UB: the complete school report for parents
UB puts the most weight on course rigor, GPA and test scores. The academic record does most of the work. It does not consider legacy, demonstrated interest and the interview, so campus visits and emails will not move the decision. With an 80.6% admit rate and 66% of enrolled students at a 3.50 GPA or above, the transcript is the entry ticket and scores are optional but help when they are strong. Major matters more than the name on the diploma here: five years out, Computer Science graduates earn a median $110,541 against $37,364 for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft.
UB is officially University at Buffalo, also known as State University Of New York At Buffalo or Suny Buffalo. Admissions figures below come from its 2025-2026 Common Data Set (see the source), with the admission-factor grid re-read from that file on 2026-10-21.
Is UB a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places UB against the figures above. No account needed.
What does UB actually weigh in admissions?
UB rates 3 of the 18 factors "Very Important": course rigor, GPA, test scores. It does not consider 5 of them at all. Every college reports these weights in section C7 of its Common Data Set; below is UB's 2025-2026 answer, read from the grid in its own file.
| Factor | How UB rates it |
|---|---|
| course rigor | Very Important |
| GPA | Very Important |
| test scores | Very Important |
| the essay | Considered |
| extracurricular activities | Considered |
| recommendations | Important |
| personal qualities | Considered |
| talent | Considered |
| class rank | Important |
| demonstrated interest | Not Considered |
| the interview | Not Considered |
| legacy | Not Considered |
| first-generation status | Considered |
| geography | Considered |
| state residency | Not Considered |
| volunteer work | Considered |
| work experience | Considered |
| religious affiliation | Not Considered |
Does UB consider how hard my child’s courses were?
Yes. It is one of the most important factors. The senior-year schedule should keep its AP, IB or honors depth rather than lighten.
Does UB consider GPA?
Yes. It is one of the most important factors.
Does UB consider SAT or ACT scores?
Yes. It is one of the most important factors. A score at or above the middle-50 range is close to expected here.
Does UB consider the application essay?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does UB consider extracurricular activities?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does UB consider recommendation letters?
Yes. It is an important factor.
Does UB consider character and personal qualities?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does UB consider a special talent or ability?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does UB consider class rank?
Yes. It is an important factor.
Does UB consider demonstrated interest?
No. UB does not consider it. Campus visits, emails and info sessions do not move the decision.
Does UB consider an interview?
No. UB does not consider it. There is no interview to prepare for.
Does UB consider legacy status?
No. UB does not consider it. A parent or grandparent who attended gives no advantage.
Does UB consider being first-generation?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor. Say so on the application; it is read as context.
Does UB consider where we live?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does UB consider state residency?
No. UB does not consider it.
Does UB consider volunteer work?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does UB consider work experience?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does UB consider religious affiliation?
No. UB does not consider it.
What GPA do admitted students actually have?
66% of enrolled students had a 3.50 GPA or above. The average was 91.6 on a 100 scale, reported for 92.7% of the entering class. This is the school’s own distribution, not an estimate from its admit rate.
| High school GPA | Share of enrolled students |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 32% |
| 3.75–3.99 | 14% |
| 3.50–3.74 | 20% |
| 3.25–3.49 | 11% |
| 3.00–3.24 | 13% |
| 2.50–2.99 | 9% |
| 2.00–2.49 | 1% |
What is the UB waitlist really like?
UB offered a place on its waiting list to 2,355 applicants and 857 accepted one. 106 were ultimately admitted. That is 12.4% of those who waited.
Is transferring in easier than applying as a freshman?
UB admitted 65.5% of 4,663 transfer applicants, against 80.6% of first-year applicants. The two routes are similarly competitive here. The minimum college GPA considered is 2.5.
When do we apply, and does timing change the odds?
UB reports its early rounds below.
| Regular application deadline | Not reported |
|---|---|
| Decisions released | On a rolling basis beginning November |
| Reply / deposit deadline | May 1 |
| Early Decision offered | No |
| Early Action offered | Yes |
| Early Action deadline | November 1 |
| Application fee | $50 |
| Fee waiver available | Yes |
| Deferred admission offered | No |
What does my child need to take in high school?
UB sets no fixed course requirements, but recommends 17 academic units. A college-preparatory program is recommended. A GED is accepted.
| Subject | Required | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| English | Not stated | 4 years |
| Mathematics | Not stated | 3 years |
| Science | Not stated | 3 years |
| Foreign language | Not stated | 3 years |
What will UB actually cost us?
Families pay an average of $20,995 a year at UB after grants and scholarships, against a published in-state tuition of $7,070. The published price is not what most families pay. The university reports meeting 53% of demonstrated need on average. It also gave 411 merit awards averaging $4,559 to first-years with no demonstrated need.
What families at each income level actually paid:
| Family income | Average net price per year |
|---|---|
| Under $30,000 | $14,668 |
| $30,000–$48,000 | $16,585 |
| $48,000–$75,000 | $21,262 |
| $75,000–$110,000 | $24,117 |
| Over $110,000 | $28,079 |
55% of UB graduates borrow, leaving with an average of $36,063 in debt, which the federal data puts at about $201 a month in repayment. UB’s net price calculator gives your own figure.
Does a degree from UB pay off?
Graduates earn a median $70,814 ten years after entering, and $53,742 at six years. 84% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years. 68% are actively paying down their loans three years in.
Four-year net cost against that earnings premium:
| Family income | Four-year net cost | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|
| Under $30,000 | $58,672 | 2.2 |
| $30,000–$48,000 | $66,340 | 2.5 |
| $48,000–$75,000 | $85,048 | 3.2 |
| $75,000–$110,000 | $96,468 | 3.6 |
| Over $110,000 | $112,316 | 4.2 |
A scale, not a forecast: it assumes aid and earnings hold steady.
$110,541 to $37,364, depending on the major. Median earnings five years out at UB:
| Major | Median earnings, 5 years | Graduates a year |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $110,541 | 269 |
| Computer Engineering | $103,601 | 33 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $100,258 | 78 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $91,292 | 110 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $90,970 | 210 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | $83,498 | 107 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $83,438 | 98 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $81,124 | 232 |
| Civil Engineering | $76,516 | 167 |
| Psychology, General | $54,929 | 632 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $44,195 | 64 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $37,364 | 31 |
College Scorecard, by field of study; highest and lowest shown.
Will my child actually graduate?
85% of first-years return for a second year. 73% within six (2019 cohort). The rate holds up across income: 67.6% of Pell-grant recipients graduate within six years against 76.4% of everyone else, a gap of 8.8 points.
How big are the classes?
32% of class sections have fewer than 20 students, while 6% have 100 or more. The student-faculty ratio is 11:1, and 70% of faculty are full-time. Accredited by Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
What is life at UB like?
21,192 undergraduates, 4% of first-years from out of state. 67% of freshmen live in university housing, falling to 35% across all undergraduates. Greek life is small: 0.3% of men join a fraternity and 2% of women a sorority. 28% of students are the first in their family to attend college, and the median family income is $63,949.
How is UB ranked?
UB is ranked #85 (tie) in National Universities by U.S. News & World Report (Best Colleges 2027). That is down from #75 a year earlier.
| Program list | Position |
|---|---|
| Best Undergraduate Engineering ProgramsAt schools whose highest degree is a doctorate | #57 (tie) |
| Business Programs | #101 (tie) |
| Analytics | #38 (tie) |
| Computer Science | #75 (tie) |
| Nursing | #56 (tie) |
| Economics | #110 (tie) |
Source: U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027. Only lists that rank UB are shown; a program missing here may simply not be ranked by U.S. News, which says nothing about its quality.
What this means for your student
- Course rigor is rated Very Important here, so the senior-year schedule should hold its AP, IB or honors depth rather than lighten. UB recommends 17 academic units.
- 66% of enrolled students are at a 3.50 GPA or above, averaging 91.6 on a 100 scale. Below that line the rest of the application has to carry real weight.
- Skip demonstrated-interest tactics here. Visits and emails are not tracked, so save that effort for schools where they count.
- The waitlist is live but thin: 106 of 857 who waited were admitted, about 12%.
- Its highest-earning major returns $110,541 five years out against $37,364 at the other end, a gap wider than the one between most schools.
- See where your student actually stands: calculate their GPA and compare it against the distribution above.
Common questions about UB
What GPA do you need for UB?
66% of enrolled students at UB had a high school GPA of 3.50 or above, and the average was 91.6 on a 100 scale, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
Does the UB waitlist move?
857 students accepted a place on the UB waiting list and 106 were admitted in the 2025-2026 cycle.
What do UB graduates earn?
UB graduates earn a median $70,814 ten years after entering, and 84% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years.
Other schools families compare with UB
Where these numbers come from
Admissions figures: UB’s 2025-2026 Common Data Set, published here, factor grid re-read from it on 2026-10-21. Earnings, debt, net price and graduation rates: College Scorecard (2022-2023). Unreported values show as “Not reported”.