Montclair State University vs. Buffalo State College

Deciding between Montclair State University and SUNY Buffalo State University? 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.

Montclair State University
SUNY Buffalo State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Montclair State University Montclair, NJ
  • Buffalo State College Buffalo, NY
  • Setting
  • Montclair State University Large Suburban
  • Buffalo State College Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Montclair State University 23,375
  • Buffalo State College 6,188
  • Type
  • Montclair State University Public 4 Year
  • Buffalo State College Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Montclair State University #652
  • Buffalo State College #545
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Montclair State University -
  • Buffalo State College -
  • Status
  • Montclair State University Non-profit
  • Buffalo State College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Montclair State University
  • Buffalo State College
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Montclair State University $15,912
  • Buffalo State College $8,533
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Montclair State University $26,022
  • Buffalo State College $19,653
  • Room & Board
  • Montclair State University $16,730
  • Buffalo State College $15,986
  • Average Net Price
  • Montclair State University $17,669
  • Buffalo State College $12,023
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Montclair State University $12,341
  • Buffalo State College $11,697
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Montclair State University 84%
  • Buffalo State College 100%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Montclair State University 26,257
  • Buffalo State College 18,219
  • Admitted
  • Montclair State University 23,076
  • Buffalo State College 13,290
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Montclair State University 87.9%
  • Buffalo State College 72.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Montclair State University 18.2%
  • Buffalo State College 9.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Montclair State University 1060
  • Buffalo State College 1110
  • Typical ACT score
  • Montclair State University
  • Buffalo State College
  • Average High School GPA
  • Montclair State University 3.3
  • Buffalo State College 2.84
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Montclair State University B+
  • Buffalo State College B-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Montclair State University Easy
  • Buffalo State College Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • Montclair State University
  • Buffalo State College Low
  • ACT Range
  • Montclair State University
  • Buffalo State College
  • SAT Range
  • Montclair State University 910/1210
  • Buffalo State College 980/1240
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Montclair State University Test optional
  • Buffalo State College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Montclair State University
  • Buffalo State College
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Montclair State University 18:1
  • Buffalo State College 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Montclair State University
    • Work and Family Studies (17%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (12%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • Buffalo State College
    • Education (26%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Montclair State University 62%
  • Buffalo State College 47%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Montclair State University $51,100
  • Buffalo State College $40,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Montclair State University 67%
  • Buffalo State College 59%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Montclair State University $22,999
  • Buffalo State College $21,409
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Montclair State University $237
  • Buffalo State College $221
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Montclair State University 39%
  • Buffalo State College 41%
  • % Women
  • Montclair State University 61%
  • Buffalo State College 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Montclair State University High
  • Buffalo State College High
  • HBCU
  • Montclair State University No
  • Buffalo State College No
  • % White
  • Montclair State University 44%
  • Buffalo State College 51%
  • % Asian
  • Montclair State University 5%
  • Buffalo State College 3%
  • % Black
  • Montclair State University 11%
  • Buffalo State College 28%
  • % Hispanic
  • Montclair State University 25%
  • Buffalo State College 12%
  • % Native American
  • Montclair State University 0%
  • Buffalo State College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Montclair State University 0%
  • Buffalo State College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Montclair State University 3%
  • Buffalo State College 3%
  • % International
  • Montclair State University 2%
  • Buffalo State College 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Montclair State University 9%
  • Buffalo State College 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Montclair State University 95%
  • Buffalo State College 94%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Montclair State University 4%
  • Buffalo State College 4%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Montclair State University Yes
  • Buffalo State College Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Montclair State University No
  • Buffalo State College No
  • Meal Plan
  • Montclair State University Yes
  • Buffalo State College Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Montclair State University Yes
  • Buffalo State College No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Montclair State University Yes
  • Buffalo State College Yes
  • Learn More
  • Montclair State University Details
  • Buffalo State College Details

Comparable Facts

Compare Montclair State University in Montclair, NJ with SUNY Buffalo State University in Buffalo, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Montclair State University is larger than Buffalo State College based on total student enrollment (23,375 students vs. 6,188 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Montclair State University is located in Montclair, NJ (Large Suburban setting); SUNY Buffalo State University is in Buffalo, NY (Large City setting).
  • Montclair State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. SUNY Buffalo State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Montclair State University 18:1; SUNY Buffalo State University 14:1.

Montclair State University vs. Buffalo State College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Montclair State University or Buffalo State College? 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 SUNY Buffalo State University than Montclair State University ($12,023 vs. $17,669).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at SUNY Buffalo State University are 4.4% lower than at Montclair State University ($15,986 vs. $16,730).
  • Montclair State University is 86.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Buffalo State College (about $7,379 more per year; $15,912.00 vs. $8,533.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 32.4% higher at Montclair State University than at SUNY Buffalo State University (about $6,369 more per year; $26,022.00 vs. $19,653.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at SUNY Buffalo State University than at Montclair State University (100% vs. 84%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Montclair State University students is 5.5% larger than aid received by SUNY Buffalo State University students ($12,341 vs. $11,697).

Montclair State University vs. Buffalo State College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Montclair State University or Buffalo State College? 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 Buffalo State College and Montclair State University.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at SUNY Buffalo State University (1110) is 50 points higher than at Montclair State University (1060).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Montclair State University 910/1210; SUNY Buffalo State University 980/1240.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Montclair State University - Test optional; Buffalo State College - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman Montclair State University students have a 0.46 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at Buffalo State College (2.84).
  • Montclair State University has a higher acceptance rate (87.9%) than Buffalo State College (72.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.2% at Montclair State University vs. 9.2% at Buffalo State College.

Montclair State University vs. Buffalo State College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Montclair State University and Buffalo State College? 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).

  • Montclair State University's six-year graduation rate (62%) is higher than SUNY Buffalo State University's (47%).
  • Graduates from Montclair State University earn a median of about $10,400 more per year than Buffalo State College graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,100 vs. $40,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, SUNY Buffalo State University graduates have a $1,590 lower median loan debt than Montclair State University graduates ($21,409 vs. $22,999).
  • Among borrowers, Buffalo State College graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Montclair State University graduates ($221 vs. $237).
  • More Montclair State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Buffalo State College students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 59%)

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.