Stony Brook University is a public research institution that has its campus in Stony Brook, New York, within a large suburb on Long Island. The university is a large one that has around 17,420 undergraduate students. The admissions rate is competitive, with an acceptance rate of around 49%. The most popular programs are Health Professions, Business, Engineering, Psychology, and Biology. The six-year graduation rate is 77%, and the graduates of Stony Brook have a median salary of around US$59,300 after ten years of study.
University at Buffalo (UB) is a public research university located in Buffalo, New York, in a large city setting within the SUNY system. It is a big school with around 22,000+ undergraduates. Admissions are moderately competitive and have a bit higher acceptance rate than Stony Brook i.e. 69%. Business, Engineering, Psychology, Social Sciences, and Health Professions are popular majors. Six-year graduation rates are approximately 73%, and median salaries for UB graduates 10 years after enrollment are below Stony Brook's in most reports, although comparable exact figures differ by discipline.
| University at Buffalo | Stony Brook University | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 4.4 Out of 10 | 5.1 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 301 Times Higher Education 2026 # 410 QS World University 2026 # 251 Times Higher Education 2025 | # 301 Times Higher Education 2026 # 452 QS World University 2026 # 215 Center for World University Rankings 2025 |
| Subject Strength | # 201 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2025 # 401 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 # 251 for Law by Times Higher Education 2025 | # 201 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2025 # 351 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 |
| Programs | UG Programs -67 PG Programs -93 Doctorate Programs -75 | UG Programs -45 PG Programs -38 |
| Acceptance Rate | 74.0 % | 49.0 % |
| Exam Score | Duolingo-120 IELTS-6.5 PTE-55 TOEFL-79 | IELTS-6 SAT-1210 TOEFL-80 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 24600 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 23100 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 18064 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 24740 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 28890 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 32781 Per Year |
| application requirements | 83% in high school and bachelors for UG and graduate admission respectively; Personal Statement; 2 to 3 letter of recommendations; CV | Submit official transcripts Submit LORs Submit personal essay Submit English language proficiency scores Check program specific requirements |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 7.9/10 Read 23 reviews | 7.4/10 Read 9 reviews |
Top Courses Comparison
| ranking | # 151 for Business by QS World University 2026 # 79 for Business by US News 2025 # 401 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 | # 301 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 |
| application | - | - |
| exam scores | Duolingo - 120/160IELTS - 6.5/9PTE - 55/90TOEFL - 95/120 | IELTS - 6.5/9TOEFL - 80/120 |
| cost to study | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -58564 | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) - |
| documents required | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose |
| application dates | Jan 15, 2026 (Priority Application Deadline for Fall 2026 Intake) Mar 1, 2026 (Priority Application Decision Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) Mar 15, 2026 (Final Application Deadline for Fall 2026 Intake) Apr 15, 2026 (Final Application Decision Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) Apr 15, 2026 (Priority Tuition Fee Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) Jun 1, 2026 (Final Tuition Fee Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) | Oct 1, 2025 (Application Deadline For Spring Intake) Jan 15, 2026 (Application Deadline For Fall Intake) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | University at Buffalo | Stony Brook University |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1846 | 1957 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 12:1:1 | 10:1 |
| Male:Female | 52% Male, 0% Female | 46% Male, 54% Female |
| Location Facts | Three campuses: North (main), South and Downtown; North campus has all undergraduate colleges, some graduate schools and administrative buildings; Medical and architectural schools are located at South campus; Downtown campus has research institutes | The main campus is in the historic north shore hamlet of Stony Brook near the geographic midpoint of Long Island, approximately 50 miles (80 km) east of Manhattan and 62 miles (100 km) west of Montauk. The university also has campuses in Manhattan and Southampton. |
| Library | University’s libraries are grouped into units: Administration, Communications, Discovery & Delivery Services, Law Library, Research, Education & Outreach, and Technology; Over 4 million print volumes; 3.5 million in-person visits per year; 11 million website pageviews; over 35 subject librarians; 3500 power oulets | Stony Brook University library subscribes to hundreds of publications, journals, and online databases such as Academic Search Complete, JSTOR, Web of Science, Ebscohost, IEEE Xplore, Project MUSE, ScienceDirect, and more. The library has rare book collection of more than 30,000 special, scarce, and unique titles dating from 1493 to the present. |
| Campus Life | University has over 600 organizations and clubs; organizes Distinguished Speaker Series and invites presidents, celebrities, musicians, and activists to speak; has a Student Government Body divided into three parts: Executive, Legislative and Judicial; 35 on-campus dining locations including a food truck duo: Big Blue and Little Blue offering various types of cuisines | Stony Brook has a wide variety of student-run organizations on campus, which include sororities and fraternities, and a count of almost 300 recognized student clubs and organizations. The Undergraduate Student Government at Stony Brook University is trusted with the responsibility of budgeting the undergraduate student activity fee which funds most student run organizations on campus. The Graduate Student Organization is responsible for budgeting the graduate student activity fee, and supplies a variety of funding opportunities, programming, student services, and funding for departmental and student organizations. Incoming freshmen are welcomed to the university in August with First Night Out, a night of events taking place on the Friday in which they move in. Organized by Student Engagement and Activities, the night consists of a "Party on the Plaza" as well as various assorted activities.Wolfieland, an annual carnival, began in 2016 and takes place during September. Stony Brook University's intercollegiate athletics teams, known as the Stony Brook Seawolves, compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division I level and are members of the Colonial Athletic Association. In 2013, Stony Brook University launched its own bike share system to provide a sustainable transportation alternative for students. |
| Hostel | #Room - $13500 | #On campus - $13446 #Off campus (not with family) - $13999 #Off campus (with family) - $5336 |
| Famous Alumni | Michael A. Battle (Director of the Executive Office for US Attorneys); Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed (Prime Minister and President of Somalia); Jeanine Pro (TV Host and author); Ellen Shulman Baker (Astronaut); Bram Cohen (creator of BitTorrent); Jacob A. Marinsky (Chemist and co-discoverer of Promethium); Elad Levy (Neurosurgeon) | Chris Algieri, professional boxer and former WBO junior welterweight title holder |
| City Life | New York contributed 8% to the USA GDP; Paygrade increased by 2.8%; Financial activities comprised of 29% of the state’s total GDP; Unemployment rate was 5.3% in January 2023; Food and apparel are the largest manufacturing sectors of the city; Major tourist attractions are Central Park, Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Times Square, etc. | Stony Brook, NY is an attractive city northeast of New York City full of incredible sites such as Stony Brook University displaying its distinct landscape or Avalon Park great for recreational activities; visitors can also join in the magnificent Summer Arts Festival celebrating culture through arts and music every August. |
| Weather |
Stony Brook University versus University at Buffalo
Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)
Both Stony Brook and UB are SUNY system major research universities with strong reputations, particularly in STEM, health, and public research. Stony Brook consistently ranks higher in early-career earnings benchmarks, physical/health sciences, and engineering. UB also is ranked high particularly in social sciences, professional programs, architecture, and medicine. Specific global rankings (QS, THE) vary by discipline; in most U.S. rankings Stony Brook just edges UB in some STEM/health disciplines, whereas UB typically equals or beats in scope and professional output.
General Information
Stony Brook has approximately 17,420 undergrads; UB has more than 22,000 undergrads. Stony Brook is large and suburban and has strong research connections (particularly in health, medicine, and physical sciences). UB is urban, or consists of multiple campuses in the Buffalo region, with numerous undergraduate and graduate offerings. Both institutions are large, both public, and both with massive research facilities. Stony Brook has a number of students from Long Island, New York City, and elsewhere; UB has its pool of applicants from Western New York and more generally as well.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
The acceptance rate for Stony Brook is roughly 49%. The SAT/ACT scores of admitted students are on the higher end (e.g. SAT ~ 1320-1490, ACT ~ 28-33 for those who report). UB has a slightly more relaxed acceptance profile; its acceptance percentage is higher than Stony Brook, although based on residency (in-state vs out-of-state) the standards differ. UB's graduation-rate and retention statistics reflect marginally lower completion percentages than Stony Brook, suggesting marginally different student outcomes or student profiles.
Research Impact & Facilities
Stony Brook is a very high research activity university with high performance in health professions, physical sciences, engineering, and so forth. It also provides relatively high early and long-term salaries for its graduates in most fields. UB also has high research in medicine, engineering, social sciences, and professional programs; UB also has larger professional schools (medicine, pharmacy) and extensive graduate program offerings. Resources like labs, research centers, libraries are both good at both, although Stony Brook tends to receive special mention in specific cases for high performance in specific STEM/health labs.
Cost & Financial Aid
At Stony Brook, the net cost after financial aid is decidedly less than sticker price; roughly 65% of undergrads get some grant aid; the average after-aid price is decidedly less than full tuition + fees. Admissions statistics and cost statistics reveal that for most students in-state the expense is cheaper. UB also offers financial aid, and in-state tuition is cheaper; out-of-state tuition is higher. Full cost compared to net cost depends on residency, need, and major; overall UB is comparable to Stony Brook in cost for most students, particularly for New York residents.
Career Outcomes & Alumni Success
Stony Brook alumni have median earnings of around US$59,300 ten years after matriculation (for employed and not enrolled), which is very solid compared to many peers. UB's similar earnings information generally is lower in most reports, although in some fields (e.g. professional or health programs) UB alumni perform very well. UB's six-year graduation rate is approximately 73%, a bit lower than Stony Brook's ~77%. UB boasts a sizable alumni pool, deep regional employment connections, particularly in Western New York, along with increasing research, technology, medicine strength. Stony Brook's proximity to New York City, its reputation as a research institution, including health, medicine, physical sciences, also positions it well in many STEM / health-related career paths.
