AU vs. UB

Deciding between American University and University at Buffalo? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

American University
University at Buffalo

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • AU Washington, DC
  • UB Buffalo, NY
  • Setting
  • AU Large City
  • UB Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • AU 12,321
  • UB 31,903
  • Type
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • UB Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AU #94
  • UB #101
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AU United Methodist
  • UB -
  • Status
  • AU Non-profit
  • UB Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AU
  • UB

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AU $58,771
  • UB $10,936
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AU $58,771
  • UB $31,536
  • Room & Board
  • AU $17,982
  • UB $17,426
  • Average Net Price
  • AU $39,676
  • UB $20,529
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AU $36,349
  • UB $10,663
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AU 67%
  • UB 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AU 17,173
  • UB 40,856
  • Admitted
  • AU 10,640
  • UB 30,308
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AU 62%
  • UB 74.2%
  • Enrolled
  • AU 15.6%
  • UB 14.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AU 1370
  • UB 1300
  • Typical ACT score
  • AU 30
  • UB 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • AU 3.7
  • UB 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AU A-
  • UB A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • AU Very High
  • UB Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • AU Low
  • UB Low
  • ACT Range
  • AU 29/32
  • UB 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • AU 1280/1460
  • UB 1210/1380
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AU Test optional
  • UB Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • AU Jan 15, 2027
  • UB

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • AU 10:1
  • UB 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • AU
    • Social Sciences (43%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • Psychology (3%)
  • UB
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Communication (8%)

  • Outcomes

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

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AU 37%
  • UB 51%
  • % Women
  • AU 63%
  • UB 49%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AU High
  • UB High
  • HBCU
  • AU No
  • UB No
  • % White
  • AU 58%
  • UB 48%
  • % Asian
  • AU 7%
  • UB 14%
  • % Black
  • AU 7%
  • UB 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • AU 12%
  • UB 6%
  • % Native American
  • AU 0%
  • UB 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AU 0%
  • UB 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AU 5%
  • UB 2%
  • % International
  • AU 7%
  • UB 16%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AU 4%
  • UB 5%

  • Students

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

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare American University in Washington, DC with University at Buffalo in Buffalo, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University at Buffalo is larger than AU based on total student enrollment (31,903 students vs. 12,321 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • American University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); University at Buffalo is in Buffalo, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • American University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University at Buffalo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: American University 10:1; University at Buffalo 11:1.

AU vs. UB Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or UB? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University at Buffalo than AU ($20,529 vs. $39,676).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University at Buffalo are 3.1% lower than at American University ($17,426 vs. $17,982).
  • American University is 437.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than UB (about $47,835 more per year; $58,771.00 vs. $10,936.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 86.4% higher at AU than at University at Buffalo (about $27,235 more per year; $58,771.00 vs. $31,536.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University at Buffalo than at American University (76% vs. 67%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 240.9% larger than aid received by University at Buffalo students ($36,349 vs. $10,663).

AU vs. UB Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or UB? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UB and AU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at American University (1370) is 70 points higher than at UB (1300).
  • Incoming AU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 29 at UB).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 1280/1460; University at Buffalo 1210/1380.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 29/32; University at Buffalo 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AU - Test optional; UB - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: AU Jan 15, 2027.
  • 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 (74.2%) than AU (62%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.6% at AU vs. 14.1% at UB.

AU vs. UB Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AU and UB? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • American University's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than University at Buffalo's (71%).
  • Graduates from American University earn a median of about $6,400 more per year than UB graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,800 vs. $58,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University at Buffalo graduates have a $4,750 lower median loan debt than AU graduates ($19,500 vs. $24,250).
  • Among borrowers, UB graduates have an estimated $49 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.