Stony Brook University (SBU, SUNY Stony Brook, State University of New York at Stony Brook) Introduction and Academics

Introduction

Stony Brook University (SB) in New York is a four-year public university established in 1957. Its main campus on Long Island occupies more than 1,000 acres. The university has three other locations, one as part of an international partnership with South Korea, and currently has a student population exceeding 24,000. SB offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees, and a sizable number of its student reside on campus.

Students are housed in 26 residence halls and 3 apartment complexes, all of which have wireless internet and cable TV. While the university has many academic programs, it is highly esteemed for its research projects. The university is one of the co-managers of the Brookhaven National Laboratory and owns Stony Brook University Medical Center. Annual research expenditures often exceed $200 million.

Videos

Information Summary

Ranks 34th in New York and 372nd overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	88.9
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$26,091
Admission Success rate	N/A
ACT / SAT 75%ile scores	31 / 1420
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	22 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	90% / 29%
Enrollment Total (all students)	26,256

Academics

The range of academic programs offered at SB is extremely diverse. Undergraduate degrees are offered by over 10 colleges, schools and special programs. The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) is divided into many departments that offer degrees in areas such as mathematics, fine arts, and social and physical sciences. In total, CAS offers nearly 80 majors and minors, and its graduates are awarded either a B.S. or B.A. degree.

The School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS) offers undergraduate degrees in atmospheric and oceanic studies, environmental sciences, marine sciences, and marine vertebrate biology. Graduate programs offered by SoMAS include advanced degrees in marine conservation and policy, atmospheric sciences, and marine sciences.

Other colleges and schools at SB include the College of Business, the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, the School of Journalism, the School of Nursing, and the School of Professional Development.

Academic research is greatly emphasized at SB, and undergraduate students are encouraged to take advantage of the university’s Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (URECA) Program. This faculty-mentored research or creative activity program and is open to all SB undergraduates. To assist students carry out research, the program awards participants a stipend and, in addition, publishes their work in the annual URECA Collected Abstracts collection.

SB students who desire international experience can take advantage of the university’s international academic programs, which are administered by the Office of International Academic Programs and Services. The office runs both short-term and long-term study-abroad programs. Short-term programs are scheduled during summer or winter, while long-term programs could be as long as a whole semester or a full academic year.

Most Popular Fields of Study

Gallery

Unique Programs

Scientific research is a hallmark at Stony Brook. The National Science Foundation has recognized Stony Brook as one of ten universities deserving of its award for integrating research and education. The Marine Sciences Research Center (MSRC) is a world leader in oceanographic science, atmospheric science, and meteorology. Within the MSRC are the Institute for Terrestrial and Planetary Atmospheres and the Waste Reduction and Management Institute. The University Hospital and Health Sciences Center are the region’s leaders in health care education.

Admissions

Stony Brook University evaluates its applicants on an individual basis. No cutoff points are used in regards to grade point average, class rank, or standardized test scores. This is because the university’s Admissions Committee strives to create the strongest, most diverse incoming class possible every year.

Applicants must have a high school diploma or equivalent, test scores that indicate the chance for success in a university environment, and completion of an acceptable standard of high school coursework. The coursework expected to be complete upon admission includes four years each of English and social studies, three years each of mathematics and science, and two or three years of a foreign language.

These requirements may change depending on the applicant’s intended major field of study. For example, engineering majors are expected to have completed four years of mathematics and science rather than three. Applicants are encouraged to contact their intended college before enrolling. Supplemental applications are required by both the Women in Science and Engineering programs and the Honors College.

Financial Aid

Stony Brook has been ranked among the “100 Best Values in Higher Education” by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine. But for those students who need further tuition assistance, the university will calculate the total cost of attendance, subtract the expected family contribution (based on income, number of children, etc.), and determine a student’s financial need.

To compensate for that need, SB connects students with numerous private scholarship opportunities in various disciplines, depending on a student’s intended major. The university does not even require the students to apply for some of these scholarships as awards are based on the student’s information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Undergraduate students with demonstrated need could benefit from the Alumni Initiative Scholarship (open to all undergrads) or the Amie Hanes Memorial Scholarship (incoming freshmen). Sophomores benefit from the Class of 1972 Scholarship. Other scholarships include the Connie & Lee Koppelman Scholarship, the Eugenia Brown Humphries Memorial Scholarship, and the Glenn Dublin Endowed Scholarship.

New York State has several grant programs to which students attending SB can apply. The Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) is administered by the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) and covers up to the tuition expenses of full-time matriculated students who are state residents.

Part-time students can apply for the Aid for Part-Time Study (APTS) grant, which covers tuition expenses up to $2,000 per year and is only open to undergraduate students who are residents of New York. The state also funds the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) and the Graduate Opportunity Program (GOP).

There are also a number of federal grants and loan programs available to students who show real need and who complete the FAFSA prior to application. These include the Federal Pell Grant and the Federal Supplemental Opportunity Grant (SEOG) and federal loans such as the Sudsidized and Unsubsidized Direct Loans.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 4045th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in New York.

Students

Stoney Brook’s campus includes over 120 buildings on more than 1,000 acres of beautiful New York woodland. The campus is home to dozens of student organizations, including academic, honorary, service-oriented, special interest, sports and recreation, media, ethnic, and pre-professional organizations. More than a dozen fraternities and a similar number of sororities call Stony Brook home, providing an array of social activities for students to partake in. For students with more refined tastes, the Union Art Gallery offers visitors a taste of culture right on campus.

Student Enrollment Demographics

Student Graduation Demographics

Athletics

The Stony Brook Seawolves compete in the America East Conference and the Northeast Conference, depending on the sport. Teams include baseball, cross country, football, softball, track & field, volleyball, and men’s and women’s basketball, lacrosse, soccer, swimming, and tennis.

The university’s sports complex includes the Pritchard Gymnasium (covering basketball, swimming, dance, and indoor batting cage facilities) and the West Wing, which houses athletic training facilities and squash courts.

Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium seats 8,200 for Seawolves football games. Other athletic facilities include Seawolves Field, where the football team practices, two other practice fields, and a soccer facility with separate practice and competition fields. The tennis teams enjoy six hard-surfaced courts adjacent to the recreation and training facilities.

Traditions

The annual strawberry festival covers the Stony Brook campus in everything strawberry, from fine eats to ridiculous costumes. Students with real ingenuity can attempt to fashion their own boat and parade in the Roth Pond Regatta, one of the university’s most beloved events. Faculty and staff also participate in the Regatta each year. And for the culturally attuned, Stony Brook hosts an annual Diversity Day wherein the various groups on campus are celebrated by a number of clubs and organizations campus-wide.

Local Community

Stony Brook, New York is located in beautiful Suffolk County and is approximately 5.7 square miles in size. Most residents are white, non-Hispanic, and of European ancestry. The university is truly a focal point for the community, as its efforts have directly resulted in improved roadway and housing conditions, new cultural events, and outreach to local high schools.

Stony Brook University