Stony Brook University acceptance rate and admissions profile
Stony Brook University, a public university in New York, reports a 49% acceptance rate and sits in the selective band. In practice that means it admits a minority of applicants, so a strong application is judged against an applicant pool that is already self-selected.
Use this page to see what Stony Brook University weighs, where it ranks among New York schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1400, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.
Will I get into Stony Brook University?
Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into Stony Brook University, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.
What are my chances of getting into Stony Brook University?
Your odds at Stony Brook University are not the same as its 49% acceptance rate. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for Stony Brook University in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.
Is Stony Brook University hard to get into?
Stony Brook University is selective: it admits a minority of applicants, with about a 49% acceptance rate. A solid academic record puts you in good position, and the rest of your profile can tip the result either way.
What GPA do you need to get into Stony Brook University?
There is no hard GPA cutoff at Stony Brook University, but admitted students commonly present roughly a 3.5 to 3.9 GPA. Stony Brook University reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.
What SAT score do you need for Stony Brook University?
Stony Brook University does not publish a required score, but the admitted-student 75th-percentile SAT is around 1400. A score at or above that range strengthens your application, while a lower score puts more weight on your rigor, activities, and essays. CollegeCalcAI shows how your exact score shifts your odds at Stony Brook University.
What Stony Brook University looks for
What Stony Brook University weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.
The factors that carry the most weight at Stony Brook University are rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from Stony Brook University's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.
SAT score positioning at Stony Brook University
How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability — your full profile determines the real estimate.
How Stony Brook University compares in New York
Stony Brook University ranks #15 most selective of 59 schools in New York in our database.
Among the 59 New York schools we track, Stony Brook University ranks #15 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like Columbia University (4%) and Cornell University (9%) sit nearby, which makes New York a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list. As a public university, residency matters: in-state applicants generally see meaningfully better odds than the headline rate suggests.
Similar to Stony Brook University
Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.
Applicants targeting Stony Brook University often weigh North Carolina A&T State University, Purdue University, and Baruch College, which sit at a similar level. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.
Frequently asked questions
What does Stony Brook University value most in applicants?
Based on its admissions profile, Stony Brook University weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.
Does Stony Brook University favor in-state applicants?
As a public university, Stony Brook University generally admits in-state applicants at a higher rate than out-of-state applicants, so your home state affects your odds. CollegeCalcAI applies an in-state residency boost when you select your state.
How can I improve my chances at Stony Brook University?
Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at Stony Brook University specifically.
Is Stony Brook University a target or a reach for an average applicant?
For an applicant whose GPA and scores sit near Stony Brook University's admitted range, it generally reads as a target rather than a reach. Run your exact profile through the free calculator to see your personal verdict.
Is Stony Brook University test-optional?
Test-optional policies change year to year, so confirm Stony Brook University's current policy on its official admissions site. If you do submit scores, the admitted 75th-percentile SAT is around 1400; if you do not, more weight falls on your GPA, course rigor, and essays.
Acceptance rate and admitted test ranges reflect publicly reported data (U.S. Department of Education / NCES IPEDS / Common Data Sets). Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.