- UB admitted 36,780 of 45,637 first-year applicants for Fall 2025, an acceptance rate of 80.6 percent, far higher than the 52 percent figure published earlier
- Out-of-state undergraduate tuition is USD 29,070 for 2026-27, and the full estimated cost for an F-1 international student is USD 61,030
- U.S
- News ranks UB 75th among national universities in 2026 and QS places it 410th worldwide
- SAT and ACT scores remain optional for admission and scholarships.
The State University of New York at Buffalo, better known as SUNY Buffalo or the University at Buffalo (UB), is the largest and most comprehensive campus in the State University of New York system. It teaches 31,652 students across three campuses in Buffalo and Amherst, New York.
What Is the State University of New York at Buffalo?
The State University of New York at Buffalo, known as UB or SUNY Buffalo, is the largest and most comprehensive campus in the SUNY system. Founded in 1846 as a private medical college, it joined SUNY in 1962 and enrols 31,652 students across three campuses in Buffalo and Amherst.
UB was founded on 11 May 1846 as a private medical college in downtown Buffalo and remained private until it joined the State University of New York in 1962. It is widely regarded as SUNY's flagship and its primary centre for professional education, and it was the first public university in New York State to be invited into the Association of American Universities.
- Type: public research university, part of the SUNY system since 1962
- Campuses: North Campus in Amherst, South Campus and Downtown Campus in Buffalo, 1,172 acres and 197 buildings
- Enrolment: 31,652 students, of whom 21,188 are undergraduates and 10,464 are graduate students
- International community: 17 percent of students, representing 106 countries
- Academic structure: 13 schools and colleges offering more than 600 academic programmes
- Research: 571 million US dollars in annual research expenditure, with a 12:1 student-faculty ratio
What Is the SUNY Buffalo Acceptance Rate in 2026?
UB admitted 36,780 of 45,637 first-year applicants for Fall 2025, an acceptance rate of about 81 percent, according to its own Common Data Set. International applicants fared similarly, with 4,505 of 4,771 admitted. UB is therefore much less selective than the older 52 to 61 percent figures suggest.
The acceptance rate comes from UB's Office of Institutional Analysis, which publishes the Common Data Set every year. It is the only figure that should be quoted, because aggregator sites still repeat acceptance rates from admission cycles that closed years ago.
| Admissions Metric (Common Data Set 2025-2026) | All First-Year Applicants | International First-Year Applicants |
|---|---|---|
| Applications received | 45,637 | 4,771 |
| Applicants admitted | 36,780 | 4,505 |
| Students enrolled | 5,155 | 433 |
| Acceptance rate | 80.6 percent | 94.4 percent |
UB also placed 2,355 applicants on its waiting list for Fall 2025, of whom 857 accepted a place and 106 were eventually admitted.
What Academic Profile Do Admitted Students Have?
Admitted first-year students averaged a 91.6 high school GPA in Fall 2025. Among the roughly 27 percent who submitted SAT scores, the middle 50 percent scored 610 to 690 in reading and writing and 610 to 700 in maths, with ACT composites between 27 and 31.
- Average high school GPA of enrolled first-year students: 91.6 on New York State's 100-point scale
- SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 610 at the 25th percentile, 690 at the 75th percentile
- SAT Mathematics: 610 at the 25th percentile, 700 at the 75th percentile
- ACT Composite: 27 at the 25th percentile, 31 at the 75th percentile
- Only 26.7 percent of enrolled students submitted SAT scores and 1.9 percent submitted ACT scores
- Transfer applicants need a minimum college GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale
How Is SUNY Buffalo Ranked in 2026?
U.S. News ranks UB 75th among national universities and 36th among public universities in its 2026 Best Colleges edition. In the QS World University Rankings 2026, UB climbed 56 places to 410th globally, 64th in the United States and 33rd among American public universities.
- U.S. News Best Colleges 2026: No. 75 nationally, tied for No. 36 among 225 public universities
- U.S. News Best Value Schools 2026: 125th nationally, 40th among public universities
- U.S. News Top Performers on Social Mobility 2026: 49th nationally, 40th among public universities
- U.S. News Best Colleges for Veterans 2026: No. 45 overall, No. 35 among public universities
- U.S. News Undergraduate Engineering 2026: 57th nationally, 33rd among public universities
- QS World University Rankings 2026: 410th globally, top public university in New York State
What Are the Admission Requirements for SUNY Buffalo?
Undergraduate applicants need a high school diploma and a strong academic record, and SAT or ACT scores are optional. Graduate applicants need a bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, a minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA, letters of recommendation and any programme-specific test such as GRE, GMAT, LSAT or MCAT.
Undergraduate Admission Requirements
- A high school diploma; a GED is also accepted
- Official high school transcripts and a completed application through ApplySUNY, the Common Application or Coalition for College
- SAT and ACT scores are optional for both admission and scholarship consideration
- An English proficiency test score for applicants whose first language is not English
- A non-refundable application fee of 50 US dollars, which can be waived for financial need
Graduate Admission Requirements
- A bachelor's degree, or the equivalent, from an accredited or government-recognised college or university
- A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0, although departments may set a higher bar
- Letters of recommendation, with the number set by each department
- Programme-specific academic tests where required, commonly GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, DAT or PCAT
- International applicants must file the financial documentation required for visa issuance
Which English Proficiency Scores Does SUNY Buffalo Accept?
UB sets different minimums by level. International first-year undergraduates need TOEFL iBT 70, IELTS 6.0, Duolingo 105 or PTE Academic 50. Graduate applicants need higher scores: TOEFL iBT 79, IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 120, PTE 55 or Cambridge 185. Scores must be under two years old.
| English Test | Undergraduate Minimum 2026 | Graduate Minimum 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT | 70 | 79 |
| IELTS Academic | 6.0 | 6.5 |
| Duolingo English Test | 105 | 120 |
| PTE Academic | 50 | 55 |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency | Not listed for first-year entry | 185 |
| SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing | 500 | Not used |
| ACT English and Reading | 18 | Not used |
Individual departments may demand higher scores than the university minimum, so check the programme page before testing. Applicants educated entirely in English in countries such as Australia, Canada or the United Kingdom, and those who have completed US college-level English composition with a grade of B or better, can be exempted.
MS in Computer Science in USARead →What Are the SUNY Buffalo Fees in 2026-27?
UB lists out-of-state undergraduate tuition at USD 29,070 for 2026-27, with fees of USD 3,966 and housing and dining of USD 18,606. The total estimated cost is USD 58,530 for out-of-state students and USD 61,030 for F-1 and J-1 international students, who pay additional insurance fees.
| Cost Item, Academic Year 2026-27 | Out-of-State Student | F-1 or J-1 International Student |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | USD 29,070 | USD 29,070 |
| Fees | USD 3,966 | USD 6,466 |
| Housing and dining | USD 18,606 | USD 18,606 |
| Books, transport and personal expenses | USD 6,888 | USD 6,888 |
| Total estimated cost | USD 58,530 | USD 61,030 |
The higher international figure reflects the International Student Fee and the mandatory SUNY health insurance plan. Student Accounts publishes the underlying per-semester charges separately, and these are the rates SUNY has approved for the autumn term.
| Non-Resident Full-Time Charge, Fall 2026 | Undergraduate | Graduate |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition per semester | USD 14,535.00 | USD 13,255.00 |
| Comprehensive fees per semester | USD 1,982.77 | USD 1,659.86 |
| Total per semester | USD 16,517.77 | USD 14,914.86 |
Which Scholarships Can International Students Apply For?
All admitted international first-year students are automatically considered for the UB Flagship Scholarship, which is renewable for up to four years. Domestic applicants may receive Provost, Pride of New York or Empire State Diversity awards. The Presidential Scholarship, also open to international students, needs a separate Honors College application.
- Flagship Scholarship: automatic consideration for admitted international first-year students, renewable for up to four years and combinable with other UB awards
- Presidential Scholarship: the most selective UB award, requiring a separate application through the University Honors College; international and out-of-state students are eligible
- Provost Scholarship: automatic consideration for first-year students, with amounts based on academic merit and cost of attendance
- Pride of New York Scholarship: for New York State residents, covering non-tuition costs
- Empire State Diversity Honors and Daniel Acker Scholarship: by invitation for eligible applicants, renewable for four years
- Transfer students are considered for dedicated transfer scholarships
What Courses Does SUNY Buffalo Offer?
UB is a public research university, not a private one, and runs 13 schools and colleges offering more than 600 academic programmes. Popular choices include computer science, engineering, management, pharmacy, public health, law and medicine, taught across the North, South and Downtown campuses in Buffalo and Amherst.
Programmes run from the bachelor's level through master's, professional and doctoral degrees, and the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences is one of the oldest medical schools in the United States.
- School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, including computer science and engineering
- School of Management, which runs the full-time MBA and specialised master's degrees
- College of Arts and Sciences, the largest academic unit
- Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, founded in 1846
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Public Health and Health Professions, and School of Nursing
- School of Law, School of Architecture and Planning, Graduate School of Education and School of Social Work
When Are the SUNY Buffalo Application Deadlines?
For fall entry, UB sets an Early Action deadline of 1 November and a Regular Decision deadline of 1 February, with the enrolment deposit due 1 May. Spring applicants should apply by 1 October and pay the deposit by 1 December. The application fee is USD 50.
| Application Stage | Fall Entry Deadline, 2026-27 Cycle | Spring Entry Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Early Action, first-year | 1 November | Not offered |
| Regular Decision, first-year | 1 February | 1 October recommended |
| Enrolment or tuition deposit | 1 May | 1 December |
| Application fee | USD 50 | USD 50 |
UB reviews applications on a rolling basis and begins sending decisions in November, so applying early improves both admission and scholarship prospects. Graduate deadlines are set by each department and are often earlier than the undergraduate dates.