Stony Brook Acceptance Rate: Class of 2030 Admissions Statistics

Stony Brook University’s acceptance rate for the Class of 2029 came in at 48.18%, with 30,930 students admitted out of 64,197 applicants, the largest applicant pool in the university’s history.

For the Class of 2030, Early Action (EA) applicants received their decisions by the end of January, and Regular Decision (RD) applicants got theirs by the end of March. Full Class of 2030 admissions data will be available once enrollment figures are confirmed later in 2026.

In this blog, you will find Stony Brook’s latest overall, transfer, and waitlist acceptance rates.

• Stony Brook Acceptance Rates
• Stony Brook Early Action Acceptance Rate
• Stony Brook Regular Decision Acceptance Rate
• Stony Brook Transfer Acceptance Rate
• Stony Brook Waitlist Acceptance Rate
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

Stony Brook Acceptance Rates

Stony Brook’s acceptance rate for the Class of 2029 is 48.18%, a slight dip from 49.04% for the Class of 2028. This decline was driven by a sharp increase in applications, which rose from 55,880 to 64,197. Here are the numbers from the past decade:

Note: Data compiled from Stony Brook’s Common Data Set.

Over the past decade, applications have nearly doubled, from 35,313 for the Class of 2021 to 64,197 for the Class of 2029, while admit rates have held relatively steady in the high 40s, except for a notable dip in 2022 and 2023 when the rate sat closer to 42–44%. The rate has since recovered and stabilized just above 48–49%.

This pattern reflects Stony Brook’s growth as a nationally recognized research university and its rising appeal among applicants, particularly in STEM fields.

Stony Brook Early Action Acceptance Rate

Stony Brook introduced EA university-wide beginning with the Fall 2023 admissions cycle. EA data for the Classes of 2027 onward is not yet publicly available in the university’s Common Data Set, and more disaggregated figures should follow as the program matures.

Applying EA at Stony Brook comes with real benefits regardless of the specific acceptance rate. EA applicants receive priority review for Honors Programs, including the Honors College, WISE, University Scholars, Simons STEM Scholars, Scholars for Medicine, and Scholars for Dental Medicine. Competitive programs in Engineering and Applied Sciences and Creative Writing also give priority consideration to EA applicants.

On the financial side, EA applicants receive their aid packages earlier, giving them more time to compare offers before committing. They also get a decision by the end of January, months ahead of the April 1 RD notification.

The tradeoff is the earlier deadline: EA applications at Stony Brook are due November 1, so you’ll want to have your materials ready well before the RD window opens.

Stony Brook Regular Decision Acceptance Rate

Because Stony Brook hasn’t publicly reported EA data in its Common Data Set, there’s no way to calculate a separate RD acceptance rate. For historical figures, refer to the overall acceptance rate table at the top of this page.

To learn more about Stony Brook’s application plans and deadlines, head to their official admissions page.

Stony Brook Transfer Acceptance Rate

Stony Brook’s transfer acceptance rate for Fall 2025 is 44.07%. Here’s the breakdown:

Note: Fall 2025 transfer data is from Stony Brook’s Common Data Set for 2025-2026, the same reporting year that includes Class of 2029 first-year admissions data.

At 44.07%, Stony Brook’s transfer acceptance rate is more selective than its first-year rate of 48.18% for the Class of 2029. The university draws a strong transfer pipeline from SUNY community colleges, and your chances improve significantly if your college GPA is strong and your intended major is clearly defined.

Stony Brook Waitlist Acceptance Rate

Stony Brook’s waitlist acceptance rate for the Class of 2029 is 66.69%. Here are the numbers:

Note: Waitlist data is from Stony Brook’s Common Data Set for 2025-2026.

The 66.69% rate applies to students who confirmed their place on the waitlist, so your odds improve simply by staying active. That said, what this figure does not capture is how sharply the number shifts from one year to the next.

Stony Brook’s waitlist outcomes have ranged from 0.41% for the Class of 2028 to 87.95% for the Class of 2027, with the difference coming down almost entirely to how many admitted students chose to enroll that year.

If you land on Stony Brook’s waitlist, confirm your spot and send a letter of continued interest detailing why Stony Brook remains your top choice. Beyond that, treat any other offers you have seriously and keep your options open until you hear a final answer.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Stony Brook’s current acceptance rate?

Stony Brook’s latest acceptance rate is 48.18% for the Class of 2029. The university received 64,197 applications and admitted 30,930 students.

2. Does Stony Brook offer Early Action or Early Decision?

Stony Brook offers EA only. It is non-binding, meaning you are not required to enroll if admitted. The EA deadline is November 1, and decisions come out by the end of January.

3. Is it better to apply Early Action to Stony Brook?

Applying EA gives you priority consideration for Honors Programs and competitive majors like Engineering and Creative Writing. You also receive your financial aid package earlier. If Stony Brook is a strong priority for you, applying EA is a clear advantage.

4. What is Stony Brook’s transfer acceptance rate?

Stony Brook’s transfer acceptance rate for Fall 2025 is 44.07%, with 3,094 students admitted out of 7,021 applicants.

5. What are my chances of getting off Stony Brook’s waitlist?

For the Class of 2029, Stony Brook admitted 3,462 students from the waitlist, representing a 66.69% rate among those who confirmed their waitlist spot. That is historically favorable, though the number varies each year based on enrollment yield.

Takeaways

• Stony Brook’s acceptance rate has held steady between 42% and 49% over the past decade, even as applications nearly doubled from 35,313 for the Class of 2021 to 64,197 for the Class of 2029.
• Stony Brook introduced EA in 2023, so it is still a relatively new option. EA is non-binding, carries priority review benefits for Honors Programs and competitive majors, and gets your financial aid package to you months earlier.
• Transfer and waitlist pathways are both viable at Stony Brook. A 44.07% transfer acceptance rate and a 66.69% waitlist acceptance rate put Stony Brook well above many peer institutions on accessibility through these routes.
• Given Stony Brook’s EA benefits, applying through this plan puts you in the strongest possible position. Working with a college admissions expert can help you build a complete, compelling application well before the EA deadline, giving you the best shot at priority consideration when it matters most.