Admissions
Getting in, fall 2024
Stony Brook admits about 1 in 2 applicants (49%). That puts it in the "Very selective" tier, more selective than 84% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.
Out of every 100 applicants…
The funnel
Men and women were admitted at similar rates (47% and 50%).
$50 to apply
Can be waived for applicants with financial need.
Grants credit for AP exams
Where applicants live
New York applicants were admitted at 40%, applicants from other states at 63%, and international applicants at 67%.
Of those admitted, 19% from New York enrolled, against 4.0% from other states and 7.8% from abroad.
Counted by where applicants lived when they applied, which can differ from who qualifies for in-state tuition. A group's rate reflects who applies from there as well as how the college chooses.
Yield
15% of admitted students enroll, in the typical range nationally.
Wait list: 10,563 offered a place, 5,191 accepted, 3,462 admitted (67% of those who accepted)
Applying early
Early action (not binding)
No early decision plan.
Where you stand
How Stony Brook reads a record
, GPA, and tests are all very important; class rank is considered. 70% of first-years had a 3.75 or higher, so and rarely sets an applicant apart; the courses behind it carry more of the weight. Scores are optional. 34% of first-years sent an SAT and 3% an ACT. Most first-years were admitted without scores. Of the 31% whose high school reported a rank, 59% were in the top tenth. Recommends 3 years of foreign language and 4 of math. See the years by subject
What they look at
Considers whether an applicant's parent attended (legacy status).
| Very important | Important | Considered | Not considered | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic | |||||
| Rigor of high school record | Very important | ||||
| Class rank | Considered | ||||
| Academic GPA | Very important | ||||
| Test scores | Very important | ||||
| Essay | Very important | ||||
| Recommendations | Important | ||||
| Personal | |||||
| Interview | Considered | ||||
| Extracurricular activities | Considered | ||||
| Talent or ability | Considered | ||||
| Character and personal qualities | Considered | ||||
| First generation | Considered | ||||
| Alumni relation (legacy) | Considered | ||||
| Geographic residence | Considered | ||||
| State residency | Considered | ||||
| Religious affiliation | Not considered | ||||
| Volunteer work | Considered | ||||
| Work experience | Considered | ||||
| Demonstrated interest | Considered | ||||
From the federal survey: high school record required; college-prep program required; English proficiency test required
Transferring in
44% of transfer applicants were admittedvs. 49% of first-year applicants
7,021 applied · 3,094 admitted · 1,364 enrolled
Transfers may start in the fall and spring.
Minimum college GPA: 2.8
Grants credit for course work completed at another college
What the application needs
- High school transcript
- Required of some
- College transcripts
- Required
- Essay or personal statement
- Not required
- Interview
- Not required
- Standardized test scores
- Required of some
- Statement of good standing from a prior college
- Not required
Applying
The regular round, as the college reports it. Early rounds have their own dates.
- Decisions are sent by a set date.
- Admitted students may postpone enrollment for a gap year. Longest postponement: 1 Year.
What you'll need in high school
Requires a high school diploma; accepts the GED.
Recommends a college-preparatory program in high school.
| Years of | Required | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| English | 4 | 4 |
| Math | 3 | 4 |
| Science | 3 | 4 |
| Foreign language | – | 3 |
| Social studies | 4 | 4 |
| Total | 14 | 19 |
A unit is a year of the subject; lab science is part of science.
On the admissions map
↑ SAT midpoint (higher = higher scores)
Fall 2025 first-years
First-years' high school GPA
High schools grade differently, and colleges recalculate or weight GPAs their own way, so compare this college only with itself.
First-years by high school GPA (4.0 scale)
- 4.045%
- 3.75–3.9925%
- 3.50–3.7418%
- 3.25–3.498%
- 3.00–3.244%
- below 3.00%
The middle half had GPAs of 3.50–4.0.
All nine bands
| GPA | All |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 45.4% |
| 3.75–3.99 | 24.8% |
| 3.50–3.74 | 17.6% |
| 3.25–3.49 | 7.7% |
| 3.00–3.24 | 4.3% |
| 2.50–2.99 | 0.1% |
| 2.0–2.49 | 0.0% |
| 1.0–1.99 | 0.0% |
| below 1.0 | 0.0% |
59% were in the top tenth of their high school class, 86% in the top quarter, of the 31% whose high school reported a rank.
Source:Stony Brook University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Test scores
What enrolled first-years scored
The typical enrolled first-year who sent scores is around 1415 on the SAT, 245 points above the median for colleges that report scores.
Optional
Scores are considered if you send them. For students who entered in fall 2024.
Where would you land?
Middle 50% of enrolled first-years who sent scores This college's median National median midpoint
Who submitted scores?
submitted SAT
submitted ACT
Read with care: fewer than half of enrolled students submitted either test, so these ranges may run high. Learn about admissions.
Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;Stony Brook University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;Stony Brook University Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26;Stony Brook University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 cycleAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)