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SUNY Buffalo State University

Public Graduate Good 67/100

SUNY Buffalo State University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Buffalo, New York

About SUNY Buffalo State University

SUNY Buffalo State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Buffalo, New York. It enrolls 5,097 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Official website: suny.buffalostate.edu

Acceptance: 73%
Graduation: 49.8%
Net Price: $11,346
Median Earnings (10yr): $52,334
Enrollment: 5,097
Student : Faculty: 13:1

Accreditor Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Good

67/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Selective

Outcomes 7

Value 89

Affordability 89

Selectivity 39

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 73%, SUNY Buffalo State University is moderately selective.

Acceptance Rate

73%

Moderate

SAT Range (25th–75th)

980 – 1240

Reading + Math combined

ACT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

Test Policy Not Considered Standardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether SUNY Buffalo State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Becoming less selective ↑ 8.9 pts since 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending SUNY Buffalo State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $11,346 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$11,346

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

56%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

50%

Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees (in-state): $8,533
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state): $19,653
Room & Board (on-campus): $15,986
Room & Board (off-campus): $17,158
Books & Supplies: $1,052
Other Expenses (on-campus): $2,876
Other Expenses (off-campus): $3,396
Total Cost of Attendance: $24,279

Application fee: $50 (one-time, due at submission)

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

Under $30,000

$7,405
$30,001 – $48,000

$9,393
$48,001 – $75,000

$14,706
$75,001 – $110,000

$17,155
Over $110,000

$19,332

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$3,500

10% percentile

$5,500

25% percentile

$21,028

Median percentile

$24,840

75% percentile

$32,500

90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median

Pell recipients $13,084 ↓ $7,944

No Pell $12,000 ↓ $9,028

Dependent students $12,000 ↓ $9,028

Independent students $18,750 ↓ $2,278

Female students $13,103 ↓ $7,925

Male students $12,000 ↓ $9,028

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,923, less than completers ($21,028), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

50% of full-time students who enrolled at SUNY Buffalo State University graduate within six years, and 56% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

50%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

56%

Returning for their second year

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered SUNY Buffalo State University earn a median of $52,334 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$52,334

Earning > $25K

78%

10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates

$37,600

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$48,900

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$39,200

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$42,800

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$44,400

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $11,300, about 23% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑ 19.1 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Strong. 77% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.

Who Studies Here

SUNY Buffalo State University is home to 5,097 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 34% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled

5,097

Part-Time

First-Generation

34%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

White 45.4% 2,316

Black 28.7% 1,462

Hispanic 13.0% 664

Asian 6.6% 337

Other 5.2% 267

International 1.0% 49

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at SUNY Buffalo State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Large City Buffalo, New York

Housing

Mostly residential 2,782 beds on campus

Adult Learners

13% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

SUNY Buffalo State University offers an extensive catalog of programs: 81 distinct programs across 24 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

6 Programs

Interdisciplinary Studies

4 Programs

Business

Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Hospitality Management $57K ($41K–$74K)
Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)

7 Programs

Visual & Performing Arts

Design $51K ($33K–$71K)
Fine Arts $41K ($26K–$57K)
Fine Arts $41K ($26K–$57K)

4 Programs

Health

Health Sciences $61K ($43K–$82K)
Communication Disorders Sciences and $59K ($45K–$73K)
Communication Disorders Sciences and $59K ($45K–$73K)

1 Program

Liberal Arts

Liberal Arts $53K ($36K–$73K)

5 Programs

Communication

Communication & Media $56K ($40K–$76K)
Public Relations $64K ($46K–$84K)
Radio, Television & Digital Media $50K ($34K–$70K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at SUNY Buffalo State University is 13:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty

13:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Instruction / Student

$17,034

Annual instructional spending per enrolled student

Endowment

$82M

Modest endowment

Avg Faculty Salary

$78,656

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

311 instructional faculty across 5 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank	Faculty Count	Share	Avg Salary
Full Professors	90	29%	$95,451
Associate Professors	125	40%	$80,192
Assistant Professors	54	17%	$66,821
Instructors	1	0%	$52,005
Lecturers	41	13%	$53,345

Pros & Cons of SUNY Buffalo State University

A quick at-a-glance summary of how SUNY Buffalo State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Below-average net price
Reasonable class sizes
Solid post-graduation earnings
Wide reach of need-based federal aid

CONS

Below-average completion rate
First-year retention is below typical

Frequently Asked Questions about SUNY Buffalo State University

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about SUNY Buffalo State University.

Is SUNY Buffalo State University hard to get into?

Admissions at SUNY Buffalo State University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 73%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.

What is the acceptance rate at SUNY Buffalo State University?

SUNY Buffalo State University has an acceptance rate of 73%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

What SAT score do you need for SUNY Buffalo State University?

The middle 50% of admitted students at SUNY Buffalo State University scored between 980 and 1240 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

How much does SUNY Buffalo State University cost?

The average net price after aid at SUNY Buffalo State University is $11,346 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is SUNY Buffalo State University worth it?

Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $52,334 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $11,346 per year. That's roughly 4.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is SUNY Buffalo State University known for?

SUNY Buffalo State University is best known for its programs in Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Business Administration, Teaching Specific Subjects. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do SUNY Buffalo State University graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering SUNY Buffalo State University are $52,334, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is SUNY Buffalo State University accredited?

Yes. SUNY Buffalo State University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

How many students attend SUNY Buffalo State University?

SUNY Buffalo State University enrolls 5,097 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at SUNY Buffalo State University?

SUNY Buffalo State University graduates 50% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is SUNY Buffalo State University a public or private college?

SUNY Buffalo State University is a Public institution.

Where is SUNY Buffalo State University located?

SUNY Buffalo State University is located in Buffalo, New York.

What programs does SUNY Buffalo State University offer?

SUNY Buffalo State University offers 81 distinct programs. The most popular include Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Business Administration, Teaching Specific Subjects.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at SUNY Buffalo State University?

The student-to-faculty ratio at SUNY Buffalo State University is 13:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.