SUNY Stony Brook vs. NC State

Deciding between Stony Brook University and North Carolina State University at Raleigh? 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.

Stony Brook University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • SUNY Stony Brook Stony Brook, NY
  • NC State Raleigh, NC
  • Setting
  • SUNY Stony Brook Large Suburban
  • NC State Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • SUNY Stony Brook 26,689
  • NC State 38,464
  • Type
  • SUNY Stony Brook Public 4 Year
  • NC State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SUNY Stony Brook #141
  • NC State #124
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SUNY Stony Brook -
  • NC State -
  • Status
  • SUNY Stony Brook Non-profit
  • NC State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SUNY Stony Brook
  • NC State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SUNY Stony Brook $10,931
  • NC State $8,799
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SUNY Stony Brook $32,741
  • NC State $32,847
  • Room & Board
  • SUNY Stony Brook $18,196
  • NC State $14,332
  • Average Net Price
  • SUNY Stony Brook $20,992
  • NC State $15,522
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SUNY Stony Brook $9,285
  • NC State $11,675
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SUNY Stony Brook 98%
  • NC State 51%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SUNY Stony Brook 55,880
  • NC State 44,047
  • Admitted
  • SUNY Stony Brook 27,406
  • NC State 18,385
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SUNY Stony Brook 49%
  • NC State 41.7%
  • Enrolled
  • SUNY Stony Brook 14.7%
  • NC State 31.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1420
  • NC State 1390
  • Typical ACT score
  • SUNY Stony Brook 31
  • NC State 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • SUNY Stony Brook 3.94
  • NC State 3.83
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SUNY Stony Brook A
  • NC State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • SUNY Stony Brook Exceptional
  • NC State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • SUNY Stony Brook Low
  • NC State Low
  • ACT Range
  • SUNY Stony Brook 29/33
  • NC State 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1330/1500
  • NC State 1300/1470
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SUNY Stony Brook Test optional
  • NC State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027
  • NC State Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SUNY Stony Brook 19:1
  • NC State 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SUNY Stony Brook
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Health Professions (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Business (9%)
  • NC State
    • Engineering (22%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Agriculture (9%)
    • Social Sciences (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SUNY Stony Brook 67%
  • NC State 72%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SUNY Stony Brook $59,300
  • NC State $57,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SUNY Stony Brook 73%
  • NC State 76%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SUNY Stony Brook $19,000
  • NC State $20,782
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SUNY Stony Brook $196
  • NC State $214

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SUNY Stony Brook 47%
  • NC State 50%
  • % Women
  • SUNY Stony Brook 53%
  • NC State 50%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SUNY Stony Brook Very High
  • NC State Low
  • HBCU
  • SUNY Stony Brook No
  • NC State No
  • % White
  • SUNY Stony Brook 36%
  • NC State 74%
  • % Asian
  • SUNY Stony Brook 24%
  • NC State 5%
  • % Black
  • SUNY Stony Brook 7%
  • NC State 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • SUNY Stony Brook 11%
  • NC State 5%
  • % Native American
  • SUNY Stony Brook 0%
  • NC State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SUNY Stony Brook 0%
  • NC State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SUNY Stony Brook 2%
  • NC State 4%
  • % International
  • SUNY Stony Brook 13%
  • NC State 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SUNY Stony Brook 7%
  • NC State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SUNY Stony Brook 78%
  • NC State 86%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SUNY Stony Brook 9%
  • NC State 12%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, NY with North Carolina State University at Raleigh in Raleigh, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

North Carolina State University at Raleigh is larger than SUNY Stony Brook based on total student enrollment (38,464 students vs. 26,689 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Stony Brook University is located in Stony Brook, NY (Large Suburban setting); North Carolina State University at Raleigh is in Raleigh, NC (Large City setting).
  • Stony Brook University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Stony Brook University 19:1; North Carolina State University at Raleigh 15:1.

SUNY Stony Brook vs. NC State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SUNY Stony Brook or NC State? 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 North Carolina State University at Raleigh than SUNY Stony Brook ($15,522 vs. $20,992).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at North Carolina State University at Raleigh are 21.2% lower than at Stony Brook University ($14,332 vs. $18,196).
  • Stony Brook University is 24.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than NC State (about $2,132 more per year; $10,931.00 vs. $8,799.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.3% higher at NC State than at Stony Brook University (about $106 more per year; $32,847.00 vs. $32,741.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Stony Brook University than at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (98% vs. 51%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by North Carolina State University at Raleigh students is 25.7% larger than aid received by Stony Brook University students ($11,675 vs. $9,285).

SUNY Stony Brook vs. NC State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SUNY Stony Brook or NC State? 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 NC State and SUNY Stony Brook.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Stony Brook University (1420) is 30 points higher than at NC State (1390).
  • Incoming SUNY Stony Brook students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at NC State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Stony Brook University 1330/1500; North Carolina State University at Raleigh 1300/1470.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Stony Brook University 29/33; North Carolina State University at Raleigh 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SUNY Stony Brook - Test optional; NC State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027; NC State Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman SUNY Stony Brook students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at NC State (3.83).
  • SUNY Stony Brook has a higher acceptance rate (49%) than NC State (41.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.7% at SUNY Stony Brook vs. 31.8% at NC State.

SUNY Stony Brook vs. NC State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SUNY Stony Brook and NC State? 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).

  • North Carolina State University at Raleigh's six-year graduation rate (72%) is higher than Stony Brook University's (67%).
  • Graduates from Stony Brook University earn a median of about $2,100 more per year than NC State graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,300 vs. $57,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Stony Brook University graduates have a $1,782 lower median loan debt than NC State graduates ($19,000 vs. $20,782).
  • Among borrowers, SUNY Stony Brook graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NC State graduates ($196 vs. $214).
  • More NC State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SUNY Stony Brook students, three years after graduation. (76% 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.