Buffalo State: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Officially SUNY Buffalo State University · Buffalo, New York · Public · Moderately selective · CDS 2024-2025
Ranked #137 (tie) in Regional Universities North; Computer Science #103 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2024-2025 Common Data Set published by SUNY Buffalo State University (see the source).
Is Buffalo State a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places Buffalo State against it in about a minute. No account needed.
Buffalo State is a public university in Buffalo, New York that admits about 73% of applicants, making it a moderately selective school. The average family pays about $11,346 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Business Administration, Management and Operations, Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods and Criminal Justice and Corrections, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 5.5 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Buffalo State is a public institution located in Buffalo, New York with a moderately selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, Buffalo State admits about half to three-quarters of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 73%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT around 1070. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $11,346 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Buffalo State?
Buffalo State admits students with a wide GPA range, but most successful applicants present an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher with a college-prep curriculum.
Compare Buffalo State with the other schools on your list
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SAT and ACT scores Buffalo State typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 490–610, with an EBRW midpoint near 515. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.
| 25th percentile | n/a |
| 50th percentile | 1070 |
| 75th percentile | n/a |
How much does Buffalo State actually cost?
Published tuition is $8,533 for in-state students and $19,653 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $15,986 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $11,346 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 56% of students receive Pell Grants.
| Average net price (after aid) | $11,346 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Buffalo State
Most popular majors at Buffalo State
The most popular undergraduate programs at Buffalo State, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods and Criminal Justice and Corrections. Across all programs, Buffalo State confers roughly 760 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Business Administration, Management and Operations program report a median income of about $56,380 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 147 | $56,380 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 128 | $47,493 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 117 | $56,366 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 109 | $41,463 |
| Psychology, General | 81 | $46,260 |
| Information Science/Studies | 64 | $63,973 |
| Social Work | 61 | $49,513 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 53 | $47,811 |
Is Buffalo State safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Buffalo State disclosed 28 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 5.5 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 6 violent offenses and 12 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
Other colleges in New York parents ask about
- SUNY Old Westbury84% acceptance
- SUNY Oneonta70% acceptance
- The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art21% acceptance
- Columbia University in the City of New York4% acceptance
- Cornell University9% acceptance
- New York University9% acceptance
- Fordham University59% acceptance
- University at Buffalo74% acceptance
Next steps for Buffalo State
Common questions parents ask about Buffalo State
What GPA do I need for Buffalo State?
Buffalo State admits students with a wide GPA range, but most successful applicants present an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher with a college-prep curriculum.
What SAT or ACT score does Buffalo State typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 490–610, with an EBRW midpoint near 515.
How much does Buffalo State actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Buffalo State after grants and scholarships is $11,346 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $8,533 and $19,653 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is Buffalo State realistic for my child?
Buffalo State admits 73% of applicants, so 490–610 SAT Math is target range and below 490 is a reach. Then check the $11,346 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Buffalo State?
Buffalo State accepts about 73% of applicants. That makes it a moderately selective school.
Is Buffalo State a public or private school, and where is it located?
Buffalo State is a public institution located in Buffalo, New York.
What are the most popular majors at Buffalo State?
The largest undergraduate majors at Buffalo State by annual graduates are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods and Criminal Justice and Corrections. The school awards about 760 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Buffalo State safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Buffalo State reported 28 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 5.5 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
Sources: the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by SUNY Buffalo State University, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers