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University at Buffalo
Most applicants get into University at Buffalo — 74.2% were admitted — so the real questions are cost, fit and outcomes, covered below.
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University at Buffalo occupies suburban Buffalo, NY — a public campus quieter than a downtown one, closer to one than a rural seat. The university runs its own medical system, which colors both its budget and its biggest programs.
Its highest-earning path is Computer Engineering, where graduates median $109,221 four years out. Faculty pay averages $148,980 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 20,112 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 85.2% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1210 and 1380 — above the NY middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on University at Buffalo's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
Scores help here but aren't the gate. If your SAT sits inside the 1210–1380 submitter range, sending it likely helps; below it, University at Buffalo's own policy says you can leave it out.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 600 | 640 | 680 |
| SAT Math | 610 | 650 | 700 |
| ACT Composite | 27 | 30 | 32 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, University at Buffalo received 38,210 applications and admitted 26,481 (69.3%), with 4,271 enrolling.
How University at Buffalo compares
| University at Buffalo | New York median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 74.2% | 70.1% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $10,936 | $17,408 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $70,814 | $60,236 | $53,781 |
Ten years after enrolling, the median University at Buffalo student earns $70,814 — 18% above the New York median of $60,236 for college-goers.
Cost, size & completion
As a public university, University at Buffalo prices by residency: $10,936 in-state versus $31,536 out-of-state — a $20,600 gap that makes state lines part of the decision.
20,112 undergraduates make University at Buffalo a large campus: broad course catalogs and big intro lectures come as a package.
75.2% of University at Buffalo students finish a bachelor's within six years — 20.3 points above the national 54.9% — and the single best predictor that the $10,936 price above buys a degree, not just enrollment.
Top majors by earnings at University at Buffalo
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer Engineering | $109,221 |
| Computer Science | $105,160 |
| Chemical Engineering | $95,424 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $95,209 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $93,507 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | $92,360 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $92,314 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $89,223 |
| Industrial Engineering | $86,118 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $84,920 |
| Civil Engineering | $84,868 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $84,602 |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | $75,263 |
| Economics | $70,720 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $69,903 |
| Chemistry | $68,413 |
| Geography and Cartography | $68,176 |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | $66,880 |
| International Business | $64,711 |
| Pharmacology and Toxicology | $64,445 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $62,912 |
| Architecture | $61,525 |
| Mathematics | $60,882 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $59,841 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $59,216 |
| Political Science and Government | $58,292 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $57,360 |
| Biology, General | $57,298 |
| Social Sciences, General | $56,257 |
| Sociology | $54,382 |
| Psychology, General | $52,303 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $51,385 |
| History | $50,518 |
| Environmental Design | $49,920 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $45,677 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $44,841 |
| Anthropology | $44,274 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $43,584 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $43,285 |
| Dance | $39,576 |
Median earnings for these 40 University at Buffalo programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $70,814 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 40 additional University at Buffalo programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for University at Buffalo?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1210–1380 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 74.2% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is University at Buffalo's acceptance rate?
69.3% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 26,481 admitted from 38,210 applicants.
How much does University at Buffalo cost?
In-state tuition is $10,936; out-of-state students pay $31,536. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do University at Buffalo graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $70,814 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in New York
- SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry — 63.3% admitted
- SUNY Polytechnic Institute — 81.3% admitted
- University at Albany — 69.1% admitted
- SUNY Brockport — 70.7% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.