ASU vs. UB

Deciding between Arizona State 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.

Arizona State University
University at Buffalo

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ASU Tempe, AZ
  • UB Buffalo, NY
  • Setting
  • ASU Midsize City
  • UB Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • ASU 79,818
  • UB 31,903
  • Type
  • ASU Public 4 Year
  • UB Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ASU #398
  • UB #101
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ASU -
  • UB -
  • Status
  • ASU Non-profit
  • UB Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ASU
  • UB

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ASU $12,223
  • UB $10,936
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ASU $33,139
  • UB $31,536
  • Room & Board
  • ASU $16,712
  • UB $17,426
  • Average Net Price
  • ASU $17,779
  • UB $20,529
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ASU $12,172
  • UB $10,663
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ASU 89%
  • UB 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ASU 70,928
  • UB 40,856
  • Admitted
  • ASU 63,756
  • UB 30,308
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ASU 89.9%
  • UB 74.2%
  • Enrolled
  • ASU 22.1%
  • UB 14.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ASU 1210
  • UB 1300
  • Typical ACT score
  • ASU 24
  • UB 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • ASU 3.54
  • UB 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ASU A-
  • UB A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • ASU Challenging
  • UB Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • ASU
  • UB Low
  • ACT Range
  • ASU 21/28
  • UB 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • ASU 1100/1320
  • UB 1210/1380
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ASU Test optional
  • UB Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ASU
  • UB

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ASU 18:1
  • UB 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ASU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Education (7%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • UB
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Communication (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ASU 57%
  • UB 71%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ASU $52,600
  • UB $58,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ASU 57%
  • UB 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ASU $20,278
  • UB $19,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ASU $209
  • UB $201

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ASU 52%
  • UB 51%
  • % Women
  • ASU 48%
  • UB 49%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ASU High
  • UB High
  • HBCU
  • ASU No
  • UB No
  • % White
  • ASU 52%
  • UB 48%
  • % Asian
  • ASU 7%
  • UB 14%
  • % Black
  • ASU 4%
  • UB 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • ASU 19%
  • UB 6%
  • % Native American
  • ASU 1%
  • UB 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ASU 0%
  • UB 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ASU 4%
  • UB 2%
  • % International
  • ASU 12%
  • UB 16%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ASU 1%
  • UB 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ASU 63%
  • UB 88%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ASU 30%
  • UB 3%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ with University at Buffalo in Buffalo, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Arizona State University is larger than UB based on total student enrollment (79,818 students vs. 31,903 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Arizona State University is located in Tempe, AZ (Midsize City setting); University at Buffalo is in Buffalo, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • Arizona State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University at Buffalo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Arizona State University 18:1; University at Buffalo 11:1.

ASU vs. UB Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ASU 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 Arizona State University than UB ($17,779 vs. $20,529).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Arizona State University are 4.1% lower than at University at Buffalo ($16,712 vs. $17,426).
  • Arizona State University is 11.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than UB (about $1,287 more per year; $12,223.00 vs. $10,936.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5.1% higher at ASU than at University at Buffalo (about $1,603 more per year; $33,139.00 vs. $31,536.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Arizona State University than at University at Buffalo (89% vs. 76%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Arizona State University students is 14.2% larger than aid received by University at Buffalo students ($12,172 vs. $10,663).

ASU vs. UB Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ASU or UB? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UB and ASU.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at University at Buffalo (1300) is 90 points higher than at ASU (1210).
  • Incoming UB students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (29 vs. 24 at ASU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Arizona State University 1100/1320; University at Buffalo 1210/1380.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Arizona State University 21/28; University at Buffalo 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ASU - Test optional; UB - Test optional.
  • Enrolled freshman UB students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at ASU (3.54).
  • ASU has a higher acceptance rate (89.9%) than UB (74.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.1% at ASU vs. 14.1% at UB.

ASU vs. UB Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ASU and UB? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • University at Buffalo's six-year graduation rate (71%) is higher than Arizona State University's (57%).
  • Graduates from University at Buffalo earn a median of about $5,800 more per year than ASU graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,400 vs. $52,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University at Buffalo graduates have a $778 lower median loan debt than ASU graduates ($19,500 vs. $20,278).
  • Among borrowers, UB graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ASU graduates ($201 vs. $209).
  • More UB graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ASU students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 57%)

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.