Cost of Attendance (COA)
Financing a college education is an important investment and understanding a student's financial aid budget is a key component. The cost of attendance is calculated by each university for one academic year of attendance. Your cost of attendance reflects your estimated expenses prior to financial aid. In addition to the information below, we encourage you to use our Net Price Calculator to estimate your cost to attend.
Direct vs Indirect Costs
When considering the cost of attendance for a university, it's important to distinguish between direct and indirect costs. These terms refer to different types of expenses that students may incur while attending college. For financial aid purposes, the estimated cost of attendance is based on both Direct and Indirect costs. Both are taken into consideration in your financial aid package to help meet your total estimated cost of attendance. Total costs will vary based on your choice for meal plans and housing.
Direct Costs: Direct costs are expenses that the university directly charges to students. These costs typically include tuition, fees, and sometimes room and board if the student is living on campus. These are costs that are due directly to the university at the start of each term of attendance. A break down of the broad based fees can be found on the tuition & fees page.
Students will only be charged Housing and Meal Plan costs if students reside on campus and have a meal plan or elect to have a commuter meal plan. If not then a students direct costs to the university will only include Tuition and Fees based on the chart below.
Indirect Costs: Indirect costs are expenses that students may incur as a result of attending college but are not directly billed by the university. These costs are more variable and can vary greatly depending on a student's individual circumstances and choices. Indirect costs may include items such as textbooks, supplies, transportation, and personal expenses like groceries or entertainment. While these costs are not directly charged by the university, students may still incur these personal charges over the year to attend a university.
2024-25 Estimated Undergraduate Full-Time Cost of Attendance
| Direct Costs | New York State Resident | Out of State Resident |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $7,070 | $28,874 |
| Fees | $3,574 | $3,574 |
| Housing* | $11,588 | $11,588 |
| Meal Plan* | $7,192 | $7,192 |
| Total Direct Costs (Commuter/Off Campus Students) | $10,644 | $32,448 |
| Total Direct Costs (On-campus Students)* | $29,424 | $51,228 |
| Indirect Costs | New York State Resident | Out of State Resident |
|---|---|---|
| Books | $900 | $900 |
| Transportation | $840 | $840 |
| Personal Expenses | $2,408 | $2,408 |
| Total Indirect Cost | $4,148 | $4,148 |
| Estimated Yearly Cost of Attendance | $33,572 | $55,376 |
Important Notes/Key Terms:
Tuition is set annually by SUNY and is historically is done in June. These estimated costs are effective as of 03/14/2024. All charges are subject to change following regulations from the state of New York, the State University of New York, and Stony Brook University. Tuition and Fees may vary based on program of study. Please visit the Student Financial Services Website for actual charges.
Full time students will be billed for health insurance through the University. The option to waive this cost will be available by providing proof of coverage to the Student Health Service at Stony Brook University.
Tuition: Tuition is the cost for the course you are enrolled for in the academic year. The costs on this page are based on a full-time student taking between 12-18 credits per term. A breakdown of the full tuition costs per term can be found on the Student Financial Services website once approved by SUNY and Stony Brook University.
Fees: Broad-Based Fees are generally charged to all enrolled students and are necessary for the University to operate. A breakdown explanation of the fees can be located on the Student Financial Services website.
Housing: Housing costs are based on your choice to reside on campus in one of the dormitory or Apartments. Actual costs will vary based on your room assignment. For rates visit Campus Residences website.
Meal Plan: Meal Plan costs are based on your meal plan of choice when residing on campus. Some commuter students may also request a meal plan. For rates of the meal plan options on campus visit the Meal Plan website.
Please Note: Students will only be charged for Housing if you reside on campus and students will only be charged for a mean plan if on campus or selecting a commuter meal plan.
Financial Need
Financial aid eligibility is based on your financial need. Financial need is calculated by subtracting your Student Aid Index (SAI) from your Estimated Cost of Attendance. Once your financial need is determined, Stony Brook will work to create a financial aid package for you. The formula to determine your financial need is:
Your SAI is calculated each year using a formula determined by the US Congress. Your SAI is determined after completing your FAFSA, and your SAI is listed on your FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS) after your FAFSA is processed.