University at Buffalo
- Graduation Rate
- 74% B
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $70,814 A
- Top 7% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $20,995 D+
- 23% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 74% C+
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — strong outcomes across the board. 24.4× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $24.4 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $24.4 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,966,441.
What The Data Says
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A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduates earn 74% more than the national college median.
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A 74% graduation rate — 30% above the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $24.4 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- World Rank
- #201-225
- Times Higher Education
- Research Score
- 36/100
- Times Higher Education
Why University at Buffalo Matters
University at Buffalo is a public research university in Buffalo, NY ranked #201-225 in the world by Times Higher Education, and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a top-tier research enterprise and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 7% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R1 · Very High Research
- Enrollment
- 20,112
- Setting
- Suburban
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Engineering, Social Sciences, Psychology
Why students choose University at Buffalo
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 74% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1210–1380. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $20,995 a year after grants and scholarships — 23% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $70,814 ten years after enrolling — 74% above the typical college, against $19,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.49 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of over 20,000 students, the University at Buffalo is a solid choice for those who want a diverse student body and a range of academic programs. Students here can dive into popular fields like Business & Marketing, Engineering, Social Sciences, Psychology, and Biology & Biomedical studies. The 74% acceptance rate means that it’s accessible to many, making it a fitting option for a variety of applicants seeking a comprehensive education in a vibrant urban setting.
Looking ahead to life after graduation, students can expect to earn around $70,814 within ten years of completing their degree. This earning potential is encouraging, especially considering the affordable net price of $20,995. With a median debt of $19,000, many graduates find themselves in a manageable financial situation. While we don’t have data on economic mobility, the solid graduation rate of 74% suggests that students are completing their degrees and entering the workforce prepared.
When it comes to the financial side of things, the affordability of the University at Buffalo stands out. After financial aid, the net price remains reasonable for many families. This accessibility, combined with a supportive environment, tends to help students from various backgrounds thrive. Those who engage actively in their studies and utilize campus resources generally find a fulfilling and successful path after graduation.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective University at Buffalo is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into University at Buffalo? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
University at Buffalo, located in Buffalo, New York, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 74%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,295. The graduation rate is roughly 74%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 74%
- Retention Rate
- 85%
- SAT Average
- 1295
- ACT Midpoint
- 28
- SAT Range
- 1210–1380
- ACT Range
- 27–32
- Full-Time Faculty
- 70%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $12,415
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 12:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.74
- First-Gen Students
- 28%
- Applicants
- 30,939
- Admitted
- 20,948
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2024-25
The acceptance rate tells you how hard University at Buffalo is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 14% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school most admitted students ultimately pass on.
- Yield Rate
- 14%
- of admits enroll
- Submitted SAT
- 28%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Submitted ACT
- 3%
- of enrolled freshmen
Test-optional, in practice. Only about 31% of enrolled freshmen submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive here, not a long shot.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University at Buffalo? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University at Buffalo is $31,536, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $20,995. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $14,668 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $19,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $10,936
- Out-of-State
- $31,536
- Avg Net Price
- $20,995
- Median Debt
- $19,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 33%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 40%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $14,668
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $16,585
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $21,262
- Family Income $110K+
- $28,079
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at University at Buffalo — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is University at Buffalo Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University at Buffalo earn a median of $70,814, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $53,742
- 8 Years
- $63,080
- 10 Years
- $70,814
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.27x
- Earning > $25K
- 75%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (2,018)
- 61%
- 100% (2,018)
- 61%
- 100% (2,018)
- 61%
- 100% (2,018)
- 61%
How University Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is University at Buffalo Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, University at Buffalo delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $20,995/year ($83,980 total). Graduates earn $70,814 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $2,050,421 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,966,441 (24.4× your investment). The median debt is $19,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 74% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $83,980
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $2,050,421
- Net Return
- $1,966,441
- ROI Multiple
- 24.4×
- Cost Per Year
- $20,995
- Median Debt
- $19,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 74%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
- Research Score
- 36/100
- Times Higher Ed
- Academic Influence
- 42/100
- Citation impact (THE)
- Industry Engagement
- 41/100
- Knowledge transfer (THE)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $2,994,483
Top Programs
The fields University at Buffalo awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 17% $53,233 early-career
- Engineering 13% $79,729 early-career
- Social Sciences 13% $40,390 early-career
- Psychology 10% $32,492 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 9% $33,550 early-career
- Health Professions 8% $79,230 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 8% $72,503 early-career
- Communications 6% $41,341 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for University at Buffalo's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into University at Buffalo? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
University at Buffalo, located in Buffalo, New York, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 74%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,295. The graduation rate is roughly 74%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University at Buffalo? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University at Buffalo is $31,536, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $20,995. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $14,668 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $19,000 in federal student loans.
Is University at Buffalo Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University at Buffalo earn a median of $70,814, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
How Connected Is University at Buffalo? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University at Buffalo. Its economic connectedness score is 1.49, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.07). Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
How Research-Intensive Is University at Buffalo? World Rank, Teaching & Citations
Times Higher Education places University at Buffalo at #201-225 worldwide. Its profile spans a research score of 36/100, teaching at 44/100, and citation impact of 42/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.
Does University at Buffalo offer Early Decision?
No. University at Buffalo does not report a binding Early Decision plan (2024-25 Common Data Set).
Is University at Buffalo really test-optional?
In practice, yes. Only about 31% of enrolled first-year students submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive at University at Buffalo (2024-25 Common Data Set).
What percentage of admitted students enroll at University at Buffalo?
About 14% of admitted students choose to enroll at University at Buffalo — its yield rate (2024-25 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
Compare University at Buffalo
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University at Buffalo.
- James Madison UniversityHarrisonburg, VA · Close peer80% grad $69,954 earn 72% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of DelawareNewark, DE · Close peer80% grad $72,950 earn 71% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Rhode IslandKingston, RI · Close peer72% grad $69,743 earn 72% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- The University of Texas at DallasRichardson, TX · Close peer75% grad $68,227 earn 65% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of California-Santa CruzSanta Cruz, CA · Close peer75% grad $68,396 earn 66% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of IowaIowa City, IA · Close peer74% grad $64,762 earn 84% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is University at Buffalo? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University at Buffalo. Its economic connectedness score is 1.49, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.07). Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note