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University at Buffalo

Public Graduate Strong 78/100

University at Buffalo

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Buffalo, New York

About University at Buffalo

University at Buffalo is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Buffalo, New York. It enrolls 20,112 students (a very large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Official website: buffalo.edu

Acceptance: 74.2%
Graduation: 66.1%
Net Price: $20,995
Median Earnings (10yr): $70,814
Enrollment: 20,112
Student : Faculty: 11:1

Accreditor Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Strong

78/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Selective

Outcomes 80

Value 71

Affordability 49

Selectivity 67

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 74.2%, University at Buffalo is moderately selective.

Acceptance Rate

74.2%

Moderate

SAT Range (25th–75th)

1210 – 1380

Reading + Math combined

ACT Range (25th–75th)

27 – 32

Cumulative composite

Test Policy Not Considered Standardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether University at Buffalo is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Becoming less selective ↑ 8.2 pts since 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending University at Buffalo isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $20,995 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$20,995

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

33%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

40%

Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees (in-state): $10,936
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state): $31,536
Room & Board (on-campus): $17,426
Room & Board (off-campus): $17,426
Books & Supplies: $1,500
Other Expenses (on-campus): $4,830
Other Expenses (off-campus): $4,830
Total Cost of Attendance: $30,785

Application fee: $50 (one-time, due at submission)

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

Under $30,000

$14,668
$30,001 – $48,000

$16,585
$48,001 – $75,000

$21,262
$75,001 – $110,000

$24,117
Over $110,000

$28,079

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$3,500

10% percentile

$6,600

25% percentile

$19,000

Median percentile

$24,403

75% percentile

$29,400

90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median

Pell recipients $14,808 ↓ $4,192

No Pell $14,000 ↓ $5,000

Dependent students $14,291 ↓ $4,709

Independent students $13,667 ↓ $5,333

Female students $14,500 ↓ $4,500

Male students $14,128 ↓ $4,872

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,500, less than completers ($19,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

66% of full-time students who enrolled at University at Buffalo graduate within six years, and 85% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

66%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

85%

Returning for their second year

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered University at Buffalo earn a median of $70,814 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$70,814

Earning > $25K

87%

10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates

$55,700

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$67,700

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$66,400

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$57,100

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$62,400

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $12,000, about 18% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑ 12.7 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Strong. 84% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.

Who Studies Here

University at Buffalo is home to 20,112 students, a sprawling student community.

Total Enrolled

20,112

Part-Time

First-Generation

28%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

White 43.8% 8,817

Asian 18.4% 3,695

International 11.5% 2,307

Hispanic 9.4% 1,893

Black 9.3% 1,878

Other 4.4% 891

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at University at Buffalo. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Large Suburb Buffalo, New York

Housing

Partly residential 7,725 beds available

Adult Learners

5% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

University at Buffalo offers an extensive catalog of programs: 243 distinct programs across 25 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

27 Programs

Engineering

General Engineering $89K ($73K–$109K)
Mechanical Engineering $92K ($78K–$109K)
Civil Engineering $87K ($74K–$101K)

32 Programs

Health

Nursing $89K ($68K–$114K)
Medicine $67K typical
Pharmacy $117K ($79K–$140K)

7 Programs

Computer Science

Information Systems $92K ($64K–$128K)
Information Science $85K ($60K–$117K)
Computer Science $107K ($75K–$152K)

8 Programs

Business

Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Accounting $76K ($56K–$97K)

28 Programs

Biology

Biology $57K ($39K–$79K)
Physiology $62K ($42K–$84K)
Biology $57K ($39K–$79K)

5 Programs

Communication

Communication & Media $56K ($40K–$76K)
Communication & Media $56K ($40K–$76K)
Journalism $56K ($41K–$74K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at University at Buffalo is 11:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty

11:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Instruction / Student

$25,333

Annual instructional spending per enrolled student

Endowment

$971M

Solid financial position

Avg Faculty Salary

$107,490

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

1,857 instructional faculty across 5 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank	Faculty Count	Share	Avg Salary
Full Professors	572	31%	$152,119
Associate Professors	571	31%	$103,625
Assistant Professors	599	32%	$80,074
Instructors	22	1%	$62,623
Lecturers	93	5%	$72,609

Pros & Cons of University at Buffalo

A quick at-a-glance summary of how University at Buffalo tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Above-average graduation rate
Above-average post-graduation earnings

CONS

No clear weaknesses in the data.

Best for: Based on the data, University at Buffalo is a fit for students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.

Frequently Asked Questions about University at Buffalo

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about University at Buffalo.

Is University at Buffalo hard to get into?

Admissions at University at Buffalo are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 74.2%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.

What is the acceptance rate at University at Buffalo?

University at Buffalo has an acceptance rate of 74.2%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

What SAT score do you need for University at Buffalo?

The middle 50% of admitted students at University at Buffalo scored between 1210 and 1380 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

What ACT score do you need for University at Buffalo?

The middle 50% of admitted students at University at Buffalo scored between 27 and 32 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

How much does University at Buffalo cost?

The average net price after aid at University at Buffalo is $20,995 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is University at Buffalo worth it?

Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $70,814 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $20,995 per year. That's roughly 3.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is University at Buffalo known for?

University at Buffalo is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Information Systems, Psychology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do University at Buffalo graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering University at Buffalo are $70,814, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is University at Buffalo accredited?

Yes. University at Buffalo is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

How many students attend University at Buffalo?

University at Buffalo enrolls 20,112 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at University at Buffalo?

University at Buffalo graduates 66% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is University at Buffalo a public or private college?

University at Buffalo is a Public institution.

Where is University at Buffalo located?

University at Buffalo is located in Buffalo, New York.

What programs does University at Buffalo offer?

University at Buffalo offers 243 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Information Systems, Psychology.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at University at Buffalo?

The student-to-faculty ratio at University at Buffalo is 11:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.