TCNJ vs. UB

Deciding between The College of New Jersey 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.

The College of New Jersey
University at Buffalo

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • TCNJ Ewing, NJ
  • UB Buffalo, NY
  • Setting
  • TCNJ Large Suburban
  • UB Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • TCNJ 8,141
  • UB 31,903
  • Type
  • TCNJ Public 4 Year
  • UB Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • TCNJ #177
  • UB #101
  • Religious Affiliation
  • TCNJ -
  • UB -
  • Status
  • TCNJ Non-profit
  • UB Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • TCNJ
  • UB

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • TCNJ $19,632
  • UB $10,936
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • TCNJ $25,752
  • UB $31,536
  • Room & Board
  • TCNJ $14,976
  • UB $17,426
  • Average Net Price
  • TCNJ $25,580
  • UB $20,529
  • Average Grant Aid
  • TCNJ $13,360
  • UB $10,663
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • TCNJ 59%
  • UB 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • TCNJ 12,766
  • UB 40,856
  • Admitted
  • TCNJ 7,952
  • UB 30,308
  • Acceptance Rate
  • TCNJ 62.3%
  • UB 74.2%
  • Enrolled
  • TCNJ 19.7%
  • UB 14.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • TCNJ 1240
  • UB 1300
  • Typical ACT score
  • TCNJ 28
  • UB 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • TCNJ 3.29
  • UB 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • TCNJ B+
  • UB A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • TCNJ Difficult
  • UB Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • TCNJ Low
  • UB Low
  • ACT Range
  • TCNJ 26/31
  • UB 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • TCNJ 1140/1340
  • UB 1210/1380
  • Submit Test Scores
  • TCNJ Test optional
  • UB Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • TCNJ Feb 1, 2027
  • UB

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • TCNJ 14:1
  • UB 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • TCNJ
    • Education (22%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • UB
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Communication (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • TCNJ 87%
  • UB 71%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • TCNJ $62,100
  • UB $58,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • TCNJ 85%
  • UB 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • TCNJ $23,250
  • UB $19,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • TCNJ $240
  • UB $201

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • TCNJ 43%
  • UB 51%
  • % Women
  • TCNJ 57%
  • UB 49%
  • Racial Diversity
  • TCNJ Medium
  • UB High
  • HBCU
  • TCNJ No
  • UB No
  • % White
  • TCNJ 66%
  • UB 48%
  • % Asian
  • TCNJ 10%
  • UB 14%
  • % Black
  • TCNJ 6%
  • UB 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • TCNJ 12%
  • UB 6%
  • % Native American
  • TCNJ 0%
  • UB 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • TCNJ 0%
  • UB 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • TCNJ 0%
  • UB 2%
  • % International
  • TCNJ 0%
  • UB 16%
  • % Unknown Race
  • TCNJ 5%
  • UB 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • TCNJ 95%
  • UB 88%
  • % Out-of-State
  • TCNJ 5%
  • UB 3%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare The College of New Jersey in Ewing, NJ with University at Buffalo in Buffalo, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University at Buffalo is larger than TCNJ based on total student enrollment (31,903 students vs. 8,141 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • The College of New Jersey is located in Ewing, NJ (Large Suburban setting); University at Buffalo is in Buffalo, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • The College of New Jersey is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University at Buffalo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: The College of New Jersey 14:1; University at Buffalo 11:1.

TCNJ vs. UB Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, TCNJ 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 University at Buffalo than TCNJ ($20,529 vs. $25,580).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The College of New Jersey are 14.1% lower than at University at Buffalo ($14,976 vs. $17,426).
  • The College of New Jersey is 79.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than UB (about $8,696 more per year; $19,632.00 vs. $10,936.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 22.5% higher at UB than at The College of New Jersey (about $5,784 more per year; $31,536.00 vs. $25,752.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University at Buffalo than at The College of New Jersey (76% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The College of New Jersey students is 25.3% larger than aid received by University at Buffalo students ($13,360 vs. $10,663).

TCNJ vs. UB Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, TCNJ or UB? 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 UB and TCNJ.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University at Buffalo (1300) is 60 points higher than at TCNJ (1240).
  • Incoming UB students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 28 at TCNJ).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The College of New Jersey 1140/1340; University at Buffalo 1210/1380.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The College of New Jersey 26/31; University at Buffalo 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: TCNJ - Test optional; UB - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: TCNJ Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UB students have a 0.46 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at TCNJ (3.29).
  • UB has a higher acceptance rate (74.2%) than TCNJ (62.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.7% at TCNJ vs. 14.1% at UB.

TCNJ vs. UB Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for TCNJ and UB? 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).

  • The College of New Jersey's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than University at Buffalo's (71%).
  • Graduates from The College of New Jersey earn a median of about $3,700 more per year than UB graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,100 vs. $58,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University at Buffalo graduates have a $3,750 lower median loan debt than TCNJ graduates ($19,500 vs. $23,250).
  • Among borrowers, UB graduates have an estimated $39 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than TCNJ graduates ($201 vs. $240).
  • More TCNJ graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UB students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 70%)

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.