Amherst vs. SUNY Stony Brook

Amherst College and Stony Brook University side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Amherst College
Stony Brook University

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Amherst (9% admitted vs 49%). Typical SAT 1540 vs 1420.
  • Cheaper after aid: Amherst. Average net price is $19,049 vs $20,992 at SUNY Stony Brook.
  • Graduation: Amherst 96% vs SUNY Stony Brook 67%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Amherst $82,000 vs SUNY Stony Brook $59,300 (median).
See your own chances ->

Key differences

Amherst College Stony Brook University
Acceptance rate
Amherst more selective
Amherst9%
SUNY Stony Brook49%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Amherst higher
Amherst1490-1580
SUNY Stony Brook1330-1500
Average net price
Amherst $1,943 less
Amherst$19,049
SUNY Stony Brook$20,992
In-state tuition
SUNY Stony Brook $59,549 less
Amherst$70,480
SUNY Stony Brook$10,931
Out-of-state tuition
SUNY Stony Brook $37,739 less
Amherst$70,480
SUNY Stony Brook$32,741
Graduation rate
Amherst +29 pts
Amherst96%
SUNY Stony Brook67%
Median earnings (10 years)
Amherst +$22,700
Amherst$82,000
SUNY Stony Brook$59,300

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

Admission calculator

Partner

Not sure you'd get in? Check your chances at Amherst and SUNY Stony Brook with Appily's free admission calculator.

Check my chances at Amherst Check my chances at SUNY Stony Brook
  • Applied
  • Amherst 13,743
  • SUNY Stony Brook 55,880
  • Admitted
  • Amherst 1,238
  • SUNY Stony Brook 27,406
  • Acceptance rate
  • Amherst 9%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 49%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Amherst 38.8%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 14.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Amherst 1540
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1420
  • Typical ACT score
  • Amherst 34
  • SUNY Stony Brook 31
  • Average high school GPA
  • Amherst 3.91
  • SUNY Stony Brook 3.94
  • Typical high school grades
  • Amherst A
  • SUNY Stony Brook A
  • Admissions standards
  • Amherst Elite
  • SUNY Stony Brook Exceptional
  • Applicant competition
  • Amherst Extreme
  • SUNY Stony Brook Low
  • SAT range
  • Amherst 1490-1580
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1330-1500
  • ACT range
  • Amherst 33-35
  • SUNY Stony Brook 29-33
  • Submit test scores
  • Amherst Test optional
  • SUNY Stony Brook Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Amherst Jan 2, 2027
  • SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • SUNY Stony Brook $10,931
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • SUNY Stony Brook $32,741
  • Room & board
  • Amherst $18,390
  • SUNY Stony Brook $18,196
  • Average net price
  • Amherst $19,049
  • SUNY Stony Brook $20,992
  • Average grant aid
  • Amherst $68,591
  • SUNY Stony Brook $9,285
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Amherst 59%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 98%
  • Graduation rate
  • Amherst 96%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 67%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Amherst $82,000
  • SUNY Stony Brook $59,300
  • Making student loan payments
  • Amherst 83%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 73%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Amherst $12,975
  • SUNY Stony Brook $19,000
  • Median loan payment
  • Amherst $134
  • SUNY Stony Brook $196
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Amherst 6:1
  • SUNY Stony Brook 19:1
  • Popular majors
  • Amherst
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • SUNY Stony Brook
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Health Professions (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Business (9%)
  • Location
  • Amherst Amherst, MA
  • SUNY Stony Brook Stony Brook, NY
  • Setting
  • Amherst Town Fringe
  • SUNY Stony Brook Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Amherst 1,914
  • SUNY Stony Brook 26,689
  • Type
  • Amherst Private 4 Year
  • SUNY Stony Brook Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Amherst #13
  • SUNY Stony Brook #141

Comparable Facts

Compare Amherst College in Amherst, MA with Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Stony Brook University is larger than Amherst based on total student enrollment (26,689 students vs. 1,914 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Amherst College is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); Stony Brook University is in Stony Brook, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • Amherst College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Stony Brook University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Amherst College 6:1; Stony Brook University 19:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Stony Brook University are 1.1% lower than at Amherst College ($18,196 vs. $18,390).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 115.3% higher at Amherst than at Stony Brook University (about $37,739 more per year; $70,480 vs. $32,741).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Stony Brook University than at Amherst College (98% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 638.7% larger than aid received by Stony Brook University students ($68,591 vs. $9,285).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 3 points higher at Amherst than at SUNY Stony Brook (34 vs. 31, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Amherst and SUNY Stony Brook.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Amherst Jan 2, 2027; SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at SUNY Stony Brook average a 3.94 high school GPA, 0.03 higher than at Amherst (3.91).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38.8% at Amherst vs. 14.7% at SUNY Stony Brook.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Amherst College graduates have a $6,025 lower median loan debt than SUNY Stony Brook graduates ($12,975 vs. $19,000).
  • Among borrowers, Amherst graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SUNY Stony Brook graduates ($134 vs. $196).
  • More Amherst graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SUNY Stony Brook students, three years after graduation (83% vs. 73%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

Change schools

You can add up to two more colleges. Each one gets its own column.

Amherst College
Stony Brook University
Add a college Compare up to 4

Frequently compared to these colleges