AU vs. UB

Should I go to American University or University at Buffalo? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if AU or UB is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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American University vs. University at Buffalo comparison
American University University at Buffalo College 3 College 4
American University University at Buffalo
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Overview

AU UB
Location Washington, DC Buffalo, NY
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 13,885 32,099
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #93 #103
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website american.edu buffalo.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

AU UB
Tuition (In State) $53,070 $7,070
Tuition (Out of State) $53,070 $24,990
Room & Board $15,706 $16,212
Avg Net Price $41,369 $18,524
Avg Grant Aid $27,138 $8,521
% Receiving Grant Aid 66% 74%

Admission

AU UB
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 19,510 30,939
Admitted 7,926 20,948
Acceptance Rate 40.6% 67.7%
Enrolled % 22.2% 20.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.75
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Very High
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 29/32 25/32
SAT Range 1290/1430 1190/1380
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2025

Academics

AU UB
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (43%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Psychology (3%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Engineering (11%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Communication (8%)

Outcomes

AU UB
Graduation Rate 77% 71%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $64,800 $58,400
Making Student Loan Payments 80% 70%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,250 $19,500
Median Loan Payment $250 $201

Diversity

AU UB
% Men 37% 52%
% Women 63% 48%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 58% 48%
% Black 7% 7%
% Hispanic 12% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 2%
% International 7% 16%
% Unknown Race 4% 5%

Students

AU UB
% In-State 2% 88%
% Out-of-State 94% 3%

Campus

AU UB
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University at Buffalo is larger than than AU based on total student enrollment (32,099 students vs. 13,885 students)

AU vs. UB Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or UB?

  • American University is 650.6% more expensive to attend than UB for in-state tuition ($53,070.00 vs. $7,070.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 112.4% higher at AU than University at Buffalo ($53,070.00 vs. $24,990.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University at Buffalo than AU ($18,524 vs. $41,369)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American University are 3.2% lower than costs at University at Buffalo ($15,706 vs. $16,212)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University at Buffalo than American University (74% vs. 66%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 218.5% larger than aid received University at Buffalo ($27,138 vs. $8,521)

AU vs. UB Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or UB? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UB or AU .

  • The average SAT score at American University (1252) is 79 points higher than at UB (1173)
  • Incoming AU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at UB (27)
  • Accepted freshman UB students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at AU (3.7)
  • UB has a higher acceptance rate (67.7%) than AU (40.6%)

AU vs. UB Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, AU or UB? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between UB and AU.

  • The graduation rate at AU is higher than University at Buffalo (77% vs. 71%)
  • Graduates from American University earn on average $6,400 more per year than UB graduates after ten years. ($64,800 vs. $58,400)
  • University at Buffalo students graduate with a $4,750 lower median federal student loan debt than AU graduates. ($19,500 vs. $24,250)
  • UB graduates are paying $49 less per month on federal student loans than AU graduates. ($201 vs. $250)
  • More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UB students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 70%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/