Stony Brook University officials say the institution is seeing more applications and higher enrollments this academic year than ever before.
This year marked the largest incoming freshman class, with 3,567, up from 3,345 a year ago, and from about 2,700 a decade ago. Meanwhile, the overall number of Stony Brook application submissions for 2023 was at 55,633, up from 44,781 a year ago. Freshmen application rates increased to 50,435, up from 40,713 the previous.
This comes at a time when the university was recently named a New York State flagship universities and an anchor institution of the New York Climate Exchange. The university also received a $500 million endowment from the Simons Foundation.
“I believe this increase in interest as measured by applications and enrolled students is directly tied to the efforts of our entire division and campus,” Dawn Medley, an administrator in the university’s Division of Enrollment Management and Retention, said in a statement.
“As a flagship, we have much to tell with the New York Climate Exchange and the $500 million dollar gift, but helping students find their place at Stony Brook is what our team does best. We are great storytellers with a great story to tell.”
The university also achieved its highest-ever ranking from U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 America’s Best College publication. In this report, the university came in at #58 among national universities, jumping 19 positions from #77 last year.
“Stony Brook has long been recognized as a leader supporting the social and economic mobility of our graduates and their families, and the ability to create a dynamic, engaged environment that welcomes ambition has provided us with great forward movement in becoming one of the most prominent public flagship research universities in the nation,” Stony Brook University President Maurie McInnis said in a statement.
“As we celebrate the university’s upward momentum reflected in these new rankings, the commitment of our exceptional students, faculty, and staff, as well as our partners locally and across the globe make our continued progress possible,” she added.
And while the university is known for its STEM focus, it saw an 18.4% increase in applications from non-STEM majors.
The top five states for applications outside New York were New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, California and Pennsylvania. The university’s out-of-state application rate rose to 9,451, up from 8,826 the previous year.
The top five countries for applications were China, India, Uzbekistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The university’s international applications rose to 4,636, up from 3,300 the previous year.
“Stony Brook’s progress this year is truly inspiring as we work together to welcome our largest ever incoming first-year class,” Richard Beatty, associate provost for enrollment, said in a statement.
“Through efforts with our campus partners and faculty, Enrollment Management and Retention continues to streamline processes, improve the overall student experience, and better serve students from New York State, across the US, and around the world,” Beatty added.
“The efforts of admissions, enrollment management, and our campus partners to finalize this year’s class demonstrates how to best collaborate,” Mark Cortez, executive director of admissions, said in a statement.
“The efforts to recruit and enroll these talented students are one of many factors that have contributed to our success,” Cortez added. “The dedication and commitment of our staff, working to understand each student’s interest in and journey to Stony Brook, has also contributed to this accomplishment.”
Adina Genn
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