Rutgers vs. UB

Deciding between Rutgers University New Brunswick 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.

Rutgers University New Brunswick
University at Buffalo

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • UB Buffalo, NY
  • Setting
  • Rutgers Small City
  • UB Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • UB 31,903
  • Type
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • UB Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Rutgers #114
  • UB #101
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Rutgers -
  • UB -
  • Status
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • UB Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Rutgers
  • UB

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • UB $10,936
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • UB $31,536
  • Room & Board
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • UB $17,426
  • Average Net Price
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • UB $20,529
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • UB $10,663
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Rutgers 50%
  • UB 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • UB 40,856
  • Admitted
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • UB 30,308
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • UB 74.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • UB 14.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Rutgers 1410
  • UB 1300
  • Typical ACT score
  • Rutgers 30
  • UB 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • UB 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Rutgers B+
  • UB A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • UB Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Rutgers Low
  • UB Low
  • ACT Range
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • UB 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • UB 1210/1380
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • UB Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Rutgers
  • UB

  • Academics

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

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Rutgers 77%
  • UB 71%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • UB $58,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Rutgers 68%
  • UB 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • UB $19,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Rutgers $229
  • UB $201

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Rutgers 46%
  • UB 51%
  • % Women
  • Rutgers 54%
  • UB 49%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Rutgers Very High
  • UB High
  • HBCU
  • Rutgers No
  • UB No
  • % White
  • Rutgers 42%
  • UB 48%
  • % Asian
  • Rutgers 26%
  • UB 14%
  • % Black
  • Rutgers 7%
  • UB 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Rutgers 13%
  • UB 6%
  • % Native American
  • Rutgers 0%
  • UB 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Rutgers 0%
  • UB 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Rutgers 3%
  • UB 2%
  • % International
  • Rutgers 7%
  • UB 16%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Rutgers 2%
  • UB 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Rutgers 75%
  • UB 88%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Rutgers 13%
  • UB 3%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ with University at Buffalo in Buffalo, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than UB based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 31,903 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is located in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting); University at Buffalo is in Buffalo, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University at Buffalo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1; University at Buffalo 11:1.

Rutgers vs. UB Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rutgers 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick than UB ($20,522 vs. $20,529).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 9.8% lower than at University at Buffalo ($15,714 vs. $17,426).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is 63.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than UB (about $6,993 more per year; $17,929.00 vs. $10,936.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 18.7% higher at Rutgers than at University at Buffalo (about $5,905 more per year; $37,441.00 vs. $31,536.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University at Buffalo than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (76% vs. 50%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students is 57% larger than aid received by University at Buffalo students ($16,742 vs. $10,663).

Rutgers vs. UB Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rutgers 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 Rutgers.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Rutgers University New Brunswick (1410) is 110 points higher than at UB (1300).
  • Incoming Rutgers students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (30 vs. 29 at UB).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500; University at Buffalo 1210/1380.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33; University at Buffalo 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Rutgers - Test optional; UB - Test optional.
  • Enrolled freshman UB students have a 0.45 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • UB has a higher acceptance rate (74.2%) than Rutgers (58.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.5% at Rutgers vs. 14.1% at UB.

Rutgers vs. UB Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rutgers 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.

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than University at Buffalo's (71%).
  • Graduates from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of about $7,800 more per year than UB graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,200 vs. $58,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University at Buffalo graduates have a $2,715 lower median loan debt than Rutgers graduates ($19,500 vs. $22,215).
  • Among borrowers, UB graduates have an estimated $28 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rutgers graduates ($201 vs. $229).
  • More UB graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 68%)

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.