Buffalo State College vs. CSUMB

Should I go to SUNY College at Buffalo or California State University Monterey Bay? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Buffalo State College or CSUMB is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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SUNY College at Buffalo vs. California State University Monterey Bay comparison
SUNY College at Buffalo California State University Monterey Bay College 3 College 4
SUNY College at Buffalo California State University Monterey Bay
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Overview

 Buffalo State College CSUMB
Location Buffalo, NY Seaside, CA
Setting Large City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 6,445 7,045
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #665 #861
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website buffalostate.edu csumb.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Buffalo State College CSUMB
Tuition (In State) $7,070 $5,742
Tuition (Out of State) $16,980 $17,622
Room & Board $14,386 $16,262
Avg Net Price $13,812 $11,435
Avg Grant Aid $10,756 $8,702
% Receiving Grant Aid 92% 66%

Admission

 Buffalo State College CSUMB
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 12,292 12,568
Admitted 10,569 11,611
Acceptance Rate 86% 92.4%
Enrolled % 11.8% 7.8%
Avg High School GPA 2.84 3.45
Typical High School Grades B- B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/23
SAT Range 940/1178 960/1160
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2025

Academics

 Buffalo State College CSUMB
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 20:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (26%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (22%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)

Outcomes

 Buffalo State College CSUMB
Graduation Rate 47% 38%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,700 $45,300
Making Student Loan Payments 59% 66%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,409 $14,000
Median Loan Payment $221 $144

Diversity

 Buffalo State College CSUMB
% Men 41% 38%
% Women 59% 62%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 51% 31%
% Black 28% 6%
% Hispanic 12% 43%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 7%
% International 2% 2%
% Unknown Race 0% 5%

Students

 Buffalo State College CSUMB
% In-State 96% 96%
% Out-of-State 3% 2%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • California State University Monterey Bay is larger than than Buffalo State College based on total student enrollment (7,045 students vs. 6,445 students)

Buffalo State College vs. CSUMB Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Buffalo State College or CSUMB?

  • SUNY College at Buffalo is 23.1% more expensive to attend than CSUMB for in-state tuition ($7,070.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 3.8% higher at CSUMB than SUNY College at Buffalo ($17,622.00 vs. $16,980.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California State University Monterey Bay than Buffalo State College ($11,435 vs. $13,812)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at SUNY College at Buffalo are 13% lower than costs at California State University Monterey Bay ($14,386 vs. $16,262)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at SUNY College at Buffalo than California State University Monterey Bay (92% vs. 66%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by SUNY College at Buffalo students is 23.6% larger than aid received California State University Monterey Bay ($10,756 vs. $8,702)

Buffalo State College vs. CSUMB Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Buffalo State College or CSUMB? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between CSUMB or Buffalo State College .

  • Accepted freshman CSUMB students have a 0.61 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at Buffalo State College (2.84)
  • CSUMB has a higher acceptance rate (92.4%) than Buffalo State College (86%)

Buffalo State College vs. CSUMB Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Buffalo State College or CSUMB? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between CSUMB and Buffalo State College.

  • The graduation rate at Buffalo State College is higher than California State University Monterey Bay (47% vs. 38%)
  • Graduates from California State University Monterey Bay earn on average $4,600 more per year than Buffalo State College graduates after ten years. ($45,300 vs. $40,700)
  • California State University Monterey Bay students graduate with a $7,409 lower median federal student loan debt than Buffalo State College graduates. ($14,000 vs. $21,409)
  • CSUMB graduates are paying $77 less per month on federal student loans than Buffalo State College graduates. ($144 vs. $221)
  • More CSUMB graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Buffalo State College students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 59%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/