Stony Brook is one of New York’s flagship public research universities. Its admissions process has become increasingly competitive, especially for applicants interested in computer science, engineering and other restricted majors.
The most recent complete official Common Data Set shows a 48.2% acceptance rate for Fall 2025. Although this guide is updated for 2026 applicants, the university has not yet published a complete Fall 2026 Common Data Set establishing a newer acceptance percentage.
Here’s what the latest figures actually tell you—and how to decide whether your academic background is competitive.
The latest verified overall undergraduate acceptance rate is 48.2%, based on Fall 2025 first-year admissions: 64,197 applicants, 30,930 admitted and 3,964 enrolled. Stony Brook’s current admissions website rounds the same figure to 48%. The Fall 2026 rate should not be assumed identical until Stony Brook publishes the corresponding applicant and admit totals.
For academic comparison, the university reports a Fall 2025 middle-50% enrolled-student profile of 3.7–4.0 GPA, 1350–1470 SAT and 30–34 ACT. These are not automatic admission cutoffs, and the scores describe students who submitted tests.
Official sources: Stony Brook Common Data Set and Undergraduate Admissions.
Stony Brook Acceptance Rate Trends: Is Admission Getting Harder?
Stony Brook received 64,197 first-year applications for Fall 2025, compared with 55,880 the preceding year. Applications increased by approximately 15%, while the acceptance rate moved from around 49% to 48%.
| Entering class | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance rate | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2024 | 55,880 | See 2024–25 CDS | Approximately 49% | See 2024–25 CDS |
| Fall 2025 | 64,197 | 30,930 | 48.2% | 3,964 |
| Fall 2026 | Not established in the latest complete CDS | Not established | Not yet verified | Pending comparable official publication |
Rates are tied to the entering year, not the year a website article is published.
Comparison of recent published acceptance rates
This is a moderate change in percentage points, but the application increase is meaningful. Stony Brook attracts a large national and international applicant pool. However, an expanding applicant pool does not mean your personal chance can be calculated simply by applying a fixed 48.2% probability.
Stony Brook’s 2025–26 Common Data Set describes students who entered in Fall 2025. Its 2026–27 admissions website describes policies for students preparing to enter in Fall 2027. Keeping these separate prevents confusing admission results with future application deadlines.
In-State, Out-of-State and International Acceptance Rates
The overall 48.2% acceptance rate hides significant differences between applicant groups. Stony Brook’s Fall 2025 Common Data Set separates applicants from New York State, other U.S. states and outside the United States.
| Fall 2025 group | Applications | Admitted | Calculated acceptance rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York residents | 42,719 | 17,065 | 39.9% |
| Other U.S. states | 13,031 | 8,198 | 62.9% |
| International applicants | 8,447 | 5,667 | 67.1% |
| All applicants | 64,197 | 30,930 | 48.2% |
It’s tempting to interpret the higher nonresident rate as evidence that moving out of New York improves your chances. That conclusion would be unsupported. Academic credentials, application choices, intended majors and other characteristics can differ across applicant groups.
These are group-level admission results, not an applicant-specific policy promising preference by residency. In particular, the New York rate does not represent the probability for every student graduating from a Long Island public high school.
Students from Suffolk County, Nassau County, Queens, Brooklyn and the rest of New York compete in a large in-state applicant pool. If Stony Brook is your top choice, focus on a strong transcript and careful selection of your intended major rather than assuming SUNY residency itself makes admission easy.
What GPA Do You Need to Get Into Stony Brook?
Stony Brook’s published Fall 2025 middle-50% high school GPA range is 3.7–4.0 on a 4.0 scale, or 92–98 on a 100-point scale. The university emphasizes that it has no automatic GPA cutoff.
A middle-50% range is a description of the enrolling class. It is not a minimum requirement, and students above or below it may receive different decisions depending on their full application.
Published 4-point GPA profile
3.7–4.0
Middle 50% of the entering Fall 2025 class.
Published 100-point profile
92–98
Corresponding university-reported high school grade range.
How to think about your own GPA
| GPA range | Planning interpretation | Recommended focus |
|---|---|---|
| 3.9–4.0 | Strong relative to the published range. | Major-specific preparation, course rigor and application quality. |
| 3.7–3.89 | Within the reported middle-50% band. | Strong grades in subjects connected to your intended major. |
| 3.4–3.69 | Below the reported middle band, but not an automatic rejection. | Upward academic trends, challenging coursework, meaningful context and a balanced school list. |
| Below 3.4 | A more academically challenging application. | Review program requirements carefully and consider alternative pathways, including transfer admission. |
These are editorial interpretations, not official Stony Brook admission bands. A student with a 3.85 GPA applying to a highly competitive engineering major may face a different review than a student applying to another program.
High school course preparation
Stony Brook’s recommendations for first-year preparation include:
- Four units of English.
- Four units of social studies.
- Three units of mathematics and three units of science, increasing to four units each for engineering and applied sciences.
- Two or three units of a foreign language.
The university also recognizes upward grade trends. A demanding class that produces a slightly lower grade is not automatically considered a failure, but applicants should show balanced performance across the academic subjects needed for their intended degree.
Stony Brook SAT and ACT Scores for 2026 Applicants
Stony Brook is test-optional, meaning students can decide whether SAT or ACT results should be considered. The university specifically says applicants who withhold scores are not placed behind applicants who submit them.
| Exam | Fall 2025 middle-50% range | What it represents |
|---|---|---|
| SAT composite | 1350–1470 | Students in the published score-reporting group. |
| ACT composite | 30–34 | Students in the published score-reporting group. |
| SAT Reading and Writing | 650–730 | CDS 2025–26 section score distribution. |
| SAT Math | 680–760 | CDS 2025–26 section score distribution. |
These score percentiles are not universal minimums. Test-optional reporting also means the students who submit scores can differ from those who do not.
Should you submit a 1300, 1400 or 1500 SAT?
A 1400 lies within the reported middle-50% range, while a 1500 exceeds its upper end. A 1300 is below the reported 25th percentile but can still be useful depending on school context, grades and intended major.
Stony Brook advises students to submit scores if the results strengthen their application. If you answer “yes” to having scores considered, official scores are required; self-reported results alone do not complete that part of the application.
The SAT reporting code is 2548; the ACT reporting code is 2952.
Although general first-year admission and most honors programs are test-optional, Stony Brook lists standardized test requirements for Scholars for Medicine and Scholars for Dental Medicine. Check those programs separately before choosing the test-optional route.
How Stony Brook Reviews First-Year Applications
Stony Brook describes its admissions process as holistic. Grades and curriculum matter considerably, but the university also looks at academic and personal factors such as involvement, leadership and special interests.
| Review element | Requirement or role | Useful applicant action |
|---|---|---|
| High school transcript | Required | Ensure the school sends an official transcript showing coursework and grades. |
| Application essay | Required | Write a specific, personal essay that reflects your own experiences and thinking. |
| Recommendation letter | One required | Choose a recommender familiar with your academic effort, character or relevant interests. |
| SAT or ACT | Optional for general admission | Decide before applying whether official scores strengthen your file. |
| Activities and community involvement | Considered | Explain real responsibilities, impact and continuity rather than padding a list. |
| Major-specific preparation | Important for restricted programs | Check calculus, physics, subject and supplemental requirements. |
| Honors applications | Additional review | Observe separate recommendations, essay and program deadlines. |
Students can apply through the Common Application, SUNY Application or Coalition Application. Stony Brook lists a $50 application fee, with applicable fee-waiver options.
The important practical detail is that Stony Brook’s deadlines are completion deadlines. An application submitted just before midnight may still be incomplete if the school transcript or required recommendation has not arrived.
If you want to study computer science, don’t simply say you “love technology.” Describe a programming problem that frustrated you, a project you revised, or something you learned about how computers affect people. Concrete evidence is more memorable than broad enthusiasm.
Stony Brook Acceptance Rate for Computer Science, Engineering, Nursing and Other Majors
A key distinction is that the 48.2% overall rate does not describe admission into each major. Stony Brook classifies several fields as restricted majors, with academic preparation expectations beyond the university-wide review.
| Program or group | Admission reality | What prospective students should check |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science and Data Science | Restricted majors within the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences. | Strong mathematics, calculus preparation, computing interests and admission to the actual major versus the university generally. |
| Engineering | Additional academic expectations, generally including four years of math and science. | Calculus, physics and strong grades in advanced quantitative coursework. |
| Business Management / Accounting | Additional program preparation considerations. | Mathematics, writing and the program’s current admission criteria. |
| Creative Writing BFA | Requires a statement of purpose and writing sample. | Submit program-specific materials through the application portal. |
| Music | Requires a separate music major application and successful audition/assessment. | Do not assume university admission alone completes music-major admission. |
| Nursing | Upper-division program, normally entered after college-level prerequisites. | At least 57 credits, prerequisite courses and the separate nursing application; investigate Nursing Scholars early assurance. |
| Social Work | Upper-division academic program. | Prerequisite and credit requirements before applying to the professional major. |
Is Stony Brook Computer Science harder to enter?
Computer Science is among Stony Brook’s restricted majors, and applicants should expect additional consideration of math preparation and space. The official Common Data Set reports a university-wide admit rate, not a verified 2026 first-year Computer Science acceptance percentage.
Therefore, a statement such as “Stony Brook CS accepts 15% of applicants” should not be used without an official, year-specific program admissions table.
Can you enter Stony Brook and switch to Computer Science later?
Do not assume it will be automatic. Restricted majors have their own admission and progression rules. Before accepting an offer outside your preferred major, ask whether there is an appropriate area-of-interest or intended-major route, which grades and courses must be completed, and whether space is guaranteed.
Is Stony Brook Nursing direct entry?
The general undergraduate Nursing program is an upper-division pathway requiring prerequisites and college credits. First-year applicants may begin in the College of Arts and Sciences and apply to Nursing later. The School of Nursing Scholars Program offers early assurance to selected applicants who subsequently meet required conditions.
Being accepted to Stony Brook University and securing a place in a restricted or upper-division major are not necessarily the same outcome. That distinction can affect course planning, time to graduation and whether the university meets your academic goals.
Stony Brook University Application Deadlines for Fall 2027
Applicants researching admissions in October 2026 should pay attention to deadlines for Fall 2027 enrollment.
Applications for Spring and Fall 2027 became available.
First-year Early Action completion deadline for Fall 2027. This is nonbinding and especially important for honors consideration.
Application and supporting materials must be complete for this program’s deadline.
General first-year Fall 2027 completion deadline; also the final deadline for most honors programs other than Simons STEM.
Current published fall transfer deadline.
Does applying Early Action increase your chances?
Early Action provides earlier consideration without a binding attendance commitment. Stony Brook encourages applicants to complete their files by November 1 for priority consideration in select programs and honors opportunities.
Its publicly available Common Data Set does not provide a verified separate Early Action acceptance-rate figure for the cited year. Applying early is useful for meeting priority deadlines, but students should not assume it guarantees a measurable increase in individual admission odds.
Honors program deadlines
For Fall 2027, the priority honors deadline is November 1, 2026. Most honors programs have a final January 15 deadline, while Simons STEM Scholars requires completion by November 1.
Applicants to Honors College, WISE, University Scholars, Scholars for Medicine, Scholars for Dental Medicine and other specialized programs should verify separate materials. Stony Brook requests two teacher recommendations for honors consideration; WISE expects at least one recommendation from a science teacher.
How to Make a Stronger Stony Brook Application
Stony Brook receives tens of thousands of applications, and many applicants will have good grades. The goal is not to make every part of your application sound extraordinary. It is to make the evidence of your readiness clear, particularly for the program you hope to study.
Start with the academic requirements of your major
Check the exact high school preparation expected for your intended degree. For CEAS applicants, calculus and physics preparation can be more important than a generic activity list.
Use your transcript to show consistency or growth
Admission reviewers can recognize upward grade trends. An honest account of improvement supported by later strong grades is more useful than an unsupported claim that you became more disciplined.
Write an essay that could only have come from you
Explain a specific experience, question, responsibility, problem or achievement. Avoid language that could be pasted into an application for any research university.
Choose a recommendation writer who knows your work
A teacher, counselor, coach or other eligible nonfamily recommender may be able to describe your reliability, curiosity or response to challenges. For honors programs, check the extra teacher-letter requirements.
Make a careful test-optional decision
Compare your SAT or ACT with the published profile. Official results must be provided if you select the option to have them considered. Do not assume scores are necessary for every major.
Verify the application is actually complete
Check your StartSBU status and allow time for school documents to be matched to your account. Do not send repeated transcripts simply because an item has not appeared immediately.
Meaningful responsibility counts as an experience. If you worked long hours, helped support family members or took care of younger siblings, don’t dismiss those experiences because they do not sound like traditional extracurricular clubs. Describe what you actually did and how you managed your academic obligations.
Stony Brook’s official application guidance emphasizes that final admission essays should be the student’s own work. Editing for clarity is different from submitting writing that does not genuinely represent your experiences or thinking.
Stony Brook Waitlist Acceptance Rate: What Happened in Fall 2025?
Stony Brook’s 2025–26 Common Data Set reports an unusually large waitlist with substantial movement:
That means approximately 66.7% of students who accepted a place on the waitlist were subsequently offered admission for the Fall 2025 cycle. Measured against everyone originally offered a waitlist place, the figure is approximately 32.8%.
These are different denominators, and the result can change dramatically from one entering class to the next. A 2025 waitlist outcome should not be presented as the expected 2026 or 2027 rate.
Follow the portal instructions and maintain a backup enrollment option. Review whether the waitlist applies to university admission, your desired major or another specific opportunity. If updates are permitted, submit meaningful new academic information rather than repeated messages with little new content.
Stony Brook Transfer Acceptance Rate and Application Path
Transfer applicants should use transfer-specific requirements and admission data rather than assume the first-year rate applies to them. Transfer admission considers previous college coursework, prerequisites, academic standing and major eligibility.
Stony Brook’s current published transfer deadlines are November 1 for Spring 2027 and May 1 for Fall 2027. Applications submitted later may be evaluated on a space-available basis.
For restricted majors, transferring to Stony Brook University does not necessarily guarantee entry into the intended major. Applicants should confirm which courses satisfy prerequisites and how previously completed credits will apply to degree requirements.
Before submitting your transfer application
- Request official transcripts from all colleges attended.
- Compare your college courses with prerequisites for the target major.
- Review current transfer GPA and credit requirements rather than relying on generic national transfer advice.
- Check whether your chosen major is restricted, upper-division or subject to space limits.
- Plan for housing and financial aid separately from admission.
Official Stony Brook application routes and transfer deadlines.
International Applicants: Acceptance Rates, Testing and Program Requirements
Stony Brook’s Fall 2025 Common Data Set reports 8,447 international first-year applications and 5,667 admission offers, a calculated 67.1% international admission rate.
This should not be interpreted as an automatic probability for a student from any particular country. Applicants differ in academic records, curriculum, intended majors and other aspects of the admission file.
International first-year applicants should verify acceptable transcript formats, English-language proficiency requirements and whether official translations or external academic documentation are needed.
SAT/ACT testing remains optional for general admissions, but English-language proficiency is a separate question and may still apply. Requirements for Scholars for Medicine or Scholars for Dental Medicine should also be reviewed separately.
If your school reports marks on a 100-point, percentage, IB, A-level or another scale, don’t invent a U.S. GPA conversion unless Stony Brook requests one. Submit the school’s official academic records and any required explanatory documentation so admissions can evaluate the curriculum appropriately.
Official Stony Brook international first-year application page.
Financial Aid, SUNY Scholarships and Affordability After Admission
Admission is only one part of choosing a university. Stony Brook’s status as a SUNY public institution means the price can differ significantly depending on state residency, financial aid, housing and scholarships.
Its FAFSA federal school code is 002838. Eligible applicants seeking federal aid should file the FAFSA and monitor their SOLAR To Do List for additional documentation.
Stony Brook’s financial aid office lists February 15, 2026 as the priority FAFSA date for limited 2026–27 funds. Applicants entering in Fall 2027 should check the newly published 2027–28 aid calendar instead of assuming the prior year’s date automatically applies.
Are merit scholarships automatic?
Stony Brook says incoming first-year students are automatically reviewed for many institutional merit scholarships without a separate scholarship application. Selection is competitive and subject to available funding, and not every admitted student receives a merit award.
Some named or departmental opportunities have separate criteria and deadlines. Students should review the scholarship details within SOLAR before assuming an award will renew for four years.
Eligible New York residents should also research applicable state aid programs, including TAP and Excelsior, without assuming those programs cover housing and all other costs.
Official sources: Stony Brook Scholarships and New Student Financial Aid FAQs.
Long Island Tips for Students Considering Stony Brook
Stony Brook is located on Long Island in Suffolk County, away from the center of New York City. Its location offers access to research facilities, coastal communities and metropolitan opportunities, but travel routines, housing and commuting deserve careful attention.
Use the Long Island Rail Road
The Long Island Rail Road’s Stony Brook station is adjacent to campus, and students can use it for regional travel. If you plan to visit from New York City, check the current Port Jefferson Branch schedule and whether your trip requires a transfer at Huntington.
Train frequency and total journey time vary, so do not assume that living near New York City makes the university a quick daily commute.
Visit West Campus and East Campus separately
Much of undergraduate academic life is centered on West Campus. Stony Brook Medicine, health-professional facilities and the hospital are associated with East Campus.
Students interested in healthcare should investigate where their actual courses and later clinical requirements take place rather than assuming all facilities are in one building.
Check official visitor parking
For official undergraduate admissions tours and information sessions, the university identifies the Administration Parking Garage as an authorized option for registered visitors. Admissions provides a parking code, and visitors must register their vehicle in advance.
Visitors without a code should check in with the Seawolf Welcome Center on the first floor of the Administration Building.
Evaluate housing and winter travel
If you plan to commute from elsewhere in Suffolk or Nassau County, test the journey at realistic class times. Driving congestion, parking rules and winter weather can affect attendance and scheduling.
For residential students, compare the convenience of on-campus housing with the cost of off-campus apartments and transportation.
What should prospective students ask during a visit?
Applicants interested in research-intensive degrees should ask about undergraduate research access, faculty advising, first-year math and science course sizes, and how students enter their preferred majors.
Computer Science and Engineering applicants should also ask about restricted-major admission and what happens if they receive a general admission offer without direct admission to their preferred program.
Book an official admissions tour, use the parking instructions if arriving by car, walk the academic route your intended major would require, and look at the train station or bus connections before leaving. This gives a clearer picture of daily student life than visiting only the most recognizable campus buildings.
Frequently Asked Questions About Stony Brook University Acceptance Rate 2026
What is Stony Brook University’s acceptance rate for 2026?
The latest complete official acceptance rate is 48.2% for Fall 2025, based on 30,930 admitted applicants among 64,197 first-year applications. A separate complete Fall 2026 rate was not established in the latest published Common Data Set available when this article was prepared.
Is Stony Brook University difficult to get into?
Stony Brook is selective. Its latest verified acceptance rate is about 48%, and its entering-student profile shows strong grades and test results among score-submitters. Restricted majors such as Computer Science and Engineering can require additional preparation and review.
What GPA do you need for Stony Brook University?
Stony Brook does not publish a universal minimum GPA guaranteeing admission. Its Fall 2025 middle-50% enrolled first-year profile was 3.7–4.0 on a 4-point scale or 92–98 on a 100-point scale. Course rigor and intended major matter.
What SAT score is competitive at Stony Brook?
Stony Brook’s reported Fall 2025 middle-50% SAT composite range was 1350–1470 among students who submitted scores. The university is test-optional for general undergraduate admission, so this is a benchmark rather than a required minimum.
Is Stony Brook test-optional for 2027 admission?
Yes. General undergraduate admission is test-optional. Applicants can choose whether to have official SAT or ACT scores considered. Scholars for Medicine and Scholars for Dental Medicine have separate testing requirements.
What is the Stony Brook Computer Science acceptance rate?
Stony Brook does not publish a verified separate 2026 first-year Computer Science acceptance rate in its overall Common Data Set. Computer Science is a restricted major within the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, with additional academic expectations.
Is Stony Brook Nursing a direct-admission major?
The standard Nursing pathway is an upper-division program requiring at least 57 credits and specific prerequisites. First-year students can begin in the College of Arts and Sciences and apply later. The Nursing Scholars Program offers early assurance to selected students who complete required conditions.
When is Stony Brook’s Fall 2027 application deadline?
The first-year Early Action completion deadline is November 1, 2026. Regular Decision is due January 15, 2027. Most honors programs use these dates, but Simons STEM Scholars requires a complete application by November 1.
What is Stony Brook’s international acceptance rate?
For Fall 2025, Stony Brook received 8,447 international first-year applications and admitted 5,667, a calculated acceptance rate of approximately 67.1%. This is a historical applicant-group result, not a guaranteed outcome for any individual applicant.
What is Stony Brook University’s FAFSA school code?
Stony Brook’s federal school code is 002838. Eligible applicants should complete FAFSA and monitor SOLAR for requests and award information. Financial aid priority deadlines must be checked for the appropriate academic year.
Official Sources and Research Documents
The most important figures in this article come from Stony Brook’s institutional reports and admissions pages. These resources allow prospective students to verify the year, applicant population and current application rules.
- Stony Brook Common Data Set Archive — Official downloadable XLS reports, including the 2025–26 dataset with Fall 2025 first-year admissions.
- Undergraduate Application and Class Profile — Admission rate, first-year GPA/SAT/ACT bands and current deadlines.
- First-Year Application Guide — Fees, requirements, recommendation letters, optional testing and honors application rules.
- High School Academic Preparation — Recommended subject areas, curriculum requirements and grade trends.
- Test-Optional Policy — Which programs require tests and how scores are evaluated.
- Restricted Major Criteria — Additional expectations for Engineering, Computer Science and other academic programs.
- International First-Year Admission — Requirements and documentation for international applicants.
- New Student Financial Aid FAQs — FAFSA code, SOLAR requirements and aid notification process.
- Scholarships and Merit Awards — First-year scholarship consideration and award rules.
- Visit Stony Brook — Campus tours, parking, welcome-center and travel information.
- Institutional Research Data and Reports — University statistics, enrollment and additional research data.
Research reviewed October 2026. Acceptance rates are calculated as admission offers divided by applications for the same fall entering class. GPA and testing profiles describe entering students rather than guaranteed admission thresholds. Major-specific admission rates are not inferred from university-wide results.
Final Assessment: Is Stony Brook a Realistic Choice for You?
Stony Brook University is a competitive public research university with a latest verified overall acceptance rate of 48.2%. Academic achievement matters, but the strength of the curriculum and the applicant’s intended major can be just as important as the headline percentage.
Students targeting Computer Science, Engineering or other restricted programs should examine specific preparation requirements before applying. Test scores are optional for general admission, and students should make that choice based on whether official results strengthen their academic profile.
If Stony Brook appeals to you, apply with enough time for all documents to arrive, explore the Long Island campus, compare financial aid and confirm exactly which academic program your offer covers. Choosing a university is not only about receiving an acceptance letter; it is about having a clear path toward the education you want.