Buffalo State College vs. SUNY-Potsdam

Comparable Facts

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

SUNY Buffalo State University is larger than SUNY-Potsdam based on total student enrollment (6,188 students vs. 2,832 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• SUNY Buffalo State University is located in Buffalo, NY (Large City setting); SUNY College at Potsdam is in Potsdam, NY (Remote Town setting).
• SUNY Buffalo State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. SUNY College at Potsdam is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: SUNY Buffalo State University 14:1; SUNY College at Potsdam 11:1.

Buffalo State College vs. SUNY-Potsdam Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Buffalo State College or SUNY-Potsdam? 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-Potsdam ($12,023 vs. $13,730).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at SUNY College at Potsdam are 4.4% lower than at SUNY Buffalo State University ($15,280 vs. $15,986).
• SUNY College at Potsdam is 2.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Buffalo State College (about $235 more per year; $8,768.00 vs. $8,533.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.2% higher at Buffalo State College than at SUNY College at Potsdam (about $975 more per year; $19,653.00 vs. $18,678.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at SUNY Buffalo State University than at SUNY College at Potsdam (100% vs. 93%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by SUNY Buffalo State University students is 4.9% larger than aid received by SUNY College at Potsdam students ($11,697 vs. $11,147).

Buffalo State College vs. SUNY-Potsdam Admissions comparison

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

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: SUNY Buffalo State University 980/1240.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Buffalo State College - Test optional; SUNY-Potsdam - Test optional.
• Enrolled freshman SUNY-Potsdam students have a 0.46 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at Buffalo State College (2.84).
• SUNY-Potsdam has a higher acceptance rate (77.7%) than Buffalo State College (72.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.2% at Buffalo State College vs. 10% at SUNY-Potsdam.

Buffalo State College vs. SUNY-Potsdam Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Buffalo State College and SUNY-Potsdam? 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.

• SUNY College at Potsdam's six-year graduation rate (51%) is higher than SUNY Buffalo State University's (47%).
• Graduates from SUNY Buffalo State University earn a median of about $1,600 more per year than SUNY-Potsdam graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,700 vs. $39,100), 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 SUNY-Potsdam graduates ($21,409 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, Buffalo State College graduates have an estimated $37 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SUNY-Potsdam graduates ($221 vs. $258).
• More SUNY-Potsdam graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Buffalo State College students, three years after graduation. (60% 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.