SUNY Buffalo State University
A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and families looking for lower cost. graduation rate is below 40%; freshman retention is below 65%. 56% of students receive Pell Grants — strong access mission.
About This School
SUNY Buffalo State University is a public institution located in Buffalo, New York with approximately 5,097 undergraduate students enrolled. SUNY Buffalo State University has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 73%. The average net price after financial aid is $11,346 per year. The graduation rate is 33%, and the typical graduate earns $42,200 within 10 years of enrollment.
The State University of New York Buffalo State University is a public university in Buffalo, New York. It is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: at $14,229/year average net price and only $12,500 in median debt at graduation, the financial picture is genuinely affordable — but a 36% graduation rate and 55% freshman retention rate suggest many students struggle to finish, which is a real concern worth discussing before enrolling. Worth considering if you have a clear plan, strong self-motivation, and are drawn to specific programs like its well-regarded education or arts offerings, but go in with eyes open about the support challenges that likely drive those departure numbers.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 17% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
SUNY Buffalo State University graduates earn most above the national rate in Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($51,209 vs $47,382 nationally), and most below it in Information Science/Studies ($64,628 vs $85,294).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 123 | $57,114 | $68,257 | −$11,143 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 98 | $51,209 | $47,382 | +$3,827 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 87 | $46,705 | $53,072 | −$6,367 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 85 | $56,034 | $55,378 | +$656 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 69 | $49,853 | $51,389 | −$1,536 |
| Social Work | 56 | $53,130 | $51,790 | +$1,340 |
| Information Science/Studies | 56 | $64,628 | $85,294 | −$20,666 |
| Psychology, General | 54 | $52,490 | $50,706 | +$1,784 |
| Biology, General | 49 | $48,735 | $57,214 | −$8,479 |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | 33 | $73,327 | $82,073 | −$8,746 |
| Sociology | 31 | $49,595 | $52,657 | −$3,062 |
| Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians | 29 | $45,120 | $44,889 | +$231 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Solid return. Earnings outpace debt, though major choice matters.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (5,097 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
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See How Colleges Compare
SUNY Buffalo State University is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at SUNY Buffalo State University?
SUNY Buffalo State University has an acceptance rate of 73%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is SUNY Buffalo State University hard to get into?
Not especially. SUNY Buffalo State University has an acceptance rate of 73%, so admissions are relatively accessible for applicants who meet the requirements.
How much does SUNY Buffalo State University cost?
The average net price at SUNY Buffalo State University is about $11,346 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at SUNY Buffalo State University?
SUNY Buffalo State University has a graduation rate of 33%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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