Is ASU or Stony Brook better for undergraduate computer science research?

For a student prioritizing undergraduate CS research and close faculty mentorship, Stony Brook is the more compelling choice. Its computer science department has a particularly research-centered culture, with well-established strengths in areas such as artificial intelligence, systems, security, theory, computer vision, and data science. Stony Brook’s location and connections within the broader New York research ecosystem can also be useful for finding academic and summer research opportunities.

The practical advantage at Stony Brook is that undergraduate research can feel more directly connected to the core CS department. Students who do well in foundational courses, attend office hours, and approach professors with a specific interest often have a relatively clear path toward joining a lab, assisting with a project, or pursuing an independent study. Faculty mentorship is still not automatic, but the department’s research identity makes it easier to identify professors whose work aligns with a particular technical interest.

ASU also offers substantial CS research, especially through the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering and its many interdisciplinary labs. It can be especially attractive for students interested in applied work that overlaps with robotics, sustainability, health, education, entrepreneurship, or engineering.

ASU’s scale is both an opportunity and a challenge: there are many labs and projects, but students need to be proactive in finding a smaller community and building relationships. Stony Brook may offer a more focused environment for a student who already sees research, graduate school, or a research-intensive technical career as a central goal.