Part of the State University of New York system, the University has grown tremendously and is now recognized as one of the nation’s important centers of learning and scholarship — carrying out the mandate given by the State Board of Regents in 1960 to become a university that would “stand with the finest in the country.”
Stony Brook University, widely regarded as a SUNY flagship, was established in 1957 as a college for the preparation of secondary school teachers of mathematics and science. The first campus was located in Oyster Bay, Long Island, on the grounds of a former Gold Coast estate. In 1962, a new campus was built near the historic village of Stony Brook .
Education
The mission of Stony Brook University — to advance our community and the world through knowledge and discovery — is lived through the activities of our schools, colleges and programs. We deliver an accessible world-class education in areas as Health Science, Psychology, Biology, Business Management, Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Biochemistry, Economics and Mechanical Engineering .
Research
Stony Brook University is a powerful incubator of teaching and research innovation that is changing the world. As a member of the invitation-only Association of American Universities, we are an internationally recognized research institution.
Career
The relationship between major and career is indirect and complicated. Deciding on a major, whether you are choosing one or contemplating a change, can be a daunting task, especially when you are trying to connect the major to some future career. For example, Stony Brook’s major in journalism would prepare you to be a journalist; the major in chemical engineering would prepare you to be a chemical engineer.
Stony Brook UniversityKey Statistics & Highlights
#151Ranking
22 Courses
2,321Academic Staff
24,830Students
5,463Students (int'l)
12,912Students (female)
Public Institution Type
Student services
Student Accessibility Support Center provides services and accommodations that advocate for the needs of students. We improve academic and environmental accessibility to foster individual growth, student empowerment, and support a community of care.
Housing services
The Hilton Garden Inn Stony Brook offers stylish, comfortable accommodations right here on campus, just across from the Charles B. Wang Center. Enjoy easy, quick access to campus venues, plus nearby shopping, beaches and malls.
Stony Brook University is home to a large variety of residence hall styles, from suites to apartments. Available from the beginning of June through the first week of August, residence halls may be a suitable option for summer conferences and symposiums.
Our guests have found the campus residences quite pleasant, but like most housing geared toward college students, they do not offer the same services or amenities as a hotel.
Library services
The Stony Brook University Libraries is known for a wide-range of digital and print resources and world-renowned special collections. A member of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), the Libraries comprise eight libraries in distinct disciplines and locations. Our mission of global leadership aims to advance research, discovery, and learning.
ICT services
The Customer Engagement & Support Service Center, located on the fifth floor of the Melville Library (Room S-5410), offers IT-related assistance to faculty, staff, and students.
Medical services
The Student Health Service at Stony Brook University is your on-campus source for meeting your primary health care needs.Our staff of physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, and technical and administrative staff are dedicated to our mission of providing students with quality, cost-effective medical care, and the services necessary to optimize preventative health.
Campus life
Stony Brook’s active and vibrant campus life is filled with co-curricular experiences to complement our academic curriculum and enhance the overall college experience.
Sports facilities
The Stony Brook campus has two main facilities where one can exercise during free time. Both are located on the main campus on John Toll Drive across from the Physics Building. Access is free to all students, faculty, and staff with University ID. Students are welcome to bring a guest at a cost of $5.00 per guest.
The west wing of the Indoor Sports Complex opened in the fall of 1990. Connected to the existing gymnasium, the 105,000-square-foot complex seats 4,100 for basketball and volleyball and 5,000 for lectures, concerts, and other special events. The facility houses a four-lane, six-sprintlane track (177 meters in length), six glass back-walled squash courts, and locker rooms.
Student clubs
The Faculty Student Association (FSA) at Stony Brook University is a not-for-profit auxiliary services corporation licensed by the State University of New York to provide goods and services that contribute to the quality of campus life in a flexible, efficient and responsive manner to support the mission of the Stony Brook campus. Over the years, the Faculty Student Association has seen tremendous growth as the needs of the University and mission of the Association have developed.
Accreditation
As a member of the Middle States Association (MSA), Stony Brook University is accredited according to the guidelines and standards set forth by the MSA, Commission on Higher Education (CHE), and subject to a self-study and peer review on a decennial basis.
Stony Brook UniversityOverview
Stony Brook UniversityRankings
Study Portals Meta Ranking
Top 4.3%United States
Top 4.1%Worldwide
Studyportals ranking look at the scores of the most used ranking systems and present you with one number of how well this University performs.
Academic Ranking of World Universities
151
By Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Climbed 150 places compared to 2025
ARWU World University rankings is the first world university ranking. It ranks the world's top 1000 colleges and universities based on objective indicator. They look at the number of award-winning (Fields Medals and Nobel Prize) scientists who are located there, how much of their research is cited and referenced around the world, and how much they've contributed to different academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, ARWU ranks the universities accordingly.
3 year trend Academic Ranking of World Universities
2024
2025
2026
301
301
151
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
Best Global Universities Rankings
236
By U.S. News & World Report
Dropped 10 places compared to 2026
Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report presents all the top universities from the U.S. and 60 other countries around the world. They measure the rate of students going to their second year of studies, as well as the rate of students who graduate. It also asks university representatives on the performance of universities, and evaluates university resources, teacher salaries, graduation rates, student academic achievements and satisfaction. After calculating and comparing these criteria, U.S. News ranks the top international universities accordingly.
3 year trend Best Global Universities Rankings
2025
2026
2027
227
226
236
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
QS World University Rankings
468
By TopUniversities
Dropped 16 places compared to 2026
QS World University Rankings is one of the top international rankings measuring the popularity and performance of universities all over the world. They measure university reputation based on the impressions of higher education experts, companies who hire graduates, and teaching quality. QS also considers the ratio of international teachers and students present at universities, as well as the times research papers were mentioned by researchers. After calculating and comparing these criteria, QS ranks the universities accordingly.
3 year trend QS World University Rankings
2025
2026
2027
460
452
468
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
World University Rankings
No 2027 Ranking
By Times Higher Education
This university doesn’t have a ranking for 2027 yet. Rankings are updated yearly, so check back later for the latest info.
World University Rankings is a vital resource that provides the definitive list of the world's best universities. They look at how often they're producing new ideas, what their reputation is around the world, and how much they're contributing to science and academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, THE ranks the universities accordingly.
3 year trend World University Rankings
2025
2026
2027
251
301
-
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
My overall opinion of this university is good. Having a full time job, it was not easy to balance work, classes and family life but since this university offers evening classes,I was able to fulfill all my requirements and graduate in a fairly short period of time. In addition, the professors are skilled and willing to work with you offering independent studies and a lot of support.
Posted byAnonymous
Studied fromUnknown
Posted onAug 2026
4/5
A quiet place to focus on your degree
While Stony Brook isn't necessarily the "college experience", it's a great school to essentially get your work done and not much more. There isn't much of a social scene at all which is good if you just want to get your school work done and get out of there as soon as possible.
Posted byAnonymous
Studied fromSep 2023 - May 2027
Posted onAug 2026
4/5
A very busy school
Not a school for you, if you don't like crowds. If you want a low-key social school, consider a private or a commuter school. Majority of this institution featured two hundred plus students in a lecture hall.
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