Holy Cross vs. SUNY Stony Brook

Deciding between College of the Holy Cross and Stony Brook University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

College of the Holy Cross
Stony Brook University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Holy Cross Worcester, MA
  • SUNY Stony Brook Stony Brook, NY
  • Setting
  • Holy Cross Midsize City
  • SUNY Stony Brook Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Holy Cross 3,126
  • SUNY Stony Brook 26,689
  • Type
  • Holy Cross Private 4 Year
  • SUNY Stony Brook Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Holy Cross #79
  • SUNY Stony Brook #141
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Holy Cross Roman Catholic
  • SUNY Stony Brook -
  • Status
  • Holy Cross Non-profit
  • SUNY Stony Brook Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Holy Cross
  • SUNY Stony Brook

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Holy Cross $64,500
  • SUNY Stony Brook $10,931
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Holy Cross $64,500
  • SUNY Stony Brook $32,741
  • Room & Board
  • Holy Cross $18,820
  • SUNY Stony Brook $18,196
  • Average Net Price
  • Holy Cross $36,014
  • SUNY Stony Brook $20,992
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Holy Cross $44,334
  • SUNY Stony Brook $9,285
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Holy Cross 57%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Holy Cross 9,568
  • SUNY Stony Brook 55,880
  • Admitted
  • Holy Cross 1,685
  • SUNY Stony Brook 27,406
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Holy Cross 17.6%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 49%
  • Enrolled
  • Holy Cross 49.6%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 14.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Holy Cross 1330
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1420
  • Typical ACT score
  • Holy Cross 29
  • SUNY Stony Brook 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Holy Cross -
  • SUNY Stony Brook 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Holy Cross -
  • SUNY Stony Brook A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Holy Cross Very High
  • SUNY Stony Brook Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Holy Cross Very High
  • SUNY Stony Brook Low
  • ACT Range
  • Holy Cross 27/32
  • SUNY Stony Brook 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • Holy Cross 1240/1410
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1330/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Holy Cross Test optional
  • SUNY Stony Brook Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Holy Cross Jan 15, 2027
  • SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Holy Cross 9:1
  • SUNY Stony Brook 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Holy Cross
    • Social Sciences (33%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • English and Literature (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)
    • History (8%)
  • SUNY Stony Brook
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Health Professions (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Business (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Holy Cross 91%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 67%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Holy Cross $80,400
  • SUNY Stony Brook $59,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Holy Cross 87%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 73%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Holy Cross $27,500
  • SUNY Stony Brook $19,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Holy Cross $284
  • SUNY Stony Brook $196

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Holy Cross 46%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 47%
  • % Women
  • Holy Cross 54%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Holy Cross Low
  • SUNY Stony Brook Very High
  • HBCU
  • Holy Cross No
  • SUNY Stony Brook No
  • % White
  • Holy Cross 70%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 36%
  • % Asian
  • Holy Cross 5%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 24%
  • % Black
  • Holy Cross 4%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Holy Cross 10%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 11%
  • % Native American
  • Holy Cross 0%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Holy Cross 0%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Holy Cross 3%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 2%
  • % International
  • Holy Cross 2%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Holy Cross 5%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Holy Cross 36%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Holy Cross 60%
  • SUNY Stony Brook 9%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Holy Cross Yes
  • SUNY Stony Brook Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Holy Cross No
  • SUNY Stony Brook No
  • Meal Plan
  • Holy Cross Yes
  • SUNY Stony Brook Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Holy Cross No
  • SUNY Stony Brook No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Holy Cross No
  • SUNY Stony Brook Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA with Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Stony Brook University is larger than Holy Cross based on total student enrollment (26,689 students vs. 3,126 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • College of the Holy Cross is located in Worcester, MA (Midsize City setting); Stony Brook University is in Stony Brook, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • College of the Holy Cross is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Stony Brook University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Holy Cross 9:1; Stony Brook University 19:1.

Holy Cross vs. SUNY Stony Brook Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Holy Cross or SUNY Stony Brook? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Stony Brook University than Holy Cross ($20,992 vs. $36,014).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Stony Brook University are 3.3% lower than at College of the Holy Cross ($18,196 vs. $18,820).
  • College of the Holy Cross is 490.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY Stony Brook (about $53,569 more per year; $64,500.00 vs. $10,931.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 97% higher at Holy Cross than at Stony Brook University (about $31,759 more per year; $64,500.00 vs. $32,741.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Stony Brook University than at College of the Holy Cross (98% vs. 57%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Holy Cross students is 377.5% larger than aid received by Stony Brook University students ($44,334 vs. $9,285).

Holy Cross vs. SUNY Stony Brook Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Holy Cross or SUNY Stony Brook? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between SUNY Stony Brook and Holy Cross.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Stony Brook University (1420) is 90 points higher than at Holy Cross (1330).
  • Incoming SUNY Stony Brook students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 29 at Holy Cross).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: College of the Holy Cross 1240/1410; Stony Brook University 1330/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: College of the Holy Cross 27/32; Stony Brook University 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Holy Cross - Test optional; SUNY Stony Brook - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Holy Cross Jan 15, 2027; SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027.
  • SUNY Stony Brook has a higher acceptance rate (49%) than Holy Cross (17.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 49.6% at Holy Cross vs. 14.7% at SUNY Stony Brook.

Holy Cross vs. SUNY Stony Brook Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Holy Cross and SUNY Stony Brook? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • College of the Holy Cross's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than Stony Brook University's (67%).
  • Graduates from College of the Holy Cross earn a median of about $21,100 more per year than SUNY Stony Brook graduates about ten years after starting college ($80,400 vs. $59,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Stony Brook University graduates have a $8,500 lower median loan debt than Holy Cross graduates ($19,000 vs. $27,500).
  • Among borrowers, SUNY Stony Brook graduates have an estimated $88 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Holy Cross graduates ($196 vs. $284).
  • More Holy Cross graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SUNY Stony Brook students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 73%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.