch College | 92 | $3,033 | $75,971 |
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh | 87 | $17,303 | $68,758 |
| Clemson University | 86 | $22,253 | $71,513 |
| University of Connecticut | 85 | $25,097 | $73,997 |
| CUNY Brooklyn College | 81 | $3,103 | $60,752 |
Who Thrives Here
Stony Brook admits 49% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 680-770 Math and 650-730 Reading (ACT 29-33). At 18,101 undergraduates, it is a large research university with significant depth in STEM. The Pell grant rate of 39.4% reflects strong representation from first-generation and lower-income students. Students who excel in quantitative subjects will find a demanding but financially rewarding academic environment. Students who prefer smaller classes or strong humanities programming may find the research university model less accommodating.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, Stony Brook University pays off. You'd pay about $18,784 a year after aid ($75,136 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $74,502 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 5.4 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 75.6% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings.
Median debt of $18,228 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $44,000 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Stony Brook University: Common Questions
Is Stony Brook University worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students Stony Brook University pays off. It scores 87/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $18,784 a year after aid ($75,136 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $74,502 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 5.4 years to earn back.
How much does Stony Brook University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $18,784 a year, or roughly $75,136 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Stony Brook University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $74,502 ten years after enrolling, roughly $32,702 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Stony Brook University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 5.4 years for Stony Brook University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Stony Brook University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $18,228, against average earnings of $44,000 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Stony Brook University?
The six-year graduation rate is 75.6%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.