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George Washington University at Albany- SUNY SUNY Stony Brook Binghamton University Penn State State University of New York at New Paltz SUNY at Geneseo Syracuse ASU Georgetown RIT UIC| American University | University at Buffalo | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
AU | UB | ||
| Location | Washington, DC | Buffalo, NY | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 13,019 | 31,889 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #84 | #101 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | United Methodist | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | american.edu | buffalo.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
AU | UB | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $55,724 | $7,070 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $55,724 | $26,860 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,012 | $16,754 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $40,189 | $20,511 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $31,402 | $9,996 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 62% | 74% |
Admission |
AU | UB | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 17,786 | 38,210 | ||
| Admitted | 8,427 | 26,481 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 47.4% | 69.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22% | 16.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.7 | 3.75 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 29/33 | 27/32 | ||
| SAT Range | 1300/1450 | 1210/1380 | ||
| 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, 2026 |
Academics |
AU | UB | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 11:1 | ||
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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 | 15% | 17% | ||
| % Women | 25% | 19% | ||
| 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 (31,889 students vs. 13,019 students)
AU vs. UB Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, AU or UB?
- American University is 688.2% more expensive to attend than UB for in-state tuition ($55,724.00 vs. $7,070.00)
- Out of state tuition is 107.5% higher at AU than University at Buffalo ($55,724.00 vs. $26,860.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University at Buffalo than AU ($20,511 vs. $40,189)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University at Buffalo are 1.5% lower than costs at American University ($16,754 vs. $17,012)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University at Buffalo than American University (74% vs. 62%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 214.1% larger than aid received University at Buffalo ($31,402 vs. $9,996)
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 (69.3%) than AU (47.4%)
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/