Stony Brook University Achieved Highest Enrollment for First Year Class for 2023-2024 Semester

More Transfer Students Applied Than Ever Before

Stony Brook, NY–September 20, 2023–Stony Brook University’s 2023-2024 admissions’ application rate and enrollment has experienced new highs as the university continues to build momentum including being named one of New York’s flagship universities, anchor institution of the New York Climate Exchange and recipient of a $500 million endowment from the Simons Foundation. This year, the university also experienced its largest incoming first year class ever. These increases in application and enrollment rates were announced by Dawn Medley, Ed.D, Vice Provost for Enrollment Management and Retention.

Highpoints achieved by Stony Brook include: 

• Overall, the university received more applications than any other State University of New York school: 55,633 for the 2023-2024 semester.

• There was a 24.2% increase over the previous year of all Stony Brook application submissions:  55.633 (2023-2024) vs.44,781 (2022-2023).

• Freshmen application rates increased by 23.9%: 50,435 (2023-2024) vs. 40,713 (2022-2023).

• Transfer student applications increased by 26.8%:  5,441 (2023-2024) vs. 4,290 (2022-2023).

• The university also saw an 18.4% increase in application rates to non-STEM majors: 1,521 (2023-202) vs. 1,285 (2022-2023).

• 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 by 7.1%: 9,451 (2023-2024) vs. 8,826 (2022-2023). 

• The top five countries for applications were China, India, Uzbekistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The university’s international applications rose by 40.5%:  4,636 (2023-2024) vs.3,300  (2022-2023).

In looking at increased interest about joining Stony Brook by students, the Division of Enrollment Management and Retention leadership weighed in with these thoughts:

• “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,” said Dawn Medley. “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.”  
• “Stony Brook’s progress this year is truly inspiring as we work together to welcome our largest ever incoming first-year class,” said Richard Beatty, Associate Provost for Enrollment. “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. Our staff advocates for the educational excellence that defines Stony Brook and continuously looks for ways to provide access to students. The momentum we’ve built will propel the university toward a future as a premier national and global institution as we continue to tell the Stony Brook story.”
• “The efforts of admissions, enrollment management, and our campus partners to finalize this year’s class demonstrates how to best collaborate,” said Mark Cortez, Executive Director of Admissions. “The efforts to recruit and enroll these talented students is one of many factors that have contributed to our success. 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.” 

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About Stony Brook University

Stony Brook University — New York’s flagship university and No. 1 public university — is going far beyond the expectations of today’s public universities. It is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system. With more than 26,000 students, more than 2900 faculty members, more than 200,000 alumni, a premier academic healthcare system and 18 NCAA Division I athletic programs, Stony Brook is a research-intensive distinguished center of innovation dedicated to addressing the world’s biggest challenges. The university embraces its mission to provide comprehensive undergraduate, graduate and professional education of the highest quality, and is ranked one of the top 80 universities in the nation by the U.S. News & World Report Best American Colleges listing. Fostering a commitment to academic research and intellectual endeavors, Stony Brook’s membership in the Association of American Universities (AAU) places it among the top 71 research institutions in North America. The university’s distinguished faculty have earned esteemed awards such as the Nobel Prize, Pulitzer Prize, Indianapolis Prize for animal conservation, Abel Prize and the inaugural Breakthrough Prize in Mathematics. Stony Brook has the responsibility of co-managing Brookhaven National Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy — one of only eight universities with a role in running a national laboratory. Providing economic growth for neighboring communities and the wider geographic region, the university totals an impressive $7.23 billion in increased economic output on Long Island. Follow us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/stonybrooku/) and Twitter(@stonybrooku)