Stony Brook University

What are the graduation rates for students at Stony Brook University?

Stony Brook University demonstrates strong graduation outcomes, with 78% of its students completing their degrees, placing the institution within the top 15% nationally. Graduation rates are consistently high across genders, with 81% of women and 76% of men graduating, reflecting solid performance relative to comparable universities.

The university's four-year graduation rate stands at 66%, indicating that two-thirds of students finish their programs within the traditional timeframe. Extending the window to six years, this rate rises to 78%, confirming the institution's effectiveness in supporting degree completion over a longer period.

Retention is another key factor in graduation success, and Stony Brook University reports an 89% retention rate for first-year students returning for their second year. This figure is among the highest in the country, underscoring the university's ability to maintain student engagement and progress toward degree completion.

What is the earning potential for graduates at Stony Brook University?

Graduates of Stony Brook University experience a wide range of earning outcomes depending on their field of study, with technical and health-related disciplines generally offering the highest salaries. For instance, those who completed registered nursing programs report median earnings of approximately $84,511, while graduates in allied health diagnostic, intervention, and treatment professions earn around $80,124. Clinical and medical laboratory science graduates also see strong returns, with median earnings near $78,983.

Engineering degrees stand out as consistent sources of above-average income. Computer engineering graduates earn approximately $65,853, electrical, electronics, and communications engineering majors around $61,334, and chemical engineering graduates near $60,840. Civil and general engineering graduates have median earnings close to $63,237 and $63,263 respectively. Mechanical engineering alumni also fare well, with earnings around $59,148.

Computer and information sciences programs likewise yield substantial income, with general computer science-related fields reporting earnings near $73,837 and information science/studies graduates receiving about $50,971. Graduates in human computer interaction, a specialized tech field, have median earnings of $44,369.

Among the sciences, chemistry graduates earn approximately $42,072, applied mathematics majors around $41,626, and economics graduates about $44,546, reflecting competitive salaries within these disciplines. Mathematics graduates more broadly can expect earnings near $41,310.

Liberal arts and social science fields typically offer more modest compensation. For example, journalism graduates earn median salaries around $37,773, political science majors $32,965, sociology graduates approximately $30,405, and psychology graduates about $29,078. Degrees in English language and literature and romance languages yield earnings just above $30,000, while anthropology and social work report lower median incomes near $15,800 and $22,965 respectively.

Natural resources conservation and research graduates see median earnings close to $34,569, and multi/interdisciplinary studies graduates approximately $39,668, providing moderate financial returns in these fields.