Buffalo State acceptance rate, cost and outcomes
SUNY Buffalo State University · Public · Buffalo, NY · 5,572 undergraduates (IPEDS fall 2023)
Buffalo State admitted 75.9% of applicants for fall 2023, up from 48.5% in 2013. New York residents pay $8,533 in tuition and fees for 2025-26; out-of-state students pay $20,273.
Admit rate, 2013 to 2023
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| Fall | Admit rate | Applicants | Admitted |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 48.5% | 11,256 | 5,463 |
| 2014 | 61.5% | 12,592 | 7,750 |
| 2015 | 62.3% | 13,679 | 8,524 |
| 2016 | 64.1% | 13,715 | 8,787 |
| 2017 | 57.6% | 14,659 | 8,438 |
| 2018 | 60.5% | 15,781 | 9,550 |
| 2019 | 67.0% | 14,577 | 9,768 |
| 2020 | 80.1% | 13,313 | 10,660 |
| 2021 | 84.5% | 12,057 | 10,193 |
| 2022 | 86.0% | 12,292 | 10,569 |
| 2023 | 75.9% | 15,943 | 12,096 |
Applications went from 11,256 in fall 2013 to 15,943 in fall 2023. Admit rate = admitted ÷ applicants. Source: IPEDS fall admissions.1
What families actually pay
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| Family income | Net price / year, 2024-25 |
|---|---|
| $0 to $30,000 | $6,914 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $8,222 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $12,978 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $15,205 |
| Over $110,000 | $19,039 |
| Tuition and fees, in-state (2025-26) | $8,533 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state (2025-26) | $20,273 |
| Cost of attendance (2024-25) | $24,279 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid (2024-25) | $10,886 |
Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants, for first-time full-time students with federal aid paying the in-state rate, 2024-25. Tuition is 2025-26. Source: College Scorecard.2
SAT and ACT
Middle 50% (25th to 75th percentile) of enrolled first-year students who submitted scores: 13% submitted the SAT. Source: IPEDS fall 2023.1
Similar public colleges
| College | Admit rate | Tuition and fees |
|---|---|---|
| SUNY Oswego NY | 80.4% | $8,825 in-state |
| City Tech NY | 80.7% | $7,332 in-state |
| SUNY Albany NY | 69.9% | $10,881 in-state |
Same state and type first, then the nearest admit rate. Fall 2023 and 2025-26 figures.
What the numbers say
Buffalo State, part of the SUNY system, reported 15,943 applicants for fall 2023 and 12,096 admitted students, giving a rate of 75.9%.1 In fall 2013 the rate was 48.5%, so it has risen 27.4 percentage points, with declines in only 2 of the 10 yearly changes.1 The highest point was 86.0% in 2022.1 Applications grew 42% over the span, from 11,256 to 15,943, while admitted students grew 121%, from 5,463 to 12,096.1
Test scores are optional, and SAT scores came from 13% of enrolled students.1 For those who submitted them, the middle 50% of SAT reading and writing scores ran from 480 to 600, with math from 480 to 590.1
New York residents pay $8,533 in tuition and fees for 2025-26, which is below the $8,572 median of the 37 public bachelor's colleges in New York, and nonresidents pay $20,273.2 Grants leave the lowest-income band paying an average of $6,914 in 2024-25, with $12,978 for the $48,001 to $75,000 band and $19,039 for families over $110,000.2
Of the 2019 entering class, 34% graduated within 6 years, compared with a New York median of 56%.2 Buffalo State retained 58% of fall 2023 entrants, and 57% of undergraduates received Pell grants.2 Median earnings were $55,028 10 years after entry, under the $65,822 state median, and borrowers owed a median of $19,854.2
Every number on this page, with its source field
| Figure | Value | File, field, year |
|---|---|---|
| Applicants | 15,943 | IPEDS ADM2023, APPLCN, fall 20231 |
| Admitted | 12,096 | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMSSN, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled first-years | 1,456 | IPEDS ADM2023, ENRLT, fall 20231 |
| Undergraduates | 5,572 | IPEDS DRVEF2023, EFUG, fall 20234 |
| Admission policy | Selective (not open admission) | IPEDS IC2023, OPENADMP, 2023-243 |
| Test policy | Test-optional | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMCON7, fall 20231 |
| SAT reading/writing, 25th percentile | 480 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATVR25, fall 20231 |
| SAT reading/writing, 75th percentile | 600 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATVR75, fall 20231 |
| SAT math, 25th percentile | 480 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATMT25, fall 20231 |
| SAT math, 75th percentile | 590 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATMT75, fall 20231 |
| ACT composite, 25th percentile | Not reported | Not reported |
| ACT composite, 75th percentile | Not reported | Not reported |
| Enrolled students submitting SAT | 13% | IPEDS ADM2023, SATPCT, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled students submitting ACT | Not reported | Not reported |
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $8,533 | College Scorecard, TUITIONFEE_IN, 2025-262 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state | $20,273 | College Scorecard, TUITIONFEE_OUT, 2025-262 |
| Cost of attendance | $24,279 | College Scorecard, COSTT4_A, 2024-252 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid | $10,886 | College Scorecard, NPT4_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $0 to $30,000 | $6,914 | College Scorecard, NPT41_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $30,001 to $48,000 | $8,222 | College Scorecard, NPT42_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $48,001 to $75,000 | $12,978 | College Scorecard, NPT43_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $75,001 to $110,000 | $15,205 | College Scorecard, NPT44_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income over $110,000 | $19,039 | College Scorecard, NPT45_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Graduation rate within 6 years | 34% | College Scorecard, C150_4, 2019 entrants2 |
| First-year retention | 58% | College Scorecard, RET_FT4, fall 2023 entrants2 |
| Undergraduates with a Pell grant | 57% | College Scorecard, PCTPELL, 2024-252 |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $55,028 | College Scorecard, MD_EARN_WNE_P10, 2022-232 |
| Median federal debt of graduates | $19,854 | College Scorecard, GRAD_DEBT_MDN, FY2024-252 |
| Median in-state tuition and fees, public colleges, New York (N = 37) | $8,572 | College Scorecard, median TUITIONFEE_IN, public bachelor's institutions, 2025-262 |
| Median graduation rate within 6 years, New York (N = 157) | 56% | College Scorecard, median C150_4, bachelor's institutions, 2019 entrants2 |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry, New York (N = 140) | $65,822 | College Scorecard, median MD_EARN_WNE_P10, bachelor's institutions, 2022-232 |
Sources
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS admissions files, fall 2013 to fall 2023 (IC2013, ADM2014, ADM2015, ADM2016, ADM2017, ADM2018, ADM2019, ADM2020, ADM2021, ADM2022, ADM2023). Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- U.S. Department of Education: College Scorecard, Most Recent Institution-Level Data (Most-Recent-Cohorts-Institution (release of 15 Oct 2026)). Data years: 2019 entrants, 2022-23, 2024-25, 2025-26, FY2024-25, fall 2023 entrants. Checked 25 Oct 2026.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS Institutional Characteristics 2023-24 (IC2023.zip). Data years: 2023-24. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS Fall Enrollment, derived variables, fall 2023 (DRVEF2023.zip). Data years: 2023. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
AdmitFacts is not affiliated with Buffalo State, the U.S. Department of Education or NCES. Missing values are shown as Not reported, never estimated. The file field behind each figure is listed under "Every number on this page". How we build each page