Stony Brook University

Stony Brook University's published cost of attendance is $30,539, but need-based aid reshapes that figure meaningfully across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $12,943 per year in net price, middle-income families pay around $20,728, and higher-income families pay approximately $27,716.

Azimuth ranks Stony Brook University #416 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.

As a public research university in New York, Stony Brook University draws on a combination of federal, state, and institutional aid programs to reduce out-of-pocket costs for qualifying students. New York State's Excelsior Scholarship and Tuition Assistance Program extend meaningful support to in-state families, particularly at lower and middle income levels, helping close the gap between the published cost of attendance and what families actually pay.

The [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) is real here: the sticker price substantially overstates what most in-state families pay. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $18,228, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $21,400; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.

For a graduate at Stony Brook University's median four-year earnings of $81,850, median federal debt of $18,228 projects to a monthly payment of about $206 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).

Graduates of Stony Brook University earn median earnings of $81,850 four years after enrollment, placing Stony Brook University in the 87.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs above the $65,228 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).

Graduates earn about $15,425 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Stony Brook University in the 92.8 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Stony Brook University #162 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.

The earnings pattern reflects Stony Brook University's concentration in science and quantitative fields. Biological Sciences is the dominant program family, accounting for 11% of degrees, followed by Business at 9% and Engineering at 7%.

Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General combines large cohort scale with strong pay, making it a key contributor to the university's overall return profile. Among the highest-earning programs, Azimuth ranks Psychology, General #36 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), with 591 graduates earning median earnings of $58,137 four years after enrollment.

Biology, General ranks #36 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions with 549 graduates earning $62,574, and Business Administration ranks #67 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions with 464 graduates earning $72,765. Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General and Applied Mathematics round out the top programs, with Azimuth ranking them #4 and #11 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions respectively.

Stony Brook University's program mix is anchored in Biological Sciences, which accounts for 11% of degree output. Business represents 9% of graduates and Engineering accounts for 7%.

Psychology, General is the largest program with 591 graduates, followed by Biology, General (549 graduates), Business Administration (464 graduates), Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General (446 graduates), and Applied Mathematics (399 graduates). Across 48 programs serving roughly 5,243 students annually, 34 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold.

The highest earnings come from quantitative and applied fields. Azimuth ranks Nursing #39 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning $111,898.

Azimuth ranks Applied Mathematics #11 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning $82,200. Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General also stands out — Azimuth ranks the program #4 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning $77,075.

Many of Stony Brook University's largest programs — particularly in biological sciences, psychology, and health — are grad-school-dependent pathways. By contrast, programs in computer science, engineering, and applied mathematics are high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the workforce directly.

The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) framework provides context for how these fields align with national wage trends, and [how Azimuth evaluates programs](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) explains the ranking methodology behind these results.