University at Buffalo acceptance rate, cost and outcomes
University at Buffalo · Public · Buffalo, NY · 20,463 undergraduates (IPEDS fall 2023)
University at Buffalo admitted 69.3% of applicants for fall 2023, up from 56.5% in 2013. New York residents pay $11,036 in tuition and fees for 2025-26; out-of-state students pay $32,466.
Admit rate, 2013 to 2023
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| Fall | Admit rate | Applicants | Admitted |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 56.5% | 23,093 | 13,053 |
| 2014 | 57.8% | 24,423 | 14,118 |
| 2015 | 60.0% | 23,629 | 14,175 |
| 2016 | 59.4% | 26,001 | 15,440 |
| 2017 | 57.3% | 27,798 | 15,940 |
| 2018 | 55.9% | 31,196 | 17,423 |
| 2019 | 61.1% | 29,900 | 18,264 |
| 2020 | 67.0% | 30,247 | 20,251 |
| 2021 | 70.1% | 30,750 | 21,552 |
| 2022 | 67.7% | 30,939 | 20,948 |
| 2023 | 69.3% | 38,210 | 26,481 |
Applications went from 23,093 in fall 2013 to 38,210 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 | $15,725 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $17,036 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $21,440 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $24,611 |
| Over $110,000 | $28,968 |
| Tuition and fees, in-state (2025-26) | $11,036 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state (2025-26) | $32,466 |
| Cost of attendance (2024-25) | $31,688 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid (2024-25) | $21,775 |
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: 33% submitted the SAT, 3% the ACT. Source: IPEDS fall 2023.1
Similar public colleges
| College | Admit rate | Tuition and fees |
|---|---|---|
| SUNY Albany NY | 69.9% | $10,881 in-state |
| Queens College NY | 68.5% | $7,538 in-state |
| Buffalo State NY | 75.9% | $8,533 in-state |
Same state and type first, then the nearest admit rate. Fall 2023 and 2025-26 figures.
What the numbers say
For fall 2023 the University at Buffalo admitted 26,481 of 38,210 applicants, which is an admit rate of 69.3%.1 In fall 2013 it was 56.5%, so the rate has increased by 12.8 percentage points.1 The highest value was 70.1% in 2021, and declines accounted for 4 of the 10 yearly changes.1 Over the span, the applicant count grew 65%, from 23,093 to 38,210, and the number admitted grew 103%, from 13,053 to 26,481.1
Buffalo is test-optional, with SAT scores from 33% of enrolled students and ACT scores from 3%.1 Scores in the middle 50% ran from 600 to 680 on SAT reading and writing, 610 to 700 on SAT math, and 27 to 32 on the ACT.1
New York residents pay $11,036 in tuition and fees for 2025-26, while out-of-state students pay $32,466.2 Compared with the 37 public bachelor's colleges in New York, whose median is $8,572, the resident price here is higher.2 Net price in 2024-25 ran from $15,725 for families earning $0 to $30,000, through $21,440 for $48,001 to $75,000, to $28,968 for over $110,000.2
Buffalo's 6-year graduation rate for 2019 entrants was 73%, while the New York median is 56%.2 Buffalo retained 85% of fall 2023 entrants, and 37% of undergraduates held Pell grants.2 Median earnings of $75,679 10 years after entry compare with $65,822 for the state, and borrowers owed a median of $19,000.2
Every number on this page, with its source field
| Figure | Value | File, field, year |
|---|---|---|
| Applicants | 38,210 | IPEDS ADM2023, APPLCN, fall 20231 |
| Admitted | 26,481 | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMSSN, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled first-years | 4,271 | IPEDS ADM2023, ENRLT, fall 20231 |
| Undergraduates | 20,463 | 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 | 600 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATVR25, fall 20231 |
| SAT reading/writing, 75th percentile | 680 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATVR75, fall 20231 |
| SAT math, 25th percentile | 610 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATMT25, fall 20231 |
| SAT math, 75th percentile | 700 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATMT75, fall 20231 |
| ACT composite, 25th percentile | 27 | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTCM25, fall 20231 |
| ACT composite, 75th percentile | 32 | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTCM75, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled students submitting SAT | 33% | IPEDS ADM2023, SATPCT, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled students submitting ACT | 3% | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTPCT, fall 20231 |
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $11,036 | College Scorecard, TUITIONFEE_IN, 2025-262 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state | $32,466 | College Scorecard, TUITIONFEE_OUT, 2025-262 |
| Cost of attendance | $31,688 | College Scorecard, COSTT4_A, 2024-252 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid | $21,775 | College Scorecard, NPT4_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $0 to $30,000 | $15,725 | College Scorecard, NPT41_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $30,001 to $48,000 | $17,036 | College Scorecard, NPT42_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $48,001 to $75,000 | $21,440 | College Scorecard, NPT43_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $75,001 to $110,000 | $24,611 | College Scorecard, NPT44_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income over $110,000 | $28,968 | College Scorecard, NPT45_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Graduation rate within 6 years | 73% | College Scorecard, C150_4, 2019 entrants2 |
| First-year retention | 85% | College Scorecard, RET_FT4, fall 2023 entrants2 |
| Undergraduates with a Pell grant | 37% | College Scorecard, PCTPELL, 2024-252 |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $75,679 | College Scorecard, MD_EARN_WNE_P10, 2022-232 |
| Median federal debt of graduates | $19,000 | 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 University at Buffalo, 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