How to Apply to Engineering at Stony Brook University: Limited-Enrollment CEAS Majors With Direct Admission or Pre-Major Entry, Eight ABET-Accredited Degrees, Admission and Prerequisites for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Students

At Stony Brook University (SUNY), undergraduate engineering is offered by the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences (CEAS), with 9 departments, 12 on-campus undergraduate majors and a fully online B.S. in Electrical Engineering. Below are the key points for fall 2027 entry, from Stony Brook’s official website, for U.S. domestic, international (including Chinese) and transfer applicants.

1. Majors

• Bachelor of Engineering (BE): biomedical, chemical and molecular, civil, computer, electrical, engineering science and mechanical engineering. CEAS says students cannot double major in two BE programs.
• B.S. programs: applied mathematics and statistics, computer science (covered in a separate guide on this site), data science, information systems and technological systems management, plus an upper-level, two-year online B.S. in electrical engineering.
• ABET: the CEAS licensure page lists these as ABET-accredited bachelor’s programs whose students can register directly for the FE exam: biomedical, civil, chemical and molecular, computer, online electrical, electrical, engineering science and mechanical engineering. The online electrical engineering description also states EAC accreditation.

2. Admission: direct to the major, or pre-major entry

• Limited enrollment: all CEAS programs currently limit enrollment, and admission to the university does not guarantee immediate or future acceptance into the major applied for. Applicants who do not name a major are considered only for university admission.
• Indicate interest when applying: qualified first-year and transfer applicants who indicate interest in CEAS programs are considered for direct admission to the major or entry as a pre-major (Area of Interest, AOI).
• From pre-major to major: complete the entry requirements in the Undergraduate Catalog for your entry term, then submit the CEAS Major/Minor Declaration form. Reviews happen twice a year, with deadlines of 5 January (spring) and 5 June (fall); students still completing prerequisites, including over intersession, must also apply by these dates. Decisions come within one to two weeks.
• Two statements on guarantees: the same page says AOI students are guaranteed acceptance into their pre-major program if they meet the catalog requirements for their entry term, while its FAQ says admission to CEAS majors is competitive and not guaranteed, and decisions are final and not open to appeal.
• Students outside CEAS: students in Arts and Sciences, Business and other colleges must also complete the catalog entry requirements to declare a CEAS major or double major, and it is likewise competitive.
• Specific criteria: each major’s prerequisites and grade requirements are only in the Undergraduate Catalog, which was not read for this guide; check with the CEAS Undergraduate Student Office (ceas_info@stonybrook.edu).

3. High school preparation

• Admissions lists CEAS majors as restricted majors. In addition to general criteria, most require 4 units of math including calculus and 4 units of science including physics.
• Admissions says strong applicants typically have outstanding grades in high school calculus and physics and strong SAT/ACT math results (the university is test optional); advanced science and math courses and science, math and research competitions are also considered.
• The pages read for this guide do not say which engineering courses AP or IB can replace.

4. Dates, materials and testing

• Fall 2027: Early Action 1 November, Regular Decision 15 January; spring 2027, 1 November. These are completion deadlines: all materials must arrive by then.
• Applications: Common App, the SUNY application or Coalition (the international page lists only the first two); $50 fee; one essay on a topic of your choice and one letter of recommendation; testing optional.
• Honors programs: fall only. The fall 2027 priority deadline is 1 November; for WISE (Women in Science and Engineering), at least one recommendation should come from a science or math teacher.

5. U.S. domestic applicants

• 2026-2027 estimates (as of 20 February 2026; SUNY sets tuition around June): tuition $7,070 for New York residents and $31,050 for out-of-state students; fees $3,860 for both; on-campus direct costs $30,671 and $54,651, and total cost of attendance about $34,819 and $58,799. The page notes tuition and fees may vary by program.
• Scholarships: all incoming first-years are considered for merit scholarships, mostly without a separate application; some consider need, so file the FAFSA early.
• EOP/AIM: New York State’s Educational Opportunity Program provides access, academic support and aid for promising students who may not otherwise be admitted; fall only, with income guidelines (the page lists the 2026-27 figures).

6. International applicants

• English: applicants from native English-speaking countries and international applicants at English-medium schools are exempt. Otherwise submit one of: TOEFL 80 (tests before 21 January 2026) or 4 (after); IELTS 6.5; Duolingo 105; ACT English 19; SAT ERW 480; IB English HL 5; AP English 3; A-level English C; PTE 53. Students below the requirement may be considered for conditional admission.
• Transcripts: grades for the three most recently completed years, in English; graduates send the last four years, directly from the school.
• Finances: admitted international students must document funding for one year before an I-20 is issued.
• The pages read for this guide do not say whether international students can receive need-based aid.

7. Applicants from China

• Gaokao English: the international page lists a Gaokao English score of 125 (out of 150) as acceptable proof of English.
• Gaokao total: whether and how it is used in admission is not published.
• Transcripts: send the three most recent years in English (they may include middle and high school).

8. Transfer

• Deadlines: fall 2027, 1 May; spring 2027, 1 November.
• Criteria: generally at least 24 college credits and a 2.8 cumulative GPA; with fewer than 24 credits, send your high school transcript. Students with 56 or more credits must declare a major when applying to be eligible for financial aid.
• Engineering: qualified transfer applicants who indicate interest are likewise considered for direct admission to the major or pre-major entry; the major entry criteria are in the Undergraduate Catalog.

Checklist

• Take four years of math including calculus and four years of science including physics
• Fall 2027: complete everything by 1 November (EA) or 15 January, naming an engineering major
• U.S. students: file the FAFSA early; New York residents can look at EOP/AIM
• International students: TOEFL 4 (new scale) or IELTS 6.5, among others, and three years of English transcripts
• Applicants from China: a Gaokao English score of 125 or higher counts as English proof
• After enrolling: complete the catalog prerequisites and apply to the major by 5 January or 5 June

Sources: Stony Brook University, CEAS prospective students; Explore CEAS majors; Declaring a CEAS major; Licensure and ABET-accredited programs; First-year admission; International first-year admission; Transfer admission; 2026-2027 costs; Undergraduate scholarships. Information is for fall 2027 entry (costs are 2026-2027 estimates); check the Stony Brook University website for updates.