Stony Brook University (SBU) is a public research institution on Long Island, New York. It has approximately 26,000 students. Admissions are moderately selective with an acceptance rate of 49%. Stony Brook is very strong in STEM areas, especially Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, and Health Sciences .It is also good in Physics and Marine Sciences. The 6-year graduation rate is 76%, and the alumni return a median 10-year salary of INR 66,50,000 ( $80,000). Being a public university, it offers good value and research experiences at a lower cost than private institutions.
New York University (NYU) is a private research university in the midst of New York City with more than 60,000 students between all of its international campuses. Admission is very competitive, with an acceptance rate of 9%. NYU will be most famous for Business (Stern School of Business), Arts, Film, Law, Social Sciences, and Computer Science. It is also strong in Public Policy, Global Affairs, and Health Sciences. The 6-year graduation rate is 87%, and the median 10-year salary reported by alumni is INR 78,20,000 ( $94,000). NYU is highly engaged with worldwide industries in finance, media, technology, and the arts, providing students with access to unsurpassed networking prospects.
| Stony Brook University | New York University | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 5.1 Out of 10 | 6.9 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 301 Times Higher Education 2026 # 452 QS World University 2026 # 215 Center for World University Rankings 2025 | # 31 Times Higher Education 2026 # 55 QS World University 2026 # 25 Center for World University Rankings 2025 |
| Subject Strength | # 201 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2025 # 351 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 | # 99 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2025 # 13 for Data Science and Analytics by QS World University 2025 # 35 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 |
| Programs | UG Programs -45 PG Programs -38 | UG Programs -40 PG Programs -79 Doctorate Programs -1 |
| Acceptance Rate | 49.0 % | 9.0 % |
| Exam Score | IELTS-6 SAT-1210 TOEFL-80 | GMAT-700 GRE-300 IELTS-7.5 PTE-70 SAT-1350 TOEFL-100 |
| 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 56500 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 76331 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 14969 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 | New York University (NYU) is one of the top private universities in New York City, United States. It is ranked #39 in QS World University Rankings 2023 and #16 by Graduate Employability Ranking. Average Salaries by degree are:
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| application requirements | Submit official transcripts Submit LORs Submit personal essay Submit English language proficiency scores Check program specific requirements | Resume, Portfolio, Essay, 2 LORs, Portfolio (for some programs) |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 7.4/10 Read 9 reviews | 8.0/10 Read 24 reviews |
Top Courses Comparison
| ranking | # 301 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 | # 6 for Business by US News 2025 # 17 for Business by QS World University 2025 # 17 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 |
| application | - | - |
| exam scores | IELTS - 6.5/9TOEFL - 80/120 | Duolingo - 135/160IELTS - 7/9TOEFL - 100/120 |
| cost to study | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) - | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -123908 |
| 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) | Sep 15, 2025 (Round 1 Application Deadline For Fall 2026) Oct 15, 2025 (Round 2 Application Deadline Fall 2026 Intake) Dec 1, 2025 (Initial Notification of Round 1) Jan 1, 2026 (Initial Notification of Round 2) Jan 15, 2026 (Round 3 Application Deadline Fall 2026 Intake) Apr 1, 2026 (Initial Notification of Round 3) Apr 15, 2026 (Round 4 Application Deadline for Fall 2026 Intkae) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | Stony Brook University | New York University |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1957 | 1831 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 8:1 |
| Male:Female | 46% Male, 54% Female | 44% Male, 56% 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. | Located in two cities within New York: Manhattan and Brooklyn; Manhattan has most of the key academic and student life buildings surrounding the Washington Square Park; Brooklyn has Tandon School and few residence halls. |
| 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. | NYU has 8 libraries with 4.6 million volume system. Elmer Holmes Bobst is the main library and has over a million volumes, 272,000 serial titles and 43,000 feet of archives. It can accomodate over 2,500 students for studying and computing. |
| 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. | Center for student life manages over 300 clubs and organizations; Apart from all-university clubs, each school within NYU has its own club. |
| Hostel | #On campus - $13446 #Off campus (not with family) - $13999 #Off campus (with family) - $5336 | #Double Room--Semester Rate - $6581 #Single Room--Semester Rate - $8388 |
| Famous Alumni | Chris Algieri, professional boxer and former WBO junior welterweight title holder | 37 Nobel laureates, 3 astronauts, 26 Pulitzer Prize winners, 37 Academy Award winners, 30 Emmy Award winners, 12 Grammy Award winners; Jack Dorsey (founder of Twitter); Robert Muller III (former Director of FBI); Martin Scorsese (filmmaker), Tom Freston (founder of MTV); Paolo Nespoli (astronaut) |
| 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. | In 2022, New York contributed 12% to the USA GDP; Paygrade increased by 2.8%; Financial activities comprised of 29% of the state’s total GDP; Unemployment rate was 6% in Feburary 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. |
| Weather |
Stony Brook University vs New York University
Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)
New York University (NYU) has a much more powerful world reputation, at 55 in QS and 33 in Times Higher Education, for arts, business, law, and social sciences excellence. SUNY Stony Brook is ranked 452 in QS and 251-300th in Times Higher Education, with strong programs in STEM, health sciences, and research. Whereas NYU excels in business (Stern School), law, arts, and international studies, Stony Brook is well known for engineering, medicine, computer science, and physics due to its affiliation with Brookhaven National Laboratory.
General Information
New York University is a large private research university located in New York City, with more than 59,000 students on various campuses globally. It is famous for its global scope, city campus lifestyle, and professional schools. Stony Brook University, which is one of the top public research universities in Long Island, New York, has approximately 26,000 students. Being a SUNY flagship institution, it focuses on affordable high-quality education and serves as one of the most important centers for STEM and medical research in the area.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
NYU is extremely competitive, with an overall acceptance rate of approximately 9%, one of the most selective private universities in America. It has a diverse applicant pool worldwide for its arts, law, and business programs. Stony Brook is selective, with an acceptance rate of approximately 49%. Although it is relatively accessible compared to NYU, admission to some programs like engineering, computer science, and health sciences is competitive
Research Impact & Facilities
Stony Brook is an R1 science and health-oriented research university that co-manages Brookhaven National Laboratory and operates a top-tier medical school and hospital. It is ranked as one of the best public STEM research universities. NYU is also an R1 institution with leading research in the humanities, law, business, social sciences, and health through NYU Langone Health. NYU has international research impact, but one less concentrated in physical sciences than in the case of Stony Brook.
Cost & Financial Aid
NYU has one of the highest tuition costs in the U.S., approximately $66,000 per year for undergraduates before aid. Stony Brook, as a public institution, is more affordable, with in-state tuition around $11,000 and out-of-state tuition approximately $31,000. Both provide financial aid, but NYU relies more on merit and need-based institutional aid, whereas Stony Brook’s affordability is a major advantage for New York State residents.
Career Outcomes & Alumni Success
With global connections and access to internships and employment opportunities in New York City and abroad, NYU graduates are especially well-represented in the arts, business, law, and media. Its Tisch School of the Arts and Stern School of Business have produced global industry innovators. Utilizing the university's research partnerships, Stony Brook graduates achieve success in STEM, healthcare, engineering, and academia. While Stony Brook is more notable for its science, technology, and medical graduates, NYU excels at producing internationally renowned alumni in the arts and business.
