University At Buffalo combines accessible admission standards with exceptional academic quality, evidenced by 97th percentile SAT performance. As an Opportunity Builder institution, the university delivers $10,271 higher earnings than peer institutions while maintaining manageable debt levels, particularly benefiting first-generation and Pell-eligible students seeking economic mobility through higher education.
With well above average outcomes, supported by strong long-term earnings relative to educational investment costs
With above average performance, balancing reasonable costs against strong outcome delivery
With well above average results, driven by substantial enrollment of Pell-eligible and first-generation students combined with strong academic outcomes
With top-tier performance, reflecting the university's exceptional ability to support economic advancement for diverse student populations
Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Full AnalysisUniversity At Buffalo delivers strong earnings outcomes alongside manageable debt levels for graduates across diverse academic programs. Graduates earn a median of $70,814 ten years after enrollment, ranking in the 87th percentile nationally and significantly outpacing the peer median by $10,271 annually.
While graduates experience slight negative earnings beyond expectations of $173, the institution's overall earnings performance remains well above average for similar public universities. Earnings span from $45,990 at the 25th percentile to $100,175 at the 75th percentile, reflecting varied career trajectories across the university's comprehensive program offerings.
Students seeking strong STEM outcomes, particularly in Computer Science and Engineering, at a large public research university with accessible admission standards. Well-suited for those prioritizing economic mobility with moderate debt levels, especially first-generation and Pell-eligible students looking for diverse academic programs and solid post-graduation earning potential.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
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This is the University At Buffalo hub overview page. For comprehensive institutional data including detailed charts and metrics, visit the full analysis at /school/university-at-buffalo/analysis.
Top-tier mobility performance at 96.6th percentile
University At Buffalo ranks #89 nationally in Azimuth's composite analysis, with mobility performance at the 96.6th percentile demonstrating top-tier performance. Located in Buffalo, New York, this large public research university maintains moderately selective admission standards with a 69.3% acceptance rate while delivering strong post-graduation outcomes.
University At Buffalo enrolls 32.3% Pell-eligible students and 28.1% first-generation students, placing it well above typical public university peers on access measures. The institution combines accessible admissions with exceptional SAT scores at the 97th percentile, indicating high academic quality despite broad accessibility.
Graduates earn a median of $70,814 ten years after enrollment, ranking in the 87th percentile nationally and $10,271 above the peer median of $60,543. This combination of strong access, controlled costs, and above-average earnings positions University At Buffalo as an Opportunity Builder, serving diverse student populations while maintaining solid economic outcomes.
University At Buffalo admits 69.3% of applicants, meaning approximately 7 in 10 applicants receive offers of admission. This moderately selective admission rate places the university well within reach for academically prepared students, while maintaining higher standards than typical open-access institutions.
The peer median admission rate of 78.1% indicates that University At Buffalo operates with slightly more selective standards than comparable public research universities, though the 8.8 percentage point difference represents a modest distinction rather than dramatically different accessibility. The university's 69.3% acceptance rate creates a competitive but achievable admission environment for students with solid academic preparation.
Unlike highly selective institutions where even exceptional students face significant uncertainty, University At Buffalo's admission rate suggests that well-prepared applicants have reasonable confidence in gaining admission. For prospective students, this selectivity level indicates the importance of meeting academic benchmarks while recognizing that admission remains accessible for students who demonstrate college readiness.
Students should approach University At Buffalo as a target or safety school depending on their academic profile, building college lists that include both more and less selective options to ensure admission security.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
University At Buffalo's published cost of attendance reaches $29,043 annually, including $10,782 in-state tuition, $16,754 for room and board, and $1,500 for books and supplies. Out-of-state students face higher tuition costs of $30,572.
However, the average student pays significantly less after financial aid, with net price averaging $20,470 annually representing $8,573 in financial aid savings from the sticker price. This net price falls $4,880 below the peer median of $15,590, indicating University At Buffalo operates with higher costs than comparable public research universities.
The gap between sticker price and net price demonstrates substantial financial aid distribution, though the university's cost structure remains above typical public university benchmarks. Students should expect comprehensive financial aid evaluation that reduces published costs by approximately 30% on average.
The cost structure reflects University At Buffalo's position as a research university with comprehensive facilities and programs, though the premium above peer institutions requires careful financial planning for families across income levels.
University At Buffalo graduates demonstrate steady earnings progression over their early career years. Median earnings grow from $53,742 six years after enrollment to $63,080 at eight years and $70,814 at ten years, representing substantial 31.8% growth from the six-year mark.
These outcomes reflect a robust ten-year cohort of 2,950 graduates, providing high confidence in the reported earnings figures across the institution's diverse academic portfolio. Graduates earn $10,271 more annually than the peer median of $60,543, highlighting the university's effectiveness in producing strong labor market outcomes.
Low-income graduates achieve median earnings of $66,400, demonstrating the institution's ability to support economic advancement for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The earnings distribution ranges from $45,990 at the 25th percentile to $100,175 at the 75th percentile, reflecting the breadth of career paths available through the university's comprehensive program offerings.
Approximately 23.4% of graduates continue to graduate or professional study, indicating strong preparation for both workforce entry and advanced educational pursuits. With cohort sizes increasing from 2,417 at six years to 2,950 at ten years, the data represents outcomes across multiple graduating classes and academic disciplines.
Environmental Toxicology.
29 graduates
Computer Science.
245 graduates
Computer Engineering, General.
40 graduates
Electrical and Electronics Engineering.
133 graduates
Industrial Engineering.
55 graduates
University At Buffalo offers 20 bachelor's degree programs with comprehensive federal earnings data for analysis. Computer Science ranks #48 nationally and #8 in New York state, graduating 245 students annually with exceptional median earnings of $95,015 and a strong value score of 74.3.
Business Administration and Management serves as the university's flagship program, graduating 770 students with median earnings of $58,621 and ranking #74 nationally. Psychology, General ranks #54 nationally and #11 in New York, producing 648 graduates annually with median earnings of $45,154 and an impressive value score of 84.7.
Research Methodology and Quantitative Methods achieves outstanding national recognition at #7 nationally and #2 in New York state, graduating 333 students with median earnings of $46,357. Engineering programs demonstrate particular strength, with Electrical and Electronics Engineering ranking #44 nationally and Mechanical Engineering graduating 250 students annually with median earnings of $74,299.
The diversity of highly-ranked programs across STEM, business, and social sciences reflects the university's comprehensive academic mission and broad career preparation capabilities.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of Pittsburgh-Bradford Higher acceptance rate (21.5 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 73 miles away; similar graduate earnings | PA | 91% | $66,125 | Compare |
Canisius University Higher acceptance rate (12.5 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 6 miles away; similar graduate earnings | NY | 82% | $60,681 | Compare |
D'youville University Higher acceptance rate (13.1 percentage points higher) and located 9 miles away; similar graduate earnings | NY | 82% | $66,942 | Compare |
St. John's University-New York Higher acceptance rate (10.4 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | NY | 80% | $69,571 | Compare |
Roger Williams University Higher acceptance rate (18.5 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | RI | 88% | $70,266 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Binghamton University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#93 ranked) | NY | 38% | $80,596 | #93 | Compare |
Purdue University-Main Campus Similar quality tier (#95 ranked) | IN | 50% | $72,424 | #95 | Compare |
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte Similar quality tier (#96 ranked) | NC | 80% | $57,289 | #96 | Compare |
Northern Illinois University Similar quality tier (#97 ranked) | IL | 70% | $57,808 | #97 | Compare |
University Of California-Santa Cruz Similar quality tier (#98 ranked) | CA | 63% | $68,396 | #98 | Compare |