Stony Brook University
Stony Brook University — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Stony Brook University at a Glance
The State University of New York at Stony Brook, commonly referred to as Stony Brook University (SBU), is a public research university in Stony Brook, New York, United States, on Long Island. Along with the University at Buffalo, it is one of the State University of New York system's two flagship institutions. Its campus consists of 213 buildings on over 1,454 acres of land in Suffolk County and it is the largest public university in the state of New York.
1957
69 years old
$825M
$825 million (December 2025)
10,514
200 undergrad · 8,620 grad
1,039 acres
33 residence halls
Identity
Is Stony Brook University Worth It?
Stony Brook University delivers solid financial returns for its graduates. At $18,784/year, it's priced 8% below average, while graduates go on to earn $74,502 — 39% above the national average.
The investment pays for itself in just 1 year — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 77% graduation rate means roughly 23% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
Bottom line: Stony Brook University delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How Stony Brook University compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #3 of 8 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Foothill College | 100 | $7,653 | $57,072 |
| #2 | North Carolina State University at Raleigh | 84 | $17,303 | $68,758 |
| #3 | Stony Brook University | 76 | $18,784 | $74,502 |
| #4 | University of Connecticut | 62 | $25,097 | $73,997 |
| #5 | Weber State University | 61 | $10,258 | $56,287 |
| #6 | Auburn University | 54 | $24,323 | $65,337 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Stony Brook University's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at Stony Brook University
The highest-earning program at Stony Brook University is Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions at $86,100/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services at $19,100/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions graduate from Stony Brook University earns $86,100, while a Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services graduate earns $19,100. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions graduates carry $21,500 in median debt vs. $20,676 for Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $18,784/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $86,100 | $86,100 | $21,500 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $82,600 | $82,600 | $12,614 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $75,100 | $75,100 | $21,750 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $71,300 | $71,300 | $21,031 |
| Computer Engineering | $60,500 | $60,500 | $19,000 |
| Information Science/Studies | $58,700 | $58,700 | $19,500 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $58,500 | $58,500 | $21,497 |
| Engineering, General | $56,800 | $56,800 | $22,000 |
| Chemical Engineering | $51,900 | $51,900 | $15,500 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $43,000 | $43,000 | $19,437 |
| Physics | $42,200 | $42,200 | $23,576 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $41,000 | $41,000 | $17,575 |
| Applied Mathematics | $38,800 | $38,800 | $19,000 |
| Economics | $36,700 | $36,700 | $18,500 |
| Chemistry | $34,500 | $34,500 | $19,180 |
| Journalism | $34,000 | $34,000 | $22,863 |
| Psychology, General | $32,600 | $32,600 | $18,505 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $32,400 | $32,400 | $20,000 |
| Sociology | $31,300 | $31,300 | $19,707 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $28,700 | $28,700 | $20,331 |
| Political Science and Government | $26,900 | $26,900 | $19,500 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $26,600 | $26,600 | $19,497 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $26,200 | $26,200 | $19,000 |
| History | $23,900 | $23,900 | $18,312 |
| Biology, General | $23,800 | $23,800 | $19,500 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | $21,200 | $21,200 | $23,657 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $19,100 | $19,100 | $20,676 |
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Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Stony Brook, NY
- Student Body
- 18,101 students
- Admission Rate
- 49%
- Graduation Rate
- 77%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $18,784
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $74,502
- Median Student Debt
- $18,228