College ROI

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Stony Brook University

Stony Brook, NY 18,101 Undergrads 77.8% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
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Total Cost
$30,539
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$18,784
After Aid
Median Earnings
$81,850
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$18,784
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$81,850
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$74,502
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate77.8%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age21.2
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients39.2%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time94.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS80.1%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
49.0%
SAT Avg
1,419
SAT Reading
25th: 65067075th: 730
SAT Math
25th: 68072075th: 770
ACT Composite
25th: 293175th: 33

ROI Sensitivity Analysis
Assuming 4 Years to Graduation

This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.

Lifetime Value Added (NPV)

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$704k
+$238k
+$220k
Median Cost$19k/yr
+$637k
+$170k
+$152k
Full Cost$31k/yr
+$594k
+$128k
+$110k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
28
∞
Median Cost$19k/yr
33
225%
Full Cost$31k/yr
38
100%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
  • Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
  • Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
  • NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.

Social Impact ROINew

Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.

Donor Return284%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew

Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.

Taxpayer Return28%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator, or for more sophisticated analysis, the Guided ROI Interview, with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$18,735
Earnings (4yr)
$103,656
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$319k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$17,699
Earnings (4yr)
$58,329
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$30k
Applied Mathematics
BachCIP: 2703
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$82,200
Natl Median: $91,532
Lifetime Value Added
+$155k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,333
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,997
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$18,250
Earnings (4yr)
$60,648
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,891
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$62,574
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Median Debt
$24,452
Earnings (4yr)
$89,560
Natl Median: $93,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$211k
Median Debt
$16,362
Earnings (4yr)
$72,765
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$83k
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (4yr)
$88,593
Natl Median: $98,158
Lifetime Value Added
+$204k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$21,490
Earnings (4yr)
$71,783
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$75k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (4yr)
$92,908
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$237k
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$110,827
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
+$373k
Median Debt
$16,250
Earnings (4yr)
$147,064
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$646k
Median Debt
$19,750
Earnings (4yr)
$128,038
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$503k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$42,521
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$169k
Median Debt
$20,038
Earnings (4yr)
$53,747
Natl Median: $48,842
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$74,965
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$100k
Median Debt
$14,519
Earnings (4yr)
$98,573
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$280k
Engineering Science
BachCIP: 1413
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $93,782
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$87,517
Natl Median: $89,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$196k
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,210
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$55k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,461
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$35,416
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
-$211k
Median Debt
$15,750
Earnings (4yr)
$34,904
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$227k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,459
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$77,075
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
+$116k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$50,444
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$83,075
Natl Median: $50,526
Lifetime Value Added
+$162k
Median Debt
$19,750
Earnings (4yr)
$89,875
Natl Median: $85,294
Lifetime Value Added
+$214k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$23,375
Earnings (4yr)
$65,535
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
+$27k
Median Debt
$18,938
Earnings (4yr)
$64,547
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
+$20k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$19,750
Earnings (4yr)
$62,727
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$5k
Median Debt
$19,920
Earnings (4yr)
$91,650
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$227k
Median Debt
$21,018
Earnings (4yr)
$61,888
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$1k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$16,632
Earnings (4yr)
$49,759
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,883
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$31,305
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
-$248k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,096
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
$21,341
Earnings (4yr)
$65,013
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$23k
Median Debt
$17,500
Earnings (4yr)
$70,243
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$64k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$16,750
Earnings (4yr)
$58,137
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$31k
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$111,898
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$381k
Median Debt
$16,781
Earnings (4yr)
$40,503
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$179k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$20,098
Earnings (4yr)
$59,449
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$21k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$17,250
Earnings (4yr)
$58,966
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$25k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,887
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$18,230
Earnings (4yr)
$91,337
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$130k
Median Debt
$80,222
Earnings (4yr)
$145,737
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
+$603k
Anthropology
MastCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,276
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Applied Mathematics
MastCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$115,518
Natl Median: $116,060
Lifetime Value Added
+$341k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,271
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,545
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$23,846
Earnings (4yr)
$71,973
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$95,322
Natl Median: $106,375
Lifetime Value Added
+$165k
Median Debt
$33,666
Earnings (4yr)
$109,573
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$289k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,468
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$184,407
Natl Median: $124,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$937k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $136,736
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$78,487
Natl Median: $62,269
Lifetime Value Added
+$17k
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,248
Earnings (4yr)
$68,274
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$104,443
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
+$245k
Engineering, Other
MastCIP: 1499
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $129,974
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
MastCIP: 0302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$30,771
Natl Median: $72,563
Lifetime Value Added
-$419k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,705
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,486
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$29,970
Earnings (4yr)
$108,626
Natl Median: $110,694
Lifetime Value Added
+$281k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,463
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$30,300
Earnings (4yr)
$99,795
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$204k
Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities
MastCIP: 5132
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$117,308
Natl Median: $100,487
Lifetime Value Added
+$357k
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$92,520
Natl Median: $83,558
Lifetime Value Added
+$140k
Median Debt
$19,633
Earnings (4yr)
$89,107
Natl Median: $65,716
Lifetime Value Added
+$110k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,093
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marine Sciences
MastCIP: 3032
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,840
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Marketing
MastCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$73,000
Natl Median: $79,106
Lifetime Value Added
-$31k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,282
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$13,759
Earnings (4yr)
$104,470
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
+$245k
Median Debt
$33,177
Earnings (4yr)
$99,289
Natl Median: $101,441
Lifetime Value Added
+$200k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,478
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,850
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$22,014
Earnings (4yr)
$71,005
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
-$48k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
$41,170
Earnings (4yr)
$81,990
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
+$48k
Median Debt
$20,391
Earnings (4yr)
$77,523
Natl Median: $93,020
Lifetime Value Added
+$9k
Median Debt
$29,728
Earnings (4yr)
$134,363
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$504k
Median Debt
$57,074
Earnings (4yr)
$83,252
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
+$59k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$30,409
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
-$423k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,728
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$36,023
Earnings (4yr)
$67,350
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
Median Debt
$24,811
Earnings (4yr)
$73,386
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$28k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$77,223
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
+$6k

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $207,164
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
Gr-CertCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,581
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,965
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,849
Earnings (4yr)
$124,768
Natl Median: $86,288
Lifetime Value Added
+$539k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $129,570
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,310
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,168
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $118,893
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,510
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,117
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,226
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,808
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $95,753
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
Gr-CertCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,543
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, Other
Gr-CertCIP: 4299
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,208
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
Gr-CertCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,684
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$115,339
Natl Median: $126,911
Lifetime Value Added
+$494k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,444
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $125,137
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Anthropology
DocCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,473
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $123,729
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,683
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $131,848
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
DocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,386
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Cognitive Science
DocCIP: 3025
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $118,884
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $154,538
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $97,173
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $157,305
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering, Other
DocCIP: 1499
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $140,028
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,831
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,718
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Genetics
DocCIP: 2608
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $102,123
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,039
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
DocCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,550
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $130,845
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
DocCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,656
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $101,435
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
DocCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$76,688
Earnings (4yr)
$59,933
Natl Median: $59,592
Lifetime Value Added
-$273k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,176
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $108,943
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
DocCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,449
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
DocCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $130,153
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,908
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $103,410
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,860
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
DocCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
DocCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $88,618
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $85,168
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Dentistry
ProfCIP: 5104
Median Debt
$268,332
Earnings (4yr)
$160,639
Natl Median: $170,812
Lifetime Value Added
+$473k
Medicine
ProfCIP: 5112
Median Debt
$235,558
Earnings (4yr)
$99,252
Natl Median: $112,460
Lifetime Value Added
+$21k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$142,801
Natl Median: $133,099
Lifetime Value Added
+$342k
Median Debt
$127,784
Earnings (4yr)
$87,514
Natl Median: $81,641
Lifetime Value Added
-$66k

Other Programs

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,993
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.

For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate decision moving forward. Note that the institution's average undergraduate net price is used as a proxy for annual cost, which may differ from actual graduate tuition. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.

Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.