Buffalo State College vs. SUNY Cortland

Comparable Facts

Compare SUNY Buffalo State University in Buffalo, NY with State University of New York at Cortland in Cortland, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

State University of New York at Cortland is larger than Buffalo State College based on total student enrollment (6,938 students vs. 6,188 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• SUNY Buffalo State University is located in Buffalo, NY (Large City setting); State University of New York at Cortland is in Cortland, NY (Rural Fringe setting).
• SUNY Buffalo State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. State University of New York at Cortland is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: SUNY Buffalo State University 14:1; State University of New York at Cortland 15:1.

Buffalo State College vs. SUNY Cortland Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Buffalo State College or SUNY Cortland? 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 SUNY Cortland ($12,023 vs. $19,847).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at State University of New York at Cortland are 2.7% lower than at SUNY Buffalo State University ($15,560 vs. $15,986).
• State University of New York at Cortland is 4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Buffalo State College (about $341 more per year; $8,874.00 vs. $8,533.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.6% higher at Buffalo State College than at State University of New York at Cortland (about $869 more per year; $19,653.00 vs. $18,784.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at SUNY Buffalo State University than at State University of New York at Cortland (100% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by SUNY Buffalo State University students is 41.7% larger than aid received by State University of New York at Cortland students ($11,697 vs. $8,254).

Buffalo State College vs. SUNY Cortland Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Buffalo State College or SUNY Cortland? 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 SUNY Cortland and Buffalo State College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at State University of New York at Cortland (1170) is 60 points higher than at Buffalo State College (1110).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: SUNY Buffalo State University 980/1240; State University of New York at Cortland 1090/1240.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsState University of New York at Cortland 22/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Buffalo State College - Test optional; SUNY Cortland - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman SUNY Cortland students have a 0.86 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Buffalo State College (2.84).
• Buffalo State College has a higher acceptance rate (72.9%) than SUNY Cortland (59.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.2% at Buffalo State College vs. 13.3% at SUNY Cortland.

Buffalo State College vs. SUNY Cortland Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Buffalo State College and SUNY Cortland? 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).

• State University of New York at Cortland's six-year graduation rate (67%) is higher than SUNY Buffalo State University's (47%).
• Graduates from State University of New York at Cortland earn a median of about $6,600 more per year than Buffalo State College graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,300 vs. $40,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, SUNY Buffalo State University graduates have a $91 lower median loan debt than SUNY Cortland graduates ($21,409 vs. $21,500).
• Among borrowers, Buffalo State College graduates have an estimated $1 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SUNY Cortland graduates ($221 vs. $222).
• More SUNY Cortland graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Buffalo State College students, three years after graduation. (75% 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.