Since opening in 1957 in Oyster Bay with an inaugural class of 148, SUNY at Stony Brook has grown dramatically into a prestigious public co-educational research institution with sea-grant and space-grant status. Each year, Stony Brook enrolls more than 16,800 undergraduates and 8,400 post-graduates in the State University of New York system. SUNY at Stony Brook is located on a scenic 1,364-acre suburban campus in Suffolk County along Long Island’s North Shore. Satellite centers run in Southampton, Manhattan, and South Korea. As a member of the elite Association of American Universities (AAU), Stony Brook has research expenditures passing the $200 million mark. SUNY at Stony Brook offers a student-faculty ratio of 16:1 and average freshman retention rate of 90 percent.

According to the U.S. News, SUNY at Stony Brook is ranked as America’s 89th best university and 37th top public school. In particular, SUNY Stony Brook is recognized for having the 66th best engineering college and 40th top computer science program nationally. Forbes magazine named Stony Brook the country’s 114th best research institution. Kiplinger’s Personal Finance lauded SUNY at Stony Brook as the 33rd best value for in-state students. The Wall Street Journal ranked the university eighth for sending students to elite graduate programs. Washington Monthly crowned SUNY Stony Brook the 88th best master’s-level university for civic engagement. Times Higher Education even named Stony Brook the 188th top college globally.

SUNY at Stony Brook Accreditation Details

Reaffirmed in June 2012, SUNY at Stony Brook has been regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). In addition, the five academic colleges have pursued 18 discipline-specific, professional accreditations. The College of Engineering and Applied Sciences aligns with the guidelines of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). Bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral computer science degrees are approved by the Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC).

SUNY at Stony Brook Application Requirements

Getting into Stony Brook University isn’t easy with the rather selective acceptance rate of 41 percent. First-year freshmen must be graduating with a high school diploma or equivalent. Following the NYS Regents curriculum with four units of English, four units of social studies, four units of mathematics, four units of science, and three units of foreign language is preferred. On average, admitted students carry a 93 high school average. New Seawolves generally score at least 26 on the ACT or 1170 on the SAT, including writing. Showing evidence of leadership, volunteer work, extra-curricular activities, and special talents is also important.

Transferring to SUNY at Stony Brook from another regionally accredited college or university is also tough. Incoming transfers must have completed at least 24 credits in a strong academic program. If applicants have fewer than 24, they’re deemed freshmen and must meet the above criteria. Undergraduate transfers must maintain a minimum collegiate GPA of 3.0 or higher. Any transfers with more than 56 credits must select a major for financial aid eligibility. Special preference is given to students with an A.A. or A.S. degree from university-parallel programs with the SUNY or CUNY system. International students must also take the Internet-based (iBT) TOEFL exam and score at least 81.

Before the January 15th and November 1st priority deadlines, interested students should use the SOLAR System from SUNY Stony Brook to submit the following:

• The Common Application form
• $50 non-refundable application fee
• Official transcripts for all academic work
• College entrance exam (SAT or ACT) scores
• Proof of English language proficiency (if applicable)
• Free Application for Federal Student Aid
• Online teacher/counselor evaluation
• A personal essay of at least 250 words

Tuition and Financial Aid

Full-time NYS residents at Stony Brook will be charged $3,235 per semester. With the added $1,192 in fees, the total in-state cost of attendance is $4,427 each semester. Non-residents pursuing full-time undergraduate studies must pay $10,775 in tuition each semester. Along with the $1,192 in fees, the total out-of-state cost of attendance is $11,967 per semester. Part-time learners will be billed $270 (in-state) or $898 (out-of-state) per credit hour. Full-time, domestic students are automatically charged $1,561 for health insurance, but it can be waived. On-campus room and board is estimated to cost an additional $11,648 annually.

79 percent of new full-time students at SUNY Stony Brook receive financial aid. More than $15.6 million in institutional aid is granted each year. Federal student aid is available with the Federal Perkins, Federal Subsidized Stafford, Federal Unsubsidized Stafford, or Direct Parent PLUS loans. Some undergrad students could qualify for the Federal Pell Grant, FSEOG Grant, or Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant. In-state residents should apply for the New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) or Educational Opportunity Program (EOP). There’s also the STEM Program initiative. Federal Work-Study (FWS) is offered with a $1,000 tuition voucher. Free money is gifted through scholarships, including the National Merit Scholarship, WISE Scholarship, Honors College Scholarship, Diversity Scholarship, and Presidents Scholarship.

B.S. in Computer Science Program

Since 1969, the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences has offered a B.S. in Computer Science program within its top-ranked Department of Computer Science. Housed in SUNY Stony Brook’s $230 million High-Tech Center, the undergraduate program delivers accredited education to learn the basics of designing, implementing, and securing computer systems. It draws on the resources of its Center of Excellence in Wireless and Information Technology (CEWIT) to produce talented, forward-thinking computer scientists. In fact, SUNY at Stony Brook was recognized by PayScale for having the 10th highest ROI for computer science majors. Students benefit from hands-on learning in the university’s Applied Algorithms Lab and Data Science Lab.

Qualified freshmen are admitted directly into the four-year, 120-credit major. All B.S. in Computer Science students must take core courses in algorithm analysis, software engineering, systems fundamentals, programming languages, applied calculus, linear algebra, statistics, and technical communications. Available electives span the spectrum from virtual reality and robotics to user interface development and computer graphics. In the final year, students select either a research project or applied internship in computer science. If desired, there are optional specializations offered in Information Assurance and Game Programming. Highly motivated students could follow the Honors Program, which includes a two-semester honors thesis. After graduation, students can also pursue the M.S. or Ph.D. in Computer Science from SUNY at Stony Brook.

Another excellent resource:

Top 10 Best Online Schools for Computer Science Degrees