Stony Brook University (SBU) is a public research university in the SUNY (State University of New York) system on Long Island. It is home to roughly 26,000 students and has an acceptance rate of 49%. SBU is most famous for STEM and health sciences, especially Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, Marine Sciences, and Health Sciences. The 6-year graduation rate is 76%, and graduates receive a median 10-year salary of INR 66,50,000 ( $80,000).
Rutgers University–New Brunswick, is a public flagship university and Big Ten institution in New Brunswick, New Jersey. It has approximately 50,000 students, roughly twice SBU's size. Its acceptance rate is 58%, so admissions are relatively easier. Rutgers has a wide academic profile and is strong in Engineering, Computer Science, Business, Life Sciences, Social Sciences, Humanities, and Health Sciences. Its 6-year graduation rate is 84%, and graduates secure a median 10-year salary of INR 74,80,000 ( $90,000).
| Stony Brook University | Rutgers University - New Jersey | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 5.1 Out of 10 | 5.3 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 301 Times Higher Education 2026 # 452 QS World University 2026 # 215 Center for World University Rankings 2025 | # 301 Times Higher Education 2026 # 328 QS World University 2026 # 301 Times Higher Education 2025 |
| Subject Strength | # 201 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2025 # 351 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 | # 72 for Engineering by US News 2025 # 301 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 # 351 for Law by QS World University 2025 |
| Programs | UG Programs -45 PG Programs -38 | UG Programs -146 PG Programs -99 Doctorate Programs -10 |
| Acceptance Rate | 49.0 % | 65.0 % |
| Exam Score | IELTS-6 SAT-1210 TOEFL-80 | IELTS-6 SAT-1190 TOEFL-85 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 24740 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 28890 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 32781 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 14506 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 15072 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 33851 Per Year |
| placement (average package) | Around 94% of the bachelors program students secure employment or continue education after graduation. Some of the majors and the median salary after one year of graduation are as follows: Nursing: $92,481 Allied health: $79,891 Computer Engineering: $64,315 Civil Engineering: 63,949 Computer Science: $60,875 | Average annual salary is 72,000 USD. Popular recruiters are Johnson & Johnson, Lockheed Martin Corp, J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. Highest paying degrees include MBA (145,000 USD); Masters (120,000 USD); Bachelor of Science (101,000 USD); Master of Science (100,000 USD). |
| application requirements | Submit official transcripts Submit LORs Submit personal essay Submit English language proficiency scores Check program specific requirements | Academic transcripts; LORs; Essays; Test Scores; English proficiency scores; Resume.GPA requirements are around 3.73 for students (Grade- A-B+). |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 7.4/10 Read 9 reviews | 8.5/10 Read 6 reviews |
Top Courses Comparison
| ranking | # 301 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 | # 53 for Business by US News 2025 # 251 for Business by QS World University 2025 # 401 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 |
| application | - | #170 Applicants # 94 Admissions # 55 % Acceptance Rate |
| exam scores | IELTS - 6.5/9TOEFL - 80/120 | Duolingo - 125/160IELTS - 6.5/9PTE - 68/75TOEFL - 90/120 |
| documents required | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose |
| application dates | Oct 1, 2025 (Application Deadline For Spring Intake) Jan 15, 2026 (Application Deadline For Fall Intake) | May 15, 2025 (Application Deadline For ROUND 4 2025 intake) Nov 15, 2025 (Application Deadline For ROUND 1 2026 intake) Jan 15, 2026 (Application Deadline For ROUND 2 2026 intake) Mar 15, 2026 (Application Deadline For ROUND 3 2026 intake) May 15, 2026 (Application Deadline For ROUND 4 2026 intake) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | Stony Brook University | Rutgers University - New Jersey |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1957 | 1766 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 13:1 |
| Male:Female | 46% Male, 54% Female | 50% Male, 50% Female |
| Location Facts | 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. | Oldest of the 3 RU campuses spread across 6 municipalities in Middlesex County; located in New Brunswick and Piscataway; Consists of 2,685 acres of 5 campuses- Busch, Cook, College Avenue, Livingston, Douglass. Located on both sides of Raritan River; offers convenient access to New York City and Philadelphia |
| Library | 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. | Rutgers University Libraries (RUL) system has 26 libraries, centers and reading rooms housing 5,579,900 total print and electronic volumes. 2,648,964 In-Person Visits; 3,273,398 Online Visits; 159,368 Print Circulations; 10 million+ Circulation of Online Resources; 3,111,380 Ebook Downloads; 111,781 Video Streams. |
| Campus Life | 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. | 6 student centers, and 4 recreation centers; second-largest bus fleet in New Jersey; SHI Stadium; Louis Bow Athletic Center; Rutgers Ecological Preserve; Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum; RU Geology Museum; Rutgers Garden. You can indulge in a total of 750 student organizations and 100+ intramural teams and sports clubs. 4 student dining halls are available on-campus. |
| Hostel | #On campus - $13446 #Off campus (not with family) - $13999 #Off campus (with family) - $5336 | #On campus - $12452 #Off campus (not with family) - $18386 #Off campus (with family) - $3013 |
| Famous Alumni | Chris Algieri, professional boxer and former WBO junior welterweight title holder | Over 500,000 alumni worldwide. Louis J. Freeh (Former Director FBI); Keith Sonnier (Artist); Betty Shannon (Mathematician); Gus Edwards (American Footballer); Charles Henry Selick (American Director); Duron Harmon (American Football safety); Selman Abraham Waksman (Inventor- discovered streptomycin) |
| City Life | 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. | New Brunswick is the county seat of Middlesex County situated along the Raritan River; Johnson and Johnson’s worldwide headquarter is located here; Economy is majorly dependant on forestry, mining and finishing; Other major industries are tourism, agriculture, and small-scale manufacturing industries; Unemployment rate was 2.5% in April 2019 |
| Weather |
Stony Brook University vs Rutgers University - New Brunswick
Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)
Rutgers University–New Brunswick tends to rank higher internationally, at 328 in QS and 301–350th in Times Higher Education. Stony Brook University ranks 452 in QS and 251–300th in Times Higher Education. Stony Brook performs well in STEM, health sciences, computer science, and physics, with the help of its collaboration with Brookhaven National Laboratory and medical school. Rutgers, being New Jersey's flagship, is more broadly strengthened across the sciences, engineering, business, law, humanities, and social sciences, providing it with a broader academic portfolio.
General Information
Stony Brook University is one of the SUNY system's flagships, situated on Long Island, New York, with approximately 26,000 students. It is renowned for its STEM fields and medical research prowess, and as one of the Northeast's leading public universities. Rutgers University–New Brunswick, Rutgers' flagship campus, is the largest public research university in New Jersey, with over 50,000 students. Being a Big Ten institution, it integrates a diverse set of programs with a strong research emphasis and public service.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Stony Brook has moderately selective admissions with an approximate 48% acceptance rate. Admissions are particularly competitive in computer science, engineering, and pre-med programs. Rutgers–New Brunswick has an approximate 58% acceptance rate, but its competitive programs like business, engineering, and honors admit at lower rates. Both universities receive good regional students, but Rutgers is more accessible because of its size
Research Impact & Facilities
Stony Brook is an R1 research university with specific research strengths in physics, computer science, engineering, and medical research. It shares management of the Brookhaven National Laboratory and has a hospital and medical school of its own. Rutgers–New Brunswick is R1 as well and a member of the Big Ten Academic Alliance, with large research infrastructure in sciences, engineering, medicine, public policy, and the humanities. Rutgers' labs and libraries are among New Jersey's finest, and Stony Brook excels at high-impact STEM collaborations.
Cost & Financial Aid
Stony Brook costs less, particularly for New Yorkers: in-state tuition is approximately $11,000, and out-of-state tuition is approximately $31,000. Rutgers, being the public flagship of New Jersey, has in-state tuition of around $17,000 and out-of-state tuition of around $33,000. Both institutions offer grants and financial aid, though Stony Brook has a lower starting price, while Rutgers has more extensive state-based programs.
Career Outcomes & Alumni Success
Stony Brook graduates are well represented in STEM, medicine, academia, and research, with close ties to New York State's technology and medical sectors. Rutgers graduates thrive in a broader range of fields, such as law, business, medicine, engineering, and public service. With its proximity to New York City and Philadelphia, Rutgers offers vast internship and professional opportunities. Stony Brook has a more concentrated STEM-oriented alumni base, whereas Rutgers advantages from its size, broad range of academics, and large alumni base.
