College Profiles/ Stony Brook University
College Profile · Fall 2027 Entry
Stony Brook University Admissions: Acceptance Rate, Cost, Financial Aid and Deadlines
Stony Brook, NY · 18,101 undergraduates. Everything families need to apply to Stony Brook University for fall 2027, verified against the school’s own Common Data Set, cost of attendance and admissions pages, with ConnectPrep’s strategic read.
By Jeremy Fine, Founder of ConnectPrep
Updated October 11, 2026 · Data verified against official sources
✓ Every figure cited
Quick answer
Stony Brook University admitted 49.0% of 55,879 first-year applicants.[1] The middle 50% SAT range for enrolled first-years is 1350 to 1470.[2] The 2026-27 cost of attendance is $34,819 for in-state students and $58,799 out of state.[3] For fall 2027 entry, deadlines are Early Action Nov 1, Regular Decision Jan 15.[4]
49.0%
Overall admit rate[1]
1350 to 1470
Middle 50% SAT[2]
$58,799
Out-of-state cost, 2026-27[3]
75.6%
Six-year graduation rate[5]
Stony Brook University at a Glance
- Location
- Stony Brook, NY
- Type
- Public
- Student to faculty ratio
- 19:1[5]
- Endowment
- $786 million (federal data)[5]
- SAT/ACT, fall 2027
- Optional (required for Scholars for Medicine/Dental Medicine)[4]
- Application
- Common App, SUNY App, Coalition (Scoir)[4]
- First-year retention
- 89.8%[5]
The ConnectPrep Take on Stony Brook University
The ConnectPrep take
Stony Brook uses holistic review with no automatic cutoff, looking for intellectual curiosity, academic ability, community involvement, leadership and special talents. With 55,879 applicants and a 49.0% admit rate, admission to the university is within reach for many students; the competition sits in the honors programs and in restricted majors, which admission does not guarantee. Early Action on Nov 1 is nonbinding, and complete EA files get a decision by Jan 29. Testing is optional except for Scholars for Medicine and Scholars for Dental Medicine. With a middle 50% SAT of 1350 to 1470, we say submit at 1410 or higher. Federal data shows 39.4% of students receive Pell Grants, a sign of real access. The biggest mistake is applying Jan 15 and missing the Nov 1 honors priority deadline.
What to do this fall
- Submit materials for the Honors College, WISE or University Scholars by the Nov 1 priority deadline.
- Scholars for Medicine applicants must also apply to an honors program and send SAT or ACT scores.
- Simons STEM Scholars applicants file a separate SBUStart application by Nov 1 with three 250 word essays.
- Submit an SAT of 1410 or higher, and aim for 1470.
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Stony Brook University Admissions Statistics
| Applicant pool |
Applied |
Admitted |
Admit rate |
| All first-year applicants[1] |
55,879 |
27,380 |
49.0% |
- Yield, the share of admitted students who enrolled, was 14.8%.[1]
Testing and academic profile
| Academic profile of enrolled first-years |
Middle 50% or share |
| SAT composite[2] |
1350 to 1470 |
| ACT composite[2] |
30 to 34 |
ConnectPrep score target
Aim for 1470 on the SAT, the 75th percentile here, or 34 on the ACT. When testing is optional, we generally advise submitting scores at or above about 1410, the middle of the range. A higher score is always better, and the test can be retaken. Not there yet? Take a free practice test and we will build the plan to close the gap.
What Stony Brook University looks for
In its own words: Stony Brook uses a holistic review with no automatic cutoff, looking for the intellectual curiosity and academic ability to succeed along with co-curricular and community involvement, leadership, and special talents or interests.[6]
Stony Brook University Application Deadlines 2026-2027
| Round |
Deadline |
Decision |
| Early Action |
Nov 1 |
Dec 11 and Jan 29 (guaranteed by Jan 29 if complete by Nov 1) |
| Regular Decision |
Jan 15 |
Feb 26 and Mar 26 |
Insider deadlines families miss
These scholarship, honors, program, interview and aid deadlines come from Stony Brook University’s own pages. Anything tagged Before RD is due before the Regular Decision deadline.
| Program or rule |
Deadline |
What to know |
Honors College, WISE, University Scholars
Before RD |
Nov 1 (priority); Jan 15 (final) |
Priority deadline for all honors programs is Nov 1; EA applicants must submit honors materials by Nov 1. Final deadline Jan 15, after which space-available only.[4] |
Scholars for Medicine and Scholars for Dental Medicine
Before RD |
Nov 1 (priority) |
Applicants must also apply to Honors College, University Scholars or WISE (Nov 1 priority), submit SAT or ACT scores and an extra essay of up to 650 words; possible interview, decisions before Apr 1. Apply to only one of the two.[4] |
Simons STEM Scholars
Before RD |
Nov 1 |
Separate application in the SBUStart portal due Nov 1 with three 250 word essays and a program-specific recommendation; must apply to SBU by EA (Oct 19 encouraged) and attend a Selection Weekend in Jan or Feb 2027.[7] |
| First-year merit scholarships |
See note |
Most merit awards are automatic for admitted, academically qualified students with no separate application.[8] |
See how Stony Brook University compares with other colleges in the Northeast deadlines database or the full 2026-2027 college application deadlines hub.
Stony Brook University Cost and Financial Aid
| Cost and aid |
Figure |
| Cost of attendance, in-state (2026-2027)[3] |
$34,819 |
| Cost of attendance, out-of-state (2026-2027)[3] |
$58,799 |
Out-of-state full-time undergraduate living on campus in a standard double room. New York residents: tuition $7,070, total $34,819.[3]
What families actually pay: net price by income
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus the average grants and scholarships for first-year in-state students receiving aid, by family income. It comes from federal data, which runs a year or two behind the school’s current cost figures.[5]
| Family income |
Average net price per year |
| $0 to $30,000 |
$12,943 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 |
$15,432 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 |
$20,728 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 |
$23,424 |
| Over $110,000 |
$27,716 |
| All aided students |
$18,784 |
Academics and Majors at Stony Brook University
Signature programs
Scholars for Medicine and Scholars for Dental Medicine
Programs for first-year applicants who also apply to a University Honors Program, submit SAT or ACT scores and an additional essay; qualified applicants are interviewed.[6]
Honors College
One of several first-year honors programs, with a November 1 priority deadline and an honors statement.[6]
Women in Science and Engineering (WISE)
One of Stony Brook's University Honors Programs, with a November 1 priority deadline.[6]
Research university on Long Island
An AAU member and R1 research university on a 1,039 acre campus on Long Island's North Shore, 60 miles east of New York City.[1]
Choosing a major and getting in
Applicants may indicate an intended major; students who do not are considered for admission to the university in general. Restricted majors have additional admission requirements and admission to the university does not guarantee entry to them, but students not accepted into an intended major can apply later after meeting its requirements.[6]
Special admission paths
- Early Action (November 1).[6]
- Honors College, WISE and University Scholars honors programs.[6]
- Scholars for Medicine and Scholars for Dental Medicine.[6]
- Educational Opportunity Program (EOP/AIM).[6]
Stony Brook University Retention and Graduation Rates
| Outcome |
Figure |
| First-year students who returned for sophomore year[5] |
89.8% |
| Graduated within six years[5] |
75.6% |
| Median earnings 10 years after starting college[5] |
$74,502 |
| Median federal loan debt of graduates[5] |
$18,228 |
| Undergraduates receiving Pell Grants[5] |
39% |
Make Stony Brook University a realistic goal
ConnectPrep builds the full plan: the right round, a score target and test schedule, essays that sound like your student, and every scholarship and program deadline on one calendar. Start with a free consultation or a free practice test.
Compare Similar Colleges
Stony Brook University FAQs
What is the Stony Brook University acceptance rate?
Stony Brook University admitted 49.0% of first-year applicants (27,380 of 55,879).
When are the Stony Brook University application deadlines for 2026-27?
For students entering in fall 2027: Early Action Nov 1; Regular Decision Jan 15. 3 scholarship, honors or program deadlines come before Regular Decision; see the insider deadlines table on this page.
How much does Stony Brook University cost?
The 2026-2027 cost of attendance is $34,819 for in-state students and $58,799 for out-of-state students.
What SAT score do you need for Stony Brook University?
The middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1350 to 1470 on the SAT and 30 to 34 on the ACT. ConnectPrep advises aiming for 1470, the 75th percentile. Testing policy for fall 2027 entry: Optional (required for Scholars for Medicine/Dental Medicine).
What does Stony Brook cost for a New York family earning under $75,000?
New York residents face a 2026-2027 cost of attendance of $34,819, with tuition of $7,070. Federal data shows an average net price of $20,728 for families earning $48,001 to $75,000 and $12,943 for families earning $30,000 or less. Most merit awards are automatic for admitted, academically qualified students.
Does admission to Stony Brook guarantee my intended major?
No. Applicants may list an intended major, but restricted majors have additional requirements, and admission to the university does not guarantee entry. Students not accepted into an intended major can apply later after meeting its requirements, and students who list no major are considered for the university in general.
About the author
Jeremy Fine
Jeremy Fine founded ConnectPrep in 2013 and brings more than 20 years of experience in education, spanning test preparation, college advising and academic program management. He holds a BA from Washington University in St. Louis and an MPA from the University of Pittsburgh.
ConnectPrep is based in Westport, Connecticut, and works with students from kindergarten through graduate school, in person and online. Meet the team.
This profile is an independent ConnectPrep resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Stony Brook University. Figures come from the sources listed above as published when checked in October 2026; the Common Data Set year is noted where used. Policies and costs change, so confirm with the school before applying.
