by our College Data Analytics TeamHow long does it take to earn a degree at SUNY Stony Brook? Find out how many students return after their freshman year, how long it takes to graduate, and what happens to the students who don't.
The freshmen retention rate applies to first-time / full-time students who come back for their second year.
With 90% students making it past their freshmen year, SUNY Stony Brook has freshmen retention rates above the national average.
Nationwide, the average first to second year retention rate is 70.57%.
When looking at just colleges and universities in New York, the average is 73.51%.
| Retention Rate | |
|---|---|
| SUNY Stony Brook | 90% |
| Nationwide | 70.57% |
| New York | 73.51% |
Of the 3,326 students in the class of 2015, how many completed their degree on time?
After four years 52% of the cohort graduated. After six years 72% had completed their degree, and 74% after eight years.
The official graduation rate of SUNY Stony Brook is 72%. This is the percentage of students who completed their degree within 150% of the published time. That means six years for a standard bachelor's degree program.
The average length of time it takes an SUNY Stony Brook undergraduate student to complete their bachelor's degree is 4.26 years.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 2,696 | 59% |
| Six Years | 3,326 | 72% |
| Eight Years | 78 | 2% |
| Did Not Complete | 1,198 | 26% |
Approximately 1198 students or 26% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1198 students who did not complete their degree?
10 are still enrolled.
823 transferred to another institution.
SUNY Stony Brook lost contact with the remaining 349 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 0.8% |
| Transferred | 823 | 68.7% |
| Dropped Out | 349 | 29.1% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 100% |
| Asian | 82% |
| Black / African-American | 77% |
| Hawaiian | 100% |
| Hispanic | 77% |
| International | 73% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 69% |
| Unknown | 81% |
| White | 72% |
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are much more likely to graduate in four years. Some schools cater to mostly traditional students while others cater to 'non-traditional' students. So called 'non-traditional' students include part-time students or those who may be returning after an absense. It is common for part-time and/or adult students to take longer to graduate.
Traditional Students:
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25.
Non-Traditional Students:
Any student that is not first-time, full-time, and under the age of 25.
The majority of students at SUNY Stony Brook are considered 'traditional students' who are first-time attending full-time.
Examining the graduation rates of the specific cohorts shown below may be more revealing than looking at the overall graduaton rates.
First-time / full-time students at Stony Brook University represent 56% of the students in the class of 2015, and 55.89% of SUNY Stony Brook bachelor's degree graduations.
With a four-year graduation rate of 52%, first-time students in the SUNY Stony Brook class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After six years, the SUNY Stony Brook graduation rate was 72%, and by the eight year mark, 74% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| First-Time / Full-Time Completions | SUNY Stony Brook | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 52% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 72% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 74% | 47.82% |
684 first-time / full-time students or 26% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
10 are still enrolled.
464 transferred to another institution.
SUNY Stony Brook lost contact with the remaining 204 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Full-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 10 | 1.46% |
| Transferred | 464 | 67.84% |
| Dropped Out | 204 | 29.82% |
First-time / part-time students at Stony Brook University represent 0.11% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six-year graduation rate of 40%, first-time, part-time students in the SUNY Stony Brook class of 2015 who attended classes full-time were more likely than average to graduate on time.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 40%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, 23.72% after eight years.
| First-Time / Part-Time Completions | SUNY Stony Brook | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 20% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 40% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 40% | 23.72% |
3 first-time / part-time students or 60% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
3 transferred to another institution.
SUNY Stony Brook lost contact with the remaining 0 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 3 | 100.00% |
| Dropped Out | 0 | 0.00% |
1818 SUNY Stony Brook students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 39.44% of the students in the class of 2015.
Non first-time students could include transfer students or adults who have returned to school after an absense.
With a six year graduation rate of 75%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average for students in this category.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 76%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes full-time is: 49.57% after four years, 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Returning / Full-Time Completions | SUNY Stony Brook | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 75% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 76% | 55.07% |
436 non first-time / part-time students or 24% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
6 are still enrolled.
312 transferred to another institution.
SUNY Stony Brook lost contact with the remaining 118 who we assumed dropped out.
| First-Time / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 6 | 1.38% |
| Transferred | 312 | 71.56% |
| Dropped Out | 118 | 27.06% |
184 SUNY Stony Brook students were classified as full-time / not first-time. This represents 3.99% of the students in the class of 2015.
With a six year graduation rate of 58%, returning students in the class of 2015 and attended classes full-time had a graduation rate higher than the national average.
After eight years, the graduation rate was 59%.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for non first-time undergraduates attending classes part-time is: 36.03% after six years, 36.03% after eight years.
| Returning / Part-Time Completions | SUNY Stony Brook | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 58% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 59% | 37.80% |
75 non first-time / part-time students or 41% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
44 transferred to another institution.
SUNY Stony Brook lost contact with the remaining 27 who we assumed dropped out.
| Returning / Part-Time Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 5.33% |
| Transferred | 44 | 58.67% |
| Dropped Out | 27 | 36.00% |
