Founded in 1957, Stony Brook University (SBU) is a dynamic public university located in Long Island, New York State, widely known for its superb academic credentials and reputation for excellence in research.
With a total enrollment of around 27,000 students, including more than 18,000 undergraduate learners, the university supports a large and diverse academic community while simultaneously offering a rich and exciting university experience.
The university offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs spanning a variety of fields. It has a strong foundation in the sciences, engineering, and medicine, complemented by arts, humanities, and social sciences programs. Popular programs include biomedical engineering, coastal environmental studies, business, computer science, finance, mathematics, accounting and analytics and economics, each integrating the university’s cutting-edge research with practical experience-based learning, preparing students for professional work after completing their studies.
SBU is ranked as the number one public university in New York State and holds the 26th spot among public universities nationwide according to U.S. News & World Report 2026. The same study also ranks the university 13th nationally in social mobility.
SBU is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system, and in 2022 was officially designated as one of SUNY’s two flagship universities by the Governor of New York.
The university’s Long Island campus gives students access to an array of beautiful beaches, with all the benefits of close proximity to New York City, bringing opportunities for both educational and extracurricular enrichment.
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In August 2025, Stony Brook welcomed its 7th university President, Dr. Andrea Goldsmith. Dr. Goldsmith specializes in Electrical Engineering and joins Stony Brook from Princeton University.
Stony Brook is also excited to announce the Freshman Launch Year (FLY) program. Undergraduate freshmen can start their academic journey at one of three SBU study abroad locations: Florence, Italy; Seoul, Korea; or Shanghai, China. FLY is open to admitted SBU students, new SBU applicants, and students admitted to other U.S. universities.
In Fall 2024, SBU opened the new International Student Center, operated by the International Student Success Office. The center serves as a central hub for international students to connect with campus resources and attend international student success workshops and activities, so they transition more effectively to life at SBU. Additionally, the center provides access to writing tutors, peer mentors, and more.
At the undergraduate level, international students can benefit from newly dedicated academic advisors who are trained to support their unique needs.
Stony Brook Mentor Connect is a new initiative launched by the SBU Career Center. This new platform is focused on developing professional mentor relationships between current students and SBU alumni, with the aim of offering career advice and support through one-on-one meetings with recent SBU graduates. Stony Brook Mentor Connect was launched in spring 2024 as a pilot initiative with 150 mentors and has received praise and much positive feedback. The university aims to enlist an additional 250 alumni before the start of the 2024 fall semester.
US$30,963 Undergraduate Fees are for indicative purposes, check with institution for details
US$23,673 Postgraduate Fees are for indicative purposes, check with institution for details
Stony Brook University is committed to the success of its students. The Financial Aid website is a great resource for international students looking for scholarship opportunities. Undergraduate students are automatically considered for the merit-based Global Excellence Scholarship upon application, and are also eligible to apply to the ‘You Are Welcome Here’ scholarship after submitting their SBU application. At the postgraduate level, students may be considered for teaching assistant, research assistant, and graduate assistant opportunities at the discretion of their department.
SBU also runs a generous program of scholarships and bursaries. The school’s Scholarship Universe is a free online platform that matches individual students with available scholarships based on their personal profiles and eligibility. Students can also take advantage of opportunities through the External Fellowships and Scholarships advising office.
With an admission rate of 48 percent, Stony Brook University is considered to be a highly selective institution, with less than half of applicants receiving a place on their program of choice. With a formidable academic reputation to uphold, as well as being within the top ten most diverse universities in the United States, the school’s Admissions Committee seeks to enroll the most academically accomplished and most diverse class possible.
Each applicant is assessed individually, and there is no standardized route to entry, either in grade point average, rank, or test scores. Applications are reviewed holistically, with the committee taking into account relevant work and life experiences in addition to academic achievements.
Applications are made online, and prospective students must include the following in their submission:
Stony Brook University is widely regarded as the top public university in the state of New York, and one of the best public universities in the entire country. It is a flagship institution of the SUNY education system, which is a testament to its impressive academic heritage and excellent teaching credentials.
Students are taught by a highly qualified faculty comprising academics, researchers, professionals and practitioners with extensive industry experience and excellent teaching skills, able to effectively communicate their expertise to students from all backgrounds. Around 98 percent of tenured faculty members hold doctoral degrees, or the highest degrees in their respective fields.
Students benefit from small class sizes, with more than a third of all classes having fewer than 20 students. This means more contact time with staff, more opportunities for feedback, and a more personalized learning experience. Overall, the university has a 19:1 staff to student ratio which is an improvement on the SUNY average.
Stony Brook University co-manages Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), one of the nation's leading research institutions, and is the largest academic user of BNL facilities. The partnership between BNL and Stony Brook University is robust, characterized by numerous joint faculty appointments and extensive collaborative research endeavors.
Stony Brook University offers an impressive portfolio of study options, with more than 200 undergraduate programs and over 140 graduate and professional programs to choose from.
The university’s high-quality curriculum includes programs with a balance of academic rigor and practical learning, ensuring that students gain a well-rounded education and develop the skills and abilities necessary for a smooth transition to working life.
Programs are delivered by 12 academic schools and colleges, each offering a distinctive learning experience that carries the high standard of tuition and support that SBU is known for.
Popular programs at SBU include biology, psychology, health science, business management, computer science, economics, applied mathematics and statistics, biochemistry, mathematics and political science.
The Stony Brook campus sits on 1,039 acres of land, near the north shoreline of Long Island. It is a wonderfully landscaped site, with wide tree-lined avenues and open green spaces. It includes all the facilities and resources needed for students to feel at home and study in comfort and confidence.
There are more than 200 campus buildings, including academic facilities, residence halls, recreational facilities and many more. Academic facilities include state-of-the-art classrooms furnished with the latest teaching technologies, libraries, bookstores, lecture theaters, over 1,400 lab spaces, all supported by a team of more than 500 facilities and service staff.
The Stony Brook University campus also has a strong cultural offering, with four gallery spaces on site including the Paul W. Zuccaire Gallery, the Latin American and Caribbean Studies Center's Art Gallery, the SAC Art Gallery, and the Tabler Center for Arts, Culture, and Humanities, which includes an art gallery and Blackbox Theater performance space.
Recreational facilities are also superb, allowing students to get involved with a host of different sports teams, with participation options ranging from casual to competitive. Stony Brook's intercollegiate athletic teams are known as the Seawolves and have competed in Division I of the NCAA since 1999.
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