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Rank: 69

Stony Brook University

Stony Brook University is part of the sprawling State University of New York (SUNY, pronounced "soo-nee") system. Founded in 1957, its campus is situated on more than 1,000 acres on the North Shore of Long Island. It also has a satellite campus in Manhattan, about 60 miles to the west. Stony Brook has roughly 26,000 students, of which about 17,000 are undergraduates. It has a substantial commuter population, although 83% of freshmen live on campus. On the academic front, students can take their pick of over 200 academic programs. The most popular majors include biology, psychology, business management, health science, and computer science. Students tend to be successful: Stony Brook's graduation rate of 74% is about 4% above other schools with similar demographics, according to Money's analysis. PayScale data shows that alumni earn an average salary of $55,200 in their first five years after graduation, which is about 7% more than their peers from other colleges. Stony Brook's mascot is the seawolf. The mythical creature is not only purported to bring good luck, but also stars in a famous cheer. When someone asks, "What's a Seawolf?" students yell their response: "I'm a Seawolf!" Try it at your next SBU game -- and don't forget to wear red.
CORONAVIRUS UPDATE
FALL 2020 PLAN: Most courses have shifted to an online format, and post-Thanksgiving, any classes that had in-person instruction will move to virtual instruction.
costs
Est. Full Price 2020-2021
$26,900
% of students who get any grants
59%
Est. price for students who receive aid
$15,500
Average price for low-income students
$10,800
admissions
Acceptance rate
42%
Median SAT/ACT Score
1330/29
SAT/ACT Required for Fall 2021?
no
Enrollment
17,410
Financial Aid
% of students with need who get grants
86%
% of need met
66%
% of students who get merit* grants
10%
Average merit grant
$5,560
student success
Graduation rate
74%
Average time to a degree
4.3 years
Average student debt
$19,000
Average salary within 5 years
$55,200
% earning more than $28,000
82%
key deadlines
Early decision application
N/A
Regular application
Jan 15

* Share of full-time undergraduates who had no financial need and were awarded grants.

* Full price of attendance includes on-campus room & board fees, which may not be applicable to all colleges' reopening plans this year.

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, Peterson's, PayScale.com, Money/American Institutes for Research calculations, Opportunity Insights.

coronavirus update

FALL 2020 PLAN: Most courses have shifted to an online format, and post-Thanksgiving, any classes that had in-person instruction will move to virtual instruction.

* Share of full-time undergraduates who had no financial need and were awarded grants.

* Full price of attendance includes on-campus room & board fees, which may not be applicable to all colleges' reopening plans this year.

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, Peterson's, PayScale.com, Money/American Institutes for Research calculations, Opportunity Insights.

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