Cost & financial aid brief
University at Buffalo Tuition, Costs & Financial Aid
How much does UB cost after financial aid?
Aid covers about 32% of the published cost for the average aid recipient. The average net price across all aid recipients is $20,995, a reduction of $9,790 from the sticker price.
The pattern across income bands shows lower average net prices at lower incomes. Families earning under $30,000 average $14,668, while those earning over $110,000 average $28,079.
The spread between the two ends is $13,411. The middle bands sit between those two ends, with families earning $30,001 to $48,000 averaging $16,585 and those in the $48,001 to $75,000 band averaging $21,262.
Lower-income families face lower average net prices, though the figures are averages within each band and individual packages vary.
The University at Buffalo publishes a cost of attendance of $30,785, with in-state tuition and fees of $10,936 and out-of-state tuition at $31,536. For families earning under $30,000, the average net price—what aid recipients pay after grants and scholarships—is $14,668.
Across the middle bands, the average net price is $16,585 for the $30,001–$48,000 band, $21,262 for $48,001–$75,000, $24,117 for $75,001–$110,000, and $28,079 for families earning over $110,000. The spread between the lowest and highest bands is $13,411.
Azimuth ranks the university #522 for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Aid covers about 32% of the published cost for the average aid recipient, a savings of $9,790 against the sticker price.
The average net price for first-time, full-time aid recipients is $20,995, which sits above the peer median of $15,634 for comparable institutions (same type and size) by $5,361. Out-of-state students face a higher published tuition.
Among federal-loan borrowers who completed, the median federal student debt is $19,000. That median runs below the peer median of $20,076 by $1,076.
About 85.9% of federal aid recipients borrow federal loans. For parents, the median Parent PLUS borrowing is $20,734.
If repaid over ten years, the median federal debt corresponds to an estimated monthly payment of $216.
Student loans: what does repayment look like?
The University at Buffalo's median federal student debt of $19,000 sits below the $20,076 median for comparable institutions (same type and size) by $1,076. Parent borrowers, a separate population, carry a median Parent PLUS loan of $20,734.
The investment picture at University at Buffalo starts with earnings that run above the peer median. Among federally aided graduates who are working and not enrolled, the median four years after completion is $71,430.
That is $5,820 above the $65,610 median for comparable institutions (same type and size). That median lands at the 78th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Graduates earn about $3,496 more than expects for similar students. That places the gap at the 67th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Estimated from the program mix, earnings scenarios run from $51,337 in a downside case to $93,143 in an upside case; $71,430 is the typical scenario. On the borrowing side, the median federal student debt at completion is $19,000, $1,076 below the $20,076 peer median.
That debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $216 a month if repaid over ten years.
Median Parent PLUS borrowing, a separate parent-borrower population, is $20,734. The estimated monthly student payment if repaid over ten years is $216.
Repayment figures are in the Financial GPS card below. Borrowing populations and model assumptions.
Parent loans: what can the family afford?
How Parent PLUS borrowing affects families
- Median Parent PLUS debt
- $20,734
- Estimated parent payment
- $263/mo
| Household income | Share of income above basic expenses | Risk level |
|---|---|---|
| $35,000 | No room | High pressure |
| $50,000 | No room | High pressure |
| $75,000 | 15.5% | High pressure |
| $100,000 | 7.0% | Caution |
| $150,000 | 3.3% | Safe |
| $200,000 | 2.2% | Safe |
The 10-year payment on the median Parent PLUS balance, as a share of household income above basic expenses ($54,640 a year: 200% of the 2026 federal poverty guideline for a household of three). No room is High pressure. Open the parent tool for your own numbers. Read the assumptions and limits.
Student and parent loans: the monthly payments
Financial GPS
What does repayment look like?
- Institution median student debt
- $19,000
- Institution Parent PLUS debt
- $20,734
Federal loans only; private or institutional loans aren’t included.
- Estimated student payment · monthly
- $216/mo
- Estimated Parent PLUS payment · monthly
- $263/mo
- Modeled student + parent payments
- $479/mo
Payments use school-wide median balances, not a specific major’s.
Student payment as a share of available income
At median graduate earnings of $71,430, with a $23,940 annual allowance for basic expenses:
5.5% of income above the allowance · Excellent
- Excellent Under 8% · selected scenario
- Good 8–under 12%
- Concerning 12–20%
- High risk Over 20%
How this estimate works
These are modeled earnings scenarios, not observed earnings percentiles. Annual student payments ÷ (earnings − basic-expense allowance). The starting allowance, $23,940, uses the published framework’s 2026 baseline; it is not a current local living-cost estimate. Change it for your budget, including taxes and other obligations. This combines school-level figures for illustration, not a typical individual’s budget or an official school rating. Parent PLUS is separate.
Payment assumptions
Payments are 10-year standard payments on the median balance, before loan fees, used as a yardstick. Rates for newly issued loans may differ, and loans made after July 1, 2026 can repay over a longer term; existing loans keep their original fixed rates.
Data & methodology
Sources and reporting periods: methodology.
Analysis and methodology by Daniel Rogers, founder of College Azimuth.
Explanatory text is AI-assisted drafting checked against those figures; it is not an additional data source.
Figure notes link to sources and limitations. About College Azimuth.
Net price and borrowing. The 2023–24 income-band averages include living costs and cover eligible first-time, full-time aid recipients; public-school figures reflect in-state tuition. They are not individual aid offers. Peer matching supplies overall net prices, not matched income-band averages. College Scorecard data and documentation.
A personal student-risk assessment also needs your major and borrowing plan; these school-level illustrations do not assign you a personal risk zone.
Payments are 10-year standard payments on the median balance, before loan fees, used as a yardstick. Rates for newly issued loans may differ, and loans made after July 1, 2026 can repay over a longer term; existing loans keep their original fixed rates. Private-loan figures from the Common Data Set are separate from these federal repayment illustrations.