Stony Brook is one of the rare state flagships where it’s actually easier to get in from out of state. In the most recent Common Data Set, about 63% of out-of-state applicants were admitted, compared with about 40% of New Yorkers. Overall, SBU admitted roughly 48% of more than 64,000 first-year applicants. Early Action (November 1) is non-binding, and it’s also the date that matters most for scholarships, honors programs and the Simons STEM Scholars Program.
Simons STEM Scholars (full ride, about 50 per year)
Honors College
Honors Program Available
Financial Aid Forms
FAFSA Only
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at Stony Brook (Read This First)
November 1 is the real scholarship deadline. There’s no separate merit form. SBU reviews the admission file, and the honors programs and Simons STEM Scholars all use November 1 as their priority (or only) date.
One award, not a stack. SBU says that in most cases a freshman gets only one institutional scholarship: the most valuable one they qualify for.
Merit offers can’t be appealed. SBU’s financial aid office states this directly, so the first offer is the offer.
The test-score choice locks in. Students decide on the application whether SBU should consider their SAT or ACT, and that choice becomes final once review starts. Students who apply without scores are still considered for merit.
“Free tuition” isn’t free college. New York’s Excelsior Scholarship covers the $7,070 tuition bill, not the $3,860 in fees or roughly $19,700 for housing and meals. A Stony Brook tuition scholarship can also shrink the Excelsior amount instead of adding to it.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes, for admission. Stony Brook University is test-optional for admission.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 30-34; SAT: 1350-1470.
Average net price? About $20,992/year after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity?
No broad regional reciprocity path.
💰 Cost of Attendance at Stony Brook University: 2026–2027 Rates
Figures verified against official sources in October 2026.
📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest Stony Brook University has published. Colleges usually release next year's costs in the spring, and we update this page when they do.
Budgeting tip: costs typically rise 2% to 5% a year. For 2027–2028, plan on roughly
$600 to $1,500 more than the in-state total below.$1,100 to $2,700 more than the out-of-state total below.
In-State: billed cost per year
$30,671
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees
$10,930
Housing & meals (typical)
$19,741
Total billed cost
$30,671
Out-of-State: billed cost per year
$54,651
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees
$34,910
Housing & meals (typical)
$19,741
Total billed cost
$54,651
That is $23,980 more per year than New York residents pay, before any waivers or scholarships.
Average federal net price: $20,992 per year.
This is what first-time, full-time students who received grant aid paid after grants and scholarships, for in-state students only, based on the most recent federal data. It counts books and living costs, so it can run higher than the billed total above. Families who got no grants are not in this average, so many middle-income families pay more. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.
Out-of-state families: this average does not include you. Run the college's own net price calculator for a number based on your situation.
New York Families: Two State Programs to Know
If your family has lived in New York for at least a year, file the FAFSA and then the TAP application (SBU’s TAP code is 0875). Families with adjusted gross income of $125,000 or less can also apply for the Excelsior Scholarship, which pays whatever SUNY tuition is left after other aid. The catch: Excelsior covers tuition only, and students must earn 30 credits every year and live and work in New York after graduation for as many years as they received it.
FAQ: Cost of Attendance at Stony Brook University
Is Stony Brook tuition-free for New York families?
It can be for tuition, but not for the whole bill. Excelsior covers SBU’s $7,070 tuition for families earning up to $125,000. Fees ($3,860) and on-campus housing and meals (about $19,700) are still yours to cover, so a “free tuition” student living on campus still faces roughly $23,600 in direct costs before other aid.
Will a Stony Brook scholarship reduce our Excelsior award?
It can. Excelsior is a “last-dollar” program, meaning it pays only the tuition left after Pell, TAP and tuition scholarships. SBU’s own FAQ suggests asking outside scholarship providers to designate their money for fees, books or living costs so it doesn’t just replace Excelsior dollars.
Is there any out-of-state tuition break?
Not a broad one. SBU has no regional tuition exchange or out-of-state waiver, so non-residents pay about $34,910 in tuition and fees, or around $54,650 with on-campus housing and meals. Merit scholarships and the Simons STEM Scholars full ride are the main ways to close that gap.
What does a typical family actually pay?
The most recent federal average net price is about $20,992 a year after grants and scholarships. Federal data breaks it down by income: roughly $12,700 for families under $30,000, about $21,400 for $48,000 to $75,000, and about $27,000 above $110,000. Those figures mostly reflect New York residents, so out-of-state families should run SBU’s Net Price Calculator.
When will next year’s prices be final?
SUNY sets tuition each year, usually in June. Until then, SBU publishes estimates, so treat this spring’s numbers as close but not locked.
Is health insurance on the bill?
Yes. Full-time students are billed for university health insurance, but you can waive it by showing proof of other coverage to Student Health Services. Don’t skip this step if your student is on your family plan.
Can we pay in installments?
Yes. SBU’s Time Option Payment Plan (TOPP) spreads each semester’s balance over several payments. Parent PLUS and private loans are the other options for any remaining gap.
November 1: Early Action application, honors priority deadline, and the Simons STEM Scholars application (including its recommendation letter).
January 15: Regular Decision and the final deadline for honors programs.
Early in the new year: Merit award emails start going out, usually after the admission offer.
Mid-February: FAFSA priority date for limited need-based funds (February 15 last cycle).
Mid-March: SBU’s scholarship application deadline for awards like Yardi and Kissinger (March 15 last cycle).
September 15: National Merit letters and valedictorian/salutatorian proof due.
Parent rule of thumb: if your student is even slightly interested in honors or Simons, treat November 1 as the deadline for everything.
Automatic Merit Scholarships at Stony Brook University
Every admitted freshman is reviewed for merit with no separate application. But “automatic” works differently here than at schools with a grid: Stony Brook publishes no GPA or test cutoffs and no dollar amounts, and awards are made on a funds-available basis. Your student finds out by email after admission.
Find your student's tier
Enter the numbers you have. We'll highlight the automatic award your student would actually get and tuck the rest out of the way. Leave it blank to browse everything.
Residency
Based on published cutoffs for entering freshmen. Always verify with the college before finalizing plans.
Start with your state. The awards in this first group come from the state, not the college. They are decided by residency and the FAFSA, and they stack on top of whatever automatic merit award the college gives below. If you live out of state, use the toggle above and these will step aside.
State AidApp Required⚠ All Undergrad Onlyny residentincome cap 125k
Excelsior Scholarship (New York State)
📅 Deadline: Annual HESC application after filing the FAFSA and TAP; the new-applicant window typically opens in late spring ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$7,070/yr
✔ Stackable
⚠ New York residents (12 months) with family adjusted gross income of $125,000 or less.
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Excelsior is a last-dollar award: it fills whatever tuition is left after Pell, TAP and other tuition scholarships. That means an SBU or outside scholarship applied to tuition can shrink Excelsior instead of adding to it. SBU's own FAQ suggests asking outside scholarship providers to designate funds for non-tuition costs such as fees, books or living expenses.
📄
How to Apply
File the FAFSA (school code 002838), then the TAP application (SBU code 0875), then the Excelsior application with HESC once it opens. Reapply each year.
💡
Strategic Detail
New York State pays the remaining SUNY tuition (Stony Brook tuition is $7,070) for families with adjusted gross income up to $125,000. It covers tuition only, not SBU's $3,860 in fees or housing and meals. Students must enroll full-time, earn 30 credits a year toward their degree, and live and work in New York after graduation for as many years as they received the award, or it converts to a loan.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Middle-income New York families who file the FAFSA and TAP early and whose students stay on a strict 30-credits-a-year pace.
State AidFull TuitionApp Requiredstate residencyservice
NYS STEM Incentive Program
📅 Deadline: Senior-year application window; next window not yet posted ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Tuition
✔ Stackable
Top 10.0% of the high school class; approved STEM major at a SUNY or CUNY; apply during senior year only and enroll the next fall; five years living and working in NY in a STEM job afterward, or it converts to a 10-year loan with interest; cannot be combined with Excelsior
✚
Stacking & Combining
Pays SUNY resident tuition, $7,070, reduced by TAP and other tuition aid. No income test, so it is the top-10% family's answer to Excelsior. The service commitment is the price: five years in a New York STEM job.
💡
Strategic Detail
State program, not a Stony Brook University award. Rules and amounts are set by the state and can change with each budget. Full details on the CollegeReadyParent NY page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Top-10% seniors who commit to a STEM major and to New York. The rank is exact (10.4% does not qualify) and the window is senior year only, so a family that learns about it in the fall of freshman year has already missed it.
State AidAutomaticstate residencyneed based
Tuition Assistance Program
📅 Deadline: FAFSA and TAP application; final cutoff June 30 after the aid year ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$1,000–$5,665/yr
✔ Stackable
NY resident for 12 months; NYS net taxable income $125,000 or less for dependent students; full time (part-time TAP exists separately); FAFSA plus a separate TAP application every year
✚
Stacking & Combining
New York's main need grant, $1,000 to $5,665 a year on a sliding income scale. At a SUNY campus it pays most or all of tuition for the lowest-income families. Stacks with Pell and campus aid, and it is the base that Excelsior builds on. Two forms every year: the FAFSA and the TAP application.
💡
Strategic Detail
State program, not a Stony Brook University award. Rules and amounts are set by the state and can change with each budget. Full details on the CollegeReadyParent NY page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Families under $125,000 who finished the separate TAP application after the FAFSA. The TAP form is its own step on the HESC site, and the students who show up with Pell but no TAP are almost always the ones who stopped at the FAFSA confirmation screen.
State AidApp Requiredstate residency
NYS Scholarship for Academic Excellence
📅 Deadline: High school nomination; deadline set by the school ✓ Renews (2 GPA, 4 yrs)
$500–$1,500/yr
✔ Stackable
Nominated by the high school based on Regents exam scores; no application; must enroll the fall right after graduation; public or private NY college
✚
Stacking & Combining
$500 or $1,500 a year for four years, awarded by Regents scores and nominated by the high school. Small but automatic and renewable at a C average. Stacks with TAP, Excelsior, and college aid.
💡
Strategic Detail
State program, not a Stony Brook University award. Rules and amounts are set by the state and can change with each budget. Full details on the CollegeReadyParent NY page.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Top Regents scorers whose high school submitted the nomination. There is nothing for a family to do except confirm with the guidance office that the nomination went in, and that is exactly the step nobody takes.
One award, not a pile. Colleges apply your student's single best automatic award. Automatic scholarships almost never stack with each other, though some stack with housing, departmental, or outside money. The stacking notes on each card tell you which.
Automatic
Presidential Scholarship
📅 Deadline: November 1 (Early Action) or January 15 (Regular Decision) admission deadline ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✘ Not stackable
U.S. citizens and permanent residents (SBU calls this group domestic students).
✚
Stacking & Combining
In most cases SBU awards only one freshman scholarship, the most beneficial one the student qualifies for.
💡
Strategic Detail
Stony Brook describes the Presidential as a four-year scholarship for domestic high school seniors with a strong unweighted high school average. Course rigor, SAT or ACT scores if submitted, activities, research and special talents can also count. SBU does not publish dollar amounts or GPA and test cutoffs, and the award amount varies with the student's academic profile. Honors College admits most often receive their scholarship support as a Presidential or Presidential Merit Scholarship.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Domestic seniors near the top of the admitted pool on unweighted average and course rigor. There is no published cutoff, and test scores are optional for merit review.
Automatic
Valedictorian and Salutatorian Scholarships
📅 Deadline: September 15 (official documentation from the high school) ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✘ Not stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Falls under SBU's rule that freshmen usually receive one institutional scholarship, the most beneficial offer.
💡
Strategic Detail
For documented valedictorians and salutatorians. Proof must come from the high school, either an official transcript showing class rank or a counselor letter on school letterhead stating the numerical rank, and it must reach SBU by September 15. Award amounts are not published.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: First- and second-ranked graduates whose school sends official proof on time. Documents sent by the student are not accepted.
Automaticnational merit
National Merit Finalist and Semifinalist Scholarship
📅 Deadline: September 15 (complete NMSC letter received by SBU) ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$3,000–$5,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Subject to SBU's one-scholarship rule for freshmen.
💡
Strategic Detail
Current-year National Merit Finalists and Semifinalists who enroll as freshmen are considered for $3,000 a year for four years. Finalists who list Stony Brook as their first-choice school with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation may qualify for an additional $2,000 a year, for $5,000 total per year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Enrolling Finalists and Semifinalists who get the full NMSC letter to SBU on time. The extra $2,000 goes only to Finalists who name SBU as their first choice with NMSC.
Subject to SBU's one-scholarship rule for freshmen.
💡
Strategic Detail
Current-year Regeneron Science Talent Search Finalists and Semifinalists who are eligible for freshman admission are considered for $3,000 a year for four consecutive years. Review is automatic.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: The small group of Regeneron STS Finalists and Semifinalists who enroll at SBU the following fall.
Data last verified Oct 1, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Note: SBU says that in most cases students receive only one freshman scholarship, the most beneficial one available. Award terms, including renewal rules, appear under “Award Detail” in the student’s SOLAR account.
Automatic Merit FAQs (Stony Brook University)
How much is the Presidential Scholarship?
SBU doesn’t publish an amount. It’s a four-year award that varies with the student’s academic profile, so the award letter is the only reliable number. Be wary of online figures that claim a fixed range.
Is there a minimum GPA or test score?
No published one. The Presidential looks first at the unweighted high school average, then course rigor, test scores if submitted, activities, research and special talents.
Does my student need SAT or ACT scores to get merit?
No. SBU says students without scores are considered for merit scholarships. If scores help, send them, but remember the choice is locked once review begins.
Can my student get the Presidential and a National Merit award?
Usually not both. SBU’s rule is one freshman scholarship in most cases, the most valuable one. National Merit Finalists and Semifinalists are considered for $3,000 a year, and Finalists who list SBU as their first choice with NMSC may get $5,000 a year.
How does the valedictorian or salutatorian award work?
The high school must send official proof of rank by September 15, either a transcript showing rank or a counselor letter on letterhead, to ugprocessing@stonybrook.edu. Anything sent by the student doesn’t count.
Is there a scholarship for Regeneron STS students?
Yes. Current-year Regeneron Science Talent Search Finalists and Semifinalists are considered for $3,000 a year for four years, with no separate form.
Can we appeal a merit offer?
No. SBU’s financial aid office states that merit awards are not appealable, because they depend on the admission record, state funding and class size.
Stony Brook’s competitive money is concentrated in one place: the Simons STEM Scholars Program, a true full ride for about 50 students a year. Outside of Simons, the named competitive awards are narrower: one for business students, one for New York residents, and one for international students.
⭐ Spotlight: Simons STEM Scholars
What it covers: tuition, housing, meal plan, a book stipend and research support for four years, plus a paid summer bridge program.
Not need-based: every scholar gets full funding, whatever the family’s income.
Who can apply: U.S. citizens and permanent residents (not F-1 students) in an approved STEM, economics or psychology major, with a real interest in a PhD or MD/PhD career.
Deadline: November 1 for the application (three essays) and a program-specific recommendation letter. Test scores are not required.
✅ Can You Stack Scholarships at Stony Brook?
Aid Type
Stacks with SBU Merit?
Parent Translation
SBU Freshman Scholarships
Usually no
In most cases your student gets one: the most valuable award they qualify for.
Simons STEM Scholars
Replaces
It already covers the full cost, so there’s nothing to stack on top.
Pell, TAP and Excelsior
Yes, with a catch
Excelsior pays last, so a tuition scholarship can lower it dollar for dollar.
Departmental and Donor Awards
Often yes
Applied for separately through Scholarship Universe after your student commits.
Outside Scholarships
Yes
New York families: ask the sponsor to direct the money to fees or living costs so it doesn’t just replace Excelsior.
If your student is a strong STEM student who loves research, Simons is the single biggest opportunity at Stony Brook and one of the most generous public-university programs in the Northeast. For everyone else, the realistic plan is a solid merit award plus state and departmental aid, not a pile of competitive scholarships.
Full RideApp Requiredstem majorsus citizen or pr
Simons STEM Scholars Program
📅 Deadline: November 1 (Simons application and program-specific recommendation letter) · 📢 Results: Early April ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Ride
tuition, fees, housing, meal plan, book stipend, research support
✘ Not stackable
⚠ U.S. citizens and permanent residents in approved STEM, economics or psychology majors; F-1 students are not eligible.
👥 ~50 per year winners/yrSBU's pages disagree on a GPA floor (one says no minimum, others say 3.0 or 87). Must be eligible for campus housing (minimum age 16) and show pre-calculus proficiency by enrollment.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Simons replaces other SBU institutional scholarships. Students can belong to only one SBU honors program, with one exception: a student can be both a Simons STEM Scholar and a Scholar for Medicine.
📄
How to Apply
Apply for admission in an approved major. In StartSBU, submit the Simons application (three essays) and have a program-specific recommendation letter uploaded, both by November 1. Selected applicants are invited to a Selection Weekend in February or early March; decisions start in early April.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec🌟 Finalist Event
💡
Strategic Detail
A merit-based full ride for about 50 students a year: tuition, housing, meal plan, a book stipend and research support for four years, plus an all-expenses-paid summer bridge program. It is not need-based, so every admitted scholar receives full funding regardless of family income. Scholars live in dedicated honors housing, get priority registration and receive help placing into funded PhD or MD/PhD programs.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with a serious interest in a research career (PhD or MD/PhD) and a record of using STEM to serve their community. Recent scholars averaged a 95/100 GPA and, among score submitters, about 1450 SAT or 30-31 ACT. Test scores are not required.
App Required
Yardi Scholar Cohort
📅 Deadline: Mid-March SBU scholarship application deadline (March 15 in the 2026-27 cycle; confirm on the application) ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$10,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Expect it to count as your single SBU freshman scholarship rather than stacking with a Presidential.
📄
How to Apply
Apply for admission with a College of Business major (Accounting or Business Management), then submit the Yardi Scholar application through the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarship Services by the posted mid-March deadline.
Selection criteria: Competitive review of academic strength and College of Business application materials by the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarship Services.
💡
Strategic Detail
A four-year renewable scholarship of $10,000 a year ($40,000 total) for new incoming freshmen who applied to the College of Business. Administered by the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarship Services through its scholarship application.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: A small cohort of incoming freshmen admitted to the College of Business who complete the separate scholarship application.
⚠ New York residents who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Counts as your single SBU freshman scholarship.
💡
Strategic Detail
For New York State residents who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, show honors-level academic achievement, and have a record of advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in their academics and activities. Amounts are not published.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: High-achieving New Yorkers whose application shows concrete work building inclusive communities, not just a stated interest.
App Requiredinternational only
#YouAreWelcomeHere Scholarship
📅 Deadline: February 12, 2027 (apply for admission by November 1, 2026) · 📢 Results: March 2027 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✘ Not stackable
⚠ International first-year applicants only (not U.S. citizens or permanent residents).
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Follows SBU's one-scholarship rule; retention terms are set in the official offer letter.
📄
How to Apply
Apply for admission by the November 1, 2026 early deadline. Then submit the #YouAreWelcomeHere application and video link in StartSBU by February 12, 2027.
Selection criteria: Holistic committee review of academic fit, history of intercultural learning activities, leadership experiences, goals, and the quality and creativity of the video submission.
💡
Strategic Detail
Covers 50% of tuition each year and is renewable. For first-year international applicants entering fall 2027. Requires a separate application in the StartSBU portal with a two-to-five minute video about leadership and intercultural learning. Recipients must deposit by May 1, 2027 and enroll full-time.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
International students who can show, on video, real leadership in intercultural settings and a plan to keep it going at SBU.
Data last verified Oct 1, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Flagship / Competitive Scholarship FAQs
Is Simons really a full ride?
Yes. SBU says it covers tuition, housing, the meal plan, a book stipend and research support for four years, and it isn’t need-based. The program also helps scholars find funded PhD or MD/PhD programs afterward.
What GPA does Simons expect?
SBU’s pages aren’t consistent. One says there’s no minimum, others mention a 3.0 (87 on a 100-point scale). In practice, recent scholars averaged around 95/100, and SBU encourages students slightly below its benchmarks to apply anyway.
Can my student apply to Simons and the Honors College?
Yes, but they can only join one program. The one exception: a student can be both a Simons STEM Scholar and a Scholar for Medicine.
How does the Yardi Scholar award work?
It’s $10,000 a year for four years ($40,000 total) for incoming freshmen who applied to the College of Business. It needs a separate scholarship application, which was due March 15 last cycle.
Who qualifies for the Empire State Diversity Honors Scholarship?
New York residents who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, show honors-level achievement, and have a track record of building inclusive communities. SBU doesn’t list a separate form.
Are there scholarships for international students?
Yes. The #YouAreWelcomeHere Scholarship covers 50% of tuition, renewable each year. For fall 2027, students apply for admission by November 1, 2026 and submit the scholarship application with a short leadership video by February 12, 2027.
🧠 Parent Strategy: Stony Brook’s “Second Round” of Money
The merit offer is round one. Round two happens after your student commits, and most families never show up for it.
File the FAFSA early (SBU’s code is 002838). New Yorkers: file TAP right after.
If you’re a New York family under $125,000, apply for Excelsior through HESC when the window opens.
Watch for SBU’s spring scholarship applications (like Kissinger) with a mid-March deadline.
After depositing, log into Scholarship Universe, build a profile, and apply to every match. Repeat every year.
Parent translation: none of this is automatic. The students who get these awards are the ones who fill out the short applications.
💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships
These aren’t headline scholarships, but they can make Stony Brook dramatically cheaper, especially for New York families and students who want research experience. Most require the FAFSA or a short separate application.
App Requiredny residentfinancial need
Eugenie Van Drooge Kissinger Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Mid-March SBU scholarship application deadline (March 15 in the 2026-27 cycle) ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ New York residents with FAFSA-demonstrated financial need.
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
A need-based award reviewed alongside your aid package. SBU does not spell out how it combines with a freshman merit award, so check the award letter.
📄
How to Apply
File the FAFSA, then submit the Kissinger application through the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarship Services by the mid-March deadline. First-year students can also apply after their first semester.
💡
Strategic Detail
For first-time freshmen (incoming or in their first year) who are New York residents, show a commitment to community service, have financial need on the FAFSA, and have a strong high school record or first semester at SBU. Renewable for four years with continuous full-time enrollment, a 3.0 cumulative GPA and continued need. Amount not published.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
New York students from families with need who have a real community service record, and who actually fill out SBU's scholarship application.
App Requiredincome guidelines
Arthur O. Eve Educational Opportunity Program (EOP/AIM)
📅 Deadline: Indicate EOP interest on the admission application (fall entry only) ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ Must meet SUNY EOP income guidelines (for example, $59,478 for a household of four in 2026-27).
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
EOP support is layered with federal and state grants as part of the regular aid package.
📄
How to Apply
Indicate EOP interest when applying for fall admission and follow the EOP documentation steps sent afterward.
💡
Strategic Detail
A SUNY program that provides access, academic support and financial aid to students who show promise but may not otherwise have been admitted. Considered for fall admission only, and seats depend on New York State funding each year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students whose family income falls under the posted EOP limits and whose grades may sit below SBU's typical admit profile.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Scholarship Universe (Departmental and Donor Awards)
📅 Deadline: Varies by award; many departmental deadlines fall in spring Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Departmental and donor awards are separate from the freshman merit offer and are listed as additional opportunities.
📄
How to Apply
After depositing, log into Scholarship Universe, complete the profile, and apply to every matched award before its deadline. Repeat each year.
💡
Strategic Detail
SBU's matching portal for continuing-student and departmental scholarships, including awards from Economics, Africana Studies, the Division of Student Life and the Alumni Association. Students build a profile and the system matches them to awards they can apply for. Incoming students get access once they commit, normally after May 1.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who keep their profile updated every year and actually submit the short applications. Many awards get few applicants.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
URECA Summer Research Stipend
📅 Deadline: Spring application for the following summer (check the URECA site) Non-Renewable
$4,000
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
A summer stipend, separate from academic-year scholarships.
📄
How to Apply
Find a Stony Brook faculty mentor, then apply through URECA in the spring for the summer program.
💡
Strategic Detail
A $4,000 stipend for ten weeks of full-time, faculty-mentored summer research or creative work. Open to all majors. URECA also offers small grants and travel grants.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who connect with a faculty mentor during the year and apply with a defined project.
Data last verified Oct 1, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Hidden Gems FAQ
Does Excelsior cover housing?
No. It covers SUNY tuition only ($7,070 at SBU). Fees, housing, meals and books are separate, which is why the other awards on this list matter.
What happens if my student drops below 30 credits a year on Excelsior?
They can lose eligibility. Excelsior requires full-time enrollment and 30 credits a year toward the degree (summer and winter credits count), so plan schedules carefully, especially in heavy lab majors.
What is Scholarship Universe?
It’s SBU’s matching portal for departmental, donor and continuing-student scholarships. Incoming students usually get access after May 1, once they’ve committed.
Who should look at EOP?
Students from lower-income households (for example, under $59,478 for a family of four in 2026-27) whose grades may sit below SBU’s typical admit range. EOP adds academic support and aid, and it only admits for fall.
Is paid research really available to undergrads?
Yes. URECA pays a $4,000 stipend for ten weeks of full-time summer research with a faculty mentor, open to all majors. It’s a great way to fill a summer, and it builds the resume for grad school.
At Stony Brook, honors is where a lot of the scholarship money lives. SBU runs three main University Honors Programs: the Honors College, University Scholars and WISE. Students apply after submitting the main application, through the Honors Program Interest Form in the StartSBU portal. They can apply to all three but must rank a first choice.
Program
Recent Admit Profile
Scholarship Money
Honors College (about 100 per year)
97-99 GPA; 1460-1530 SAT; 32-35 ACT
Every admit receives some scholarship support
WISE Honors (STEM)
96-99 GPA; 1410-1510 SAT; 32-35 ACT
Most admits receive merit aid
University Scholars
96-99 GPA; 1390-1480 SAT; 32-35 ACT
No scholarship promise published
GPAs are on a 100-point scale. Test scores are optional for all three programs; ranges reflect students who submitted them. These come from SBU’s Honors Programs office. SBU’s admissions page shows slightly different, visibly garbled ranges, so we used the Honors office figures.
Honors Program Scholarships
App Required
Honors College Scholarship
📅 Deadline: November 1 priority; January 15 final (Honors Program Interest Form in StartSBU) ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✘ Not stackable
👥 ~About 100 first-year Honors College students winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
The Honors College admission and the merit award are one package, not two separate scholarships.
📄
How to Apply
Apply for admission, then complete the Honors Program Interest Form in StartSBU with a 250-word fit statement and two letters of recommendation. Submit by November 1 for priority consideration (January 15 final).
Selection criteria: Honors College admission review through the University Honors Programs office, considering academic strength, intellectual interests, and fit for the seminar-based research-integrated curriculum.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
Every admitted Honors College student receives some level of scholarship support, most often as a Presidential or Presidential Merit Scholarship. Amounts are not published.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: About 100 first-years a year. Recent admits had 97-99 high school averages, and those who submitted scores had 1460-1530 SAT or 32-35 ACT.
App Required
WISE Honors Merit Scholarship
📅 Deadline: November 1 priority; January 15 final (Honors Program Interest Form in StartSBU) ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✘ Not stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
WISE merit aid counts as your SBU freshman scholarship.
📄
How to Apply
Apply for admission, then complete the Honors Program Interest Form in StartSBU with a 250-word statement and two letters, at least one from a math or science teacher. Priority deadline November 1.
Selection criteria: WISE Honors admission review through the University Honors Programs office, considering STEM academic preparation, research interest, and fit with the program's four-year curriculum.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
Most students accepted into the WISE Honors Program receive some level of merit-based aid. WISE is a four-year STEM honors community with research opportunities, advising and priority registration. Amounts are not published.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: STEM-focused admits with 96-99 high school averages; those who submitted scores had 1410-1510 SAT or 32-35 ACT.
Data last verified Oct 1, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Deadline Note: The honors priority deadline is November 1 (the same as Early Action), and the final deadline is January 15. Honors applicants need a roughly 250-word statement on why they fit their first-choice program and two letters of recommendation. WISE applicants need at least one letter from a math or science teacher. Decisions usually start in mid to late March, after the general admission decision.
Medical and Dental Tracks (Inside Honors)
Scholars for Medicine: an eight-year bachelor’s/MD path with a reserved seat at SBU’s Renaissance School of Medicine if requirements are met (including a 3.4 cumulative and 3.2 science GPA). U.S. citizens and permanent residents only.
Scholars for Dental Medicine: an eight-year bachelor’s/DDS path with a reserved seat at SBU’s dental school (3.5 cumulative and 3.4 science GPA, among other requirements).
SAT or ACT required: these are the only SBU honors tracks that require test scores. Recent admits had 98-99 GPAs and roughly 1490-1590 SAT.
Pick one: students may apply to Medicine or Dental, not both, and must also be admitted to an honors program.
Honors FAQs (Stony Brook University)
Is honors admission separate from regular admission?
Yes. Students are admitted to SBU first and then reviewed for honors. Not getting into honors has no effect on the regular admission decision.
Does the Honors College come with a scholarship?
Yes. SBU says every admitted Honors College student receives some level of scholarship support, most often as a Presidential or Presidential Merit Scholarship. The amount isn’t published.
Does WISE only accept women?
WISE stands for Women in Science and Engineering, and SBU says it welcomes a diverse applicant pool, including first-generation, rural and other students underrepresented in STEM. Check the program’s current eligibility language when applying.
Should my student submit test scores for honors?
Only if the scores help. Honors review is test-optional except for Scholars for Medicine and Dental Medicine. For honors review, SBU combines SAT section scores across test dates but uses a single ACT composite.
Can current SBU students join honors later?
A small number can. First-years and sophomores with at least a 3.5 GPA can apply by January 5 (spring) or June 5 (fall).
Stony Brook is one of the SUNY system’s flagship research universities, and its reputation is built on science. Families tend to know it as “the big SUNY on Long Island,” but in research circles it’s known for physics, math, computer science, marine and climate science, and medicine.
What Makes It Different:
Stony Brook helps run Brookhaven National Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy. It’s one of only a handful of universities with a role in running a national lab, and many faculty hold joint appointments there. For a science-minded student, that means real research infrastructure is just down the road.
Math and Physics: Stony Brook’s faculty have won the Nobel Prize, the Fields Medal and the Abel Prize, and the school received a historic $500 million Simons Foundation investment in 2023.
Marine, Atmospheric and Climate Science: The School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences is a signature strength, and SBU was chosen in 2023 to anchor the New York Climate Exchange on Governors Island.
Medicine and Health Sciences: The Renaissance School of Medicine and Stony Brook University Hospital, the area’s only Level 1 trauma center, give pre-med and nursing students unusual access. The Scholars for Medicine track offers a reserved med school seat.
Computer Science and Engineering: Computer science, applied math and biomedical engineering are among the most competitive majors, and high-achieving CS applicants are automatically considered for Computer Science Honors.
Most Popular Majors: Psychology, business management and biology award the most bachelor’s degrees each year.
🔗 Official Stony Brook University Links
Use Stony Brook’s official pages below to confirm deadlines, scholarship terms, costs and admissions data. When anything on this page and the university’s site disagree, go with the university.
Here’s Stony Brook in a nutshell: it’s a serious science university with a public price tag. For New York families, the math can be excellent. Tuition is low to begin with, and Excelsior and TAP can wipe much of it out, so the real budget conversation is about fees, housing and meals. Out-of-state families get an unusual edge in admissions, but no tuition break, so merit and the right major matter more.
The money here doesn’t come from a long list of stackable awards. It comes from getting the timing right. Apply by November 1, take the honors application seriously if your student is a strong fit, and if they’re a research-minded STEM kid, put real effort into Simons, because it’s a genuine full ride. Then, after your student commits, go back for the second round: Scholarship Universe, spring applications and paid research. That’s where the families who do their homework close the gap.
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Leo Dimilo
Leo is the founder of CollegeReadyParent. He built the site after working through college costs with his own daughter, and he writes every guide for middle-income and first-generation families trying to make sense of financial aid. No paywall, no lead generation. More about Leo →
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