University at Buffalo: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Stony Brook, New York · Public · Selective · CDS 2024-2025
University at Buffalo is a public institution located in Stony Brook, New York with a selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, University at Buffalo admits between a quarter and half of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 49%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT of 1410 and an ACT composite around 31. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $18,430 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price. For parents weighing whether University at Buffalo is realistic for their teenager, the most useful planning step is comparing your child's current GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against these admitted-student ranges — not the headline acceptance rate alone.
What GPA does my child need for University at Buffalo?
Admitted students at University at Buffalo typically present unweighted GPAs in the 3.6–3.9 range with several honors or AP courses. Parents tracking their child's GPA toward this tier of school can use Solyo's free calculator to see weighted, unweighted, and college-recalculated numbers side by side.
What does University at Buffalo weight in admissions?
University at Buffalo reports the following factor importance in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). These are the criteria the admissions committee weighs when reviewing applications.
- • Rigor of secondary school record
- • Academic GPA
- • Standardized test scores
- • Application essay
- • Recommendations
- • Class rank
- • Interview
- • Extracurricular activities
- • Talent/ability
- • Character/personal qualities
- • First generation status
- • Alumni/ae relation
- • Geographical residence
- • State residency
- • Volunteer work
- • Work experience
- • Level of applicant's interest
- • Religious affiliation/commitment
SAT and ACT scores University at Buffalo typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 680–770, with an EBRW midpoint near 670. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 28–33. A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.
| 25th percentile | 1340 |
| 50th percentile | 1410 |
| 75th percentile | 1480 |
| % submitting SAT | 34% |
| 25th percentile | 29 |
| 50th percentile | 31 |
| 75th percentile | 33 |
| % submitting ACT | 3% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Policy detail: Considered if submitted
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 48% |
| Top 25% of class | 81% |
| Top 50% of class | 97% |
| % submitting class rank | 25% |
How much does University at Buffalo actually cost?
Published tuition is $10,560 for in-state students and $30,350 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $17,662 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $18,430 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 38% of students receive Pell Grants, a useful indicator of how much need-based aid the school distributes.
| In-state tuition | $7,070 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $28,880 |
| Room and board | $18,196 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $18,430 |
| Application fee | — (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for University at Buffalo
| Regular deadline | January 15 |
| Reply deadline | May 1 |
Will my child graduate from University at Buffalo?
Retention and graduation rates are the most overlooked numbers in college planning, but they predict actual outcomes far better than acceptance rate. They tell you whether admitted students stay and finish on time.
Other colleges in New York parents ask about
How parents track GPA toward selective schools like University at Buffalo
Solyo helps parents track grades pulled directly from school emails, calculate GPA the same way colleges like University at Buffalo recalculate it, and ask an AI college counselor specific questions about their teen's odds. The platform is built for parents — not students — and turns what's usually a fragmented planning process into a single dashboard.
Common questions parents ask about University at Buffalo
What GPA do I need for University at Buffalo?
Admitted students at University at Buffalo typically present unweighted GPAs in the 3.6–3.9 range with several honors or AP courses.
What SAT or ACT score does University at Buffalo typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 680–770, with an EBRW midpoint near 670. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 28–33.
How much does University at Buffalo actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at University at Buffalo after grants and scholarships is $18,430 per year. That figure is more useful for budgeting than the published sticker price, because it reflects what families actually pay after aid is applied.
Is University at Buffalo realistic for my child?
Compare your teen's current unweighted GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against the ranges above. If both numbers fall inside the school's middle-50, University at Buffalo is a target school. If both fall below the 25th-percentile mark, treat it as a reach and balance the application list accordingly.
Data sourced from the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by University at Buffalo, and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Solyo extracts admissions data from official Common Data Set publications and refreshes it annually.