Howard vs. UB

Deciding between Howard 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.

Howard University
University at Buffalo

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Howard Washington, DC
  • UB Buffalo, NY
  • Setting
  • Howard Large City
  • UB Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Howard 14,890
  • UB 31,903
  • Type
  • Howard Private 4 Year
  • UB Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Howard #310
  • UB #101
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Howard -
  • UB -
  • Status
  • Howard Non-profit
  • UB Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Howard
  • UB

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Howard $35,810
  • UB $10,936
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Howard $35,810
  • UB $31,536
  • Room & Board
  • Howard $17,322
  • UB $17,426
  • Average Net Price
  • Howard $33,368
  • UB $20,529
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Howard $21,262
  • UB $10,663
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Howard 99%
  • UB 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Howard 34,211
  • UB 40,856
  • Admitted
  • Howard 14,144
  • UB 30,308
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Howard 41.3%
  • UB 74.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Howard 19.4%
  • UB 14.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Howard 1210
  • UB 1300
  • Typical ACT score
  • Howard 25
  • UB 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Howard 3.66
  • UB 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Howard A-
  • UB A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Howard Challenging
  • UB Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Howard Low
  • UB Low
  • ACT Range
  • Howard 22/28
  • UB 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Howard 1090/1320
  • UB 1210/1380
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Howard Test optional
  • UB Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Howard Feb 15, 2027
  • UB

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Howard 13:1
  • UB 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Howard
    • Business (20%)
    • Communication (20%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Psychology (9%)
  • UB
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Communication (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Howard 63%
  • UB 71%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Howard $51,800
  • UB $58,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Howard 33%
  • UB 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Howard $27,000
  • UB $19,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Howard $279
  • UB $201

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Howard 30%
  • UB 51%
  • % Women
  • Howard 70%
  • UB 49%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Howard Very Low
  • UB High
  • HBCU
  • Howard Yes
  • UB No
  • % White
  • Howard 2%
  • UB 48%
  • % Asian
  • Howard 1%
  • UB 14%
  • % Black
  • Howard 91%
  • UB 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Howard 0%
  • UB 6%
  • % Native American
  • Howard 1%
  • UB 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Howard 0%
  • UB 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Howard 0%
  • UB 2%
  • % International
  • Howard 5%
  • UB 16%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Howard 0%
  • UB 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Howard 2%
  • UB 88%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Howard 94%
  • UB 3%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Howard 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 Howard based on total student enrollment (31,903 students vs. 14,890 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Howard University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); University at Buffalo is in Buffalo, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • Howard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University at Buffalo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Howard University 13:1; University at Buffalo 11:1.

Howard vs. UB Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Howard 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 Howard ($20,529 vs. $33,368).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Howard University are 0.6% lower than at University at Buffalo ($17,322 vs. $17,426).
  • Howard University is 227.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than UB (about $24,874 more per year; $35,810.00 vs. $10,936.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 13.6% higher at Howard than at University at Buffalo (about $4,274 more per year; $35,810.00 vs. $31,536.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Howard University than at University at Buffalo (99% vs. 76%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Howard University students is 99.4% larger than aid received by University at Buffalo students ($21,262 vs. $10,663).

Howard vs. UB Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Howard 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 Howard.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University at Buffalo (1300) is 90 points higher than at Howard (1210).
  • Incoming UB students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 25 at Howard).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Howard University 1090/1320; University at Buffalo 1210/1380.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Howard University 22/28; University at Buffalo 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Howard - Test optional; UB - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Howard Feb 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UB students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Howard (3.66).
  • UB has a higher acceptance rate (74.2%) than Howard (41.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.4% at Howard vs. 14.1% at UB.

Howard vs. UB Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Howard 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).

  • University at Buffalo's six-year graduation rate (71%) is higher than Howard University's (63%).
  • Graduates from University at Buffalo earn a median of about $6,600 more per year than Howard graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,400 vs. $51,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University at Buffalo graduates have a $7,500 lower median loan debt than Howard graduates ($19,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, UB graduates have an estimated $78 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Howard graduates ($201 vs. $279).
  • More UB graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Howard students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 33%)

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.