SUNY Stony Brook vs. Swarthmore

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

Stony Brook University
Swarthmore College

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Swarthmore (7.5% admitted vs 49%). Typical SAT 1530 vs 1420.
  • Cheaper after aid: SUNY Stony Brook. Average net price is $20,992 vs $22,469 at Swarthmore.
  • Graduation: SUNY Stony Brook 67% vs Swarthmore 95%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: SUNY Stony Brook $59,300 vs Swarthmore $65,800 (median).
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Key differences

Stony Brook University Swarthmore College
Acceptance rate
Swarthmore more selective
SUNY Stony Brook49%
Swarthmore7.5%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Swarthmore higher
SUNY Stony Brook1330-1500
Swarthmore1490-1560
Average net price
SUNY Stony Brook $1,477 less
SUNY Stony Brook$20,992
Swarthmore$22,469
In-state tuition
SUNY Stony Brook $54,563 less
SUNY Stony Brook$10,931
Swarthmore$65,494
Out-of-state tuition
SUNY Stony Brook $32,753 less
SUNY Stony Brook$32,741
Swarthmore$65,494
Graduation rate
Swarthmore +28 pts
SUNY Stony Brook67%
Swarthmore95%
Median earnings (10 years)
Swarthmore +$6,500
SUNY Stony Brook$59,300
Swarthmore$65,800

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • SUNY Stony Brook 55,880
  • Swarthmore 13,065
  • Admitted
  • SUNY Stony Brook 27,406
  • Swarthmore 975
  • Acceptance rate
  • SUNY Stony Brook 49%
  • Swarthmore 7.5%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • SUNY Stony Brook 14.7%
  • Swarthmore 43.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1420
  • Swarthmore 1530
  • Typical ACT score
  • SUNY Stony Brook 31
  • Swarthmore 34
  • Average high school GPA
  • SUNY Stony Brook 3.94
  • Swarthmore 3.9
  • Typical high school grades
  • SUNY Stony Brook A
  • Swarthmore A
  • Admissions standards
  • SUNY Stony Brook Exceptional
  • Swarthmore Elite
  • Applicant competition
  • SUNY Stony Brook Low
  • Swarthmore Extreme
  • SAT range
  • SUNY Stony Brook 1330-1500
  • Swarthmore 1490-1560
  • ACT range
  • SUNY Stony Brook 29-33
  • Swarthmore 33-35
  • Submit test scores
  • SUNY Stony Brook Test optional
  • Swarthmore Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027
  • Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • SUNY Stony Brook $10,931
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • SUNY Stony Brook $32,741
  • Swarthmore $65,494
  • Room & board
  • SUNY Stony Brook $18,196
  • Swarthmore $20,308
  • Average net price
  • SUNY Stony Brook $20,992
  • Swarthmore $22,469
  • Average grant aid
  • SUNY Stony Brook $9,285
  • Swarthmore $61,634
  • % receiving grant aid
  • SUNY Stony Brook 98%
  • Swarthmore 57%
  • Graduation rate
  • SUNY Stony Brook 67%
  • Swarthmore 95%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • SUNY Stony Brook $59,300
  • Swarthmore $65,800
  • Making student loan payments
  • SUNY Stony Brook 73%
  • Swarthmore 87%
  • Median student loan debt
  • SUNY Stony Brook $19,000
  • Swarthmore $19,500
  • Median loan payment
  • SUNY Stony Brook $196
  • Swarthmore $201
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • SUNY Stony Brook 19:1
  • Swarthmore 7:1
  • Popular majors
  • SUNY Stony Brook
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Health Professions (17%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Business (9%)
  • Swarthmore
    • Social Sciences (29%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
  • Location
  • SUNY Stony Brook Stony Brook, NY
  • Swarthmore Swarthmore, PA
  • Setting
  • SUNY Stony Brook Large Suburban
  • Swarthmore Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • SUNY Stony Brook 26,689
  • Swarthmore 1,623
  • Type
  • SUNY Stony Brook Public 4 Year
  • Swarthmore Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • SUNY Stony Brook #141
  • Swarthmore #40

Comparable Facts

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

Stony Brook University is larger than Swarthmore based on total student enrollment (26,689 students vs. 1,623 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Stony Brook University is located in Stony Brook, NY (Large Suburban setting); Swarthmore College is in Swarthmore, PA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Stony Brook University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Swarthmore College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Stony Brook University 19:1; Swarthmore College 7:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Stony Brook University are 10.4% lower than at Swarthmore College ($18,196 vs. $20,308).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 100% higher at Swarthmore than at Stony Brook University (about $32,753 more per year; $65,494 vs. $32,741).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Stony Brook University than at Swarthmore College (98% vs. 57%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Swarthmore College students is 563.8% larger than aid received by Stony Brook University students ($61,634 vs. $9,285).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 3 points higher at Swarthmore than at SUNY Stony Brook (34 vs. 31, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both SUNY Stony Brook and Swarthmore.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SUNY Stony Brook Jan 15, 2027; Swarthmore Jan 4, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at SUNY Stony Brook average a 3.94 high school GPA, 0.04 higher than at Swarthmore (3.9).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.7% at SUNY Stony Brook vs. 43.8% at Swarthmore.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Stony Brook University graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than Swarthmore graduates ($19,000 vs. $19,500).
  • Among borrowers, SUNY Stony Brook graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Swarthmore graduates ($196 vs. $201).
  • More Swarthmore 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, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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