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SUNY Buffalo State University

Buffalo, New York · Public · 4-year · City

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At a glance

Average net price
$11,346What students typically pay per year after grants and scholarships.
Acceptance rate
73%
Graduation rate
35%Share of students who finish within 150% of the normal time.
Undergraduates
5,097
In-state tuition
$8,533Published price before aid.
Out-of-state tuition
$19,653
SAT midpoint
1,045
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$52,334Median earnings of former students ten years after they first enrolled.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Data year: 2022-23 academic year. Updated September 2026. Figures are averages across all students and will differ from what any individual pays.

How it compares to similar colleges

Each rating covers one measure against public 4-year colleges nationally. Five stars means the top fifth on that measure. There is no overall score, because which of these matters is your call.

Affordability

$11,346

Better than 76% of public 4-year colleges (565 compared).

Completion

35%

Better than 15% of public 4-year colleges (566 compared).

Earnings

$52,334

Better than 42% of public 4-year colleges (590 compared).

Debt at graduation

$21,028

Better than 48% of public 4-year colleges (588 compared).

What these ratings are based on
Affordability
Based on average net price: what students receiving federal aid actually paid, after grants and scholarships. Your own cost depends on your family's finances.
Completion
Based on the share of first-time, full-time students who graduate within 150% of normal time. It excludes transfer and part-time students, which understates colleges serving many of them.
Earnings
Based on median earnings ten years after students first enrolled. It reflects the subjects a college teaches and the region it sits in as much as its teaching.
Debt at graduation
Based on median federal loan debt among students who completed. Private and parent loans are not included, so real totals are often higher.
Why there is no rating for selectivity
A lower acceptance rate is selectivity, not quality. Awarding stars for it would be us inventing a value judgement and hiding it behind a number.

What it actually costs

Published cost

$24,279

The sticker price: tuition, fees, housing, food and books for one academic year, before any aid.

Average net price

$11,346

What students receiving federal aid actually paid on average, after grants and scholarships. This is the more useful number, though your own figure depends on your family’s finances.

Use this college’s official net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation, retention, debt and earnings for SUNY Buffalo State University
Graduation rateWithin 150% of normal time35%
Retention rateFirst-year students who return58%
Median debt at graduationFederal loans only, students who completed$21,028
Median earnings, 10 years after entryFormer students, working and not enrolled$52,334

What graduates of each major earn

Median earnings one year after finishing, for people who took that subject here. This is the figure a college-wide median hides: the spread between subjects at one college is usually far wider than the spread between colleges.

Bachelor’s programs at SUNY Buffalo State University by graduate earnings
MajorEarnings, 1 yrDegrees awarded
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians$71,89411
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians$57,43133
Information Science/Studies$49,68656
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians$48,35512
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services$46,51920
Economics$41,54720
Social Work$39,69556
Business Administration, Management and Operations$38,283123
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$36,65498
History$35,82224
Political Science and Government$35,15812
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas$34,64669
Criminal Justice and Corrections$34,04285
Biology, General$33,44449
Psychology, General$32,99454
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$32,08287
Hospitality Administration/Management$31,62925
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other$30,049Not reported
Sociology$28,67631
Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies$28,180Not reported
Communication and Media Studies$26,34423
Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians$24,68729
Fine and Studio Arts$24,04128
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft$19,6083
Special Education and Teaching$16,73717
Design and Applied ArtsNot reported31
Apparel and TextilesNot reported26
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, GeneralNot reported25
Communication Disorders Sciences and ServicesNot reported20
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied CommunicationNot reported17
International Relations and National Security StudiesNot reported15
Radio, Television, and Digital CommunicationNot reported13
JournalismNot reported12
English Language and Literature, GeneralNot reported12
Energy Systems Technologies/TechniciansNot reported10
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing StudiesNot reported10
PhilosophyNot reported9
Security Science and TechnologyNot reported9
MathematicsNot reported8
MusicNot reported7
WoodworkingNot reported6
Geography and Environmental StudiesNot reported5
AnthropologyNot reported4
Geological and Earth Sciences/GeosciencesNot reported4
Applied MathematicsNot reported4
Romance Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported3
Geography and CartographyNot reported2
ChemistryNot reported2
Film/Video and Photographic ArtsNot reported2
Urban Studies/AffairsNot reported1
PhysicsNot reported1
Graphic CommunicationsNot reportedNot reported
Public Administration and Social Service Professions, OtherNot reportedNot reported
Crafts/Craft Design, Folk Art and ArtisanryNot reportedNot reported
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group StudiesNot reportedNot reported
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and ServicesNot reportedNot reported
Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign LanguageNot reportedNot reported
Educational/Instructional Media DesignNot reportedNot reported
Educational Administration and SupervisionNot reportedNot reported
Public HealthNot reportedNot reported
Human Resources Management and ServicesNot reportedNot reported
Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, OtherNot reportedNot reported
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, GeneralNot reportedNot reported
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, OtherNot reportedNot reported
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population BiologyNot reportedNot reported
Social Sciences, GeneralNot reportedNot reported
Museology/Museum StudiesNot reportedNot reported
Curriculum and InstructionNot reportedNot reported
Education, OtherNot reportedNot reported

All 69 bachelor’s programs this college reported.

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