Oakland vs. Buffalo State College

Deciding between Oakland 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.

Oakland University
SUNY Buffalo State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Oakland Rochester Hills, MI
  • Buffalo State College Buffalo, NY
  • Setting
  • Oakland Large Suburban
  • Buffalo State College Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Oakland 15,768
  • Buffalo State College 6,188
  • Type
  • Oakland Public 4 Year
  • Buffalo State College Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Oakland #766
  • Buffalo State College #545
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Oakland -
  • Buffalo State College -
  • Status
  • Oakland Non-profit
  • Buffalo State College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Oakland
  • Buffalo State College
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Oakland $15,262
  • Buffalo State College $8,533
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Oakland $23,188
  • Buffalo State College $19,653
  • Room & Board
  • Oakland $10,932
  • Buffalo State College $15,986
  • Average Net Price
  • Oakland $12,208
  • Buffalo State College $12,023
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Oakland $12,988
  • Buffalo State College $11,697
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Oakland 94%
  • Buffalo State College 100%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Oakland 17,593
  • Buffalo State College 18,219
  • Admitted
  • Oakland 15,454
  • Buffalo State College 13,290
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Oakland 87.8%
  • Buffalo State College 72.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Oakland 14.7%
  • Buffalo State College 9.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Oakland 1130
  • Buffalo State College 1110
  • Typical ACT score
  • Oakland
  • Buffalo State College
  • Average High School GPA
  • Oakland 3.51
  • Buffalo State College 2.84
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Oakland A-
  • Buffalo State College B-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Oakland Moderate
  • Buffalo State College Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • Oakland
  • Buffalo State College Low
  • ACT Range
  • Oakland
  • Buffalo State College
  • SAT Range
  • Oakland 1030/1230
  • Buffalo State College 980/1240
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Oakland Test optional
  • Buffalo State College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Oakland
  • Buffalo State College
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Oakland 17:1
  • Buffalo State College 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Oakland
    • Health Professions (26%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Education (7%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Buffalo State College
    • Education (26%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Oakland 40%
  • Buffalo State College 47%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Oakland $46,700
  • Buffalo State College $40,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Oakland 51%
  • Buffalo State College 59%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Oakland $25,000
  • Buffalo State College $21,409
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Oakland $258
  • Buffalo State College $221
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Oakland 42%
  • Buffalo State College 41%
  • % Women
  • Oakland 58%
  • Buffalo State College 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Oakland Low
  • Buffalo State College High
  • HBCU
  • Oakland No
  • Buffalo State College No
  • % White
  • Oakland 76%
  • Buffalo State College 51%
  • % Asian
  • Oakland 4%
  • Buffalo State College 3%
  • % Black
  • Oakland 8%
  • Buffalo State College 28%
  • % Hispanic
  • Oakland 3%
  • Buffalo State College 12%
  • % Native American
  • Oakland 0%
  • Buffalo State College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Oakland 0%
  • Buffalo State College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Oakland 3%
  • Buffalo State College 3%
  • % International
  • Oakland 2%
  • Buffalo State College 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Oakland 4%
  • Buffalo State College 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Oakland 96%
  • Buffalo State College 94%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Oakland 2%
  • Buffalo State College 4%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Oakland Yes
  • Buffalo State College Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Oakland No
  • Buffalo State College No
  • Meal Plan
  • Oakland Yes
  • Buffalo State College Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Oakland No
  • Buffalo State College No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Oakland Yes
  • Buffalo State College Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Oakland University in Rochester Hills, MI with SUNY Buffalo State University in Buffalo, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Oakland University is larger than Buffalo State College based on total student enrollment (15,768 students vs. 6,188 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Oakland University is located in Rochester Hills, MI (Large Suburban setting); SUNY Buffalo State University is in Buffalo, NY (Large City setting).
  • Oakland 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: Oakland University 17:1; SUNY Buffalo State University 14:1.

Oakland vs. Buffalo State College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Oakland 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 Oakland ($12,023 vs. $12,208).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Oakland University are 31.6% lower than at SUNY Buffalo State University ($10,932 vs. $15,986).
  • Oakland University is 78.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Buffalo State College (about $6,729 more per year; $15,262.00 vs. $8,533.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 18% higher at Oakland than at SUNY Buffalo State University (about $3,535 more per year; $23,188.00 vs. $19,653.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at SUNY Buffalo State University than at Oakland University (100% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Oakland University students is 11% larger than aid received by SUNY Buffalo State University students ($12,988 vs. $11,697).

Oakland vs. Buffalo State College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Oakland 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 Oakland.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Oakland University (1130) is 20 points higher than at Buffalo State College (1110).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Oakland University 1030/1230; SUNY Buffalo State University 980/1240.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Oakland - Test optional; Buffalo State College - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman Oakland students have a 0.67 point higher average high school GPA (3.51) than students at Buffalo State College (2.84).
  • Oakland has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than Buffalo State College (72.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.7% at Oakland vs. 9.2% at Buffalo State College.

Oakland vs. Buffalo State College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Oakland 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).

  • SUNY Buffalo State University's six-year graduation rate (47%) is higher than Oakland University's (40%).
  • Graduates from Oakland University earn a median of about $6,000 more per year than Buffalo State College graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,700 vs. $40,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, SUNY Buffalo State University graduates have a $3,591 lower median loan debt than Oakland graduates ($21,409 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, Buffalo State College graduates have an estimated $37 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Oakland graduates ($221 vs. $258).
  • More Buffalo State College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Oakland students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 51%)

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.