UB vs. Carnegie Mellon

Deciding between University at Buffalo and Carnegie Mellon University? 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.

University at Buffalo
Carnegie Mellon University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UB Buffalo, NY
  • Carnegie Mellon Pittsburgh, PA
  • Setting
  • UB Large Suburban
  • Carnegie Mellon Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • UB 31,903
  • Carnegie Mellon 15,888
  • Type
  • UB Public 4 Year
  • Carnegie Mellon Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UB #101
  • Carnegie Mellon #45
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UB -
  • Carnegie Mellon -
  • Status
  • UB Non-profit
  • Carnegie Mellon Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UB
  • Carnegie Mellon

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UB $10,936
  • Carnegie Mellon $66,246
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UB $31,536
  • Carnegie Mellon $66,246
  • Room & Board
  • UB $17,426
  • Carnegie Mellon $18,166
  • Average Net Price
  • UB $20,529
  • Carnegie Mellon $35,552
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UB $10,663
  • Carnegie Mellon $48,107
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UB 76%
  • Carnegie Mellon 51%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UB 40,856
  • Carnegie Mellon 33,941
  • Admitted
  • UB 30,308
  • Carnegie Mellon 3,959
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UB 74.2%
  • Carnegie Mellon 11.7%
  • Enrolled
  • UB 14.1%
  • Carnegie Mellon 45.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UB 1300
  • Carnegie Mellon 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • UB 29
  • Carnegie Mellon 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • UB 3.75
  • Carnegie Mellon 3.89
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UB A-
  • Carnegie Mellon A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UB Very High
  • Carnegie Mellon Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • UB Low
  • Carnegie Mellon Very High
  • ACT Range
  • UB 27/32
  • Carnegie Mellon 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • UB 1210/1380
  • Carnegie Mellon 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UB Test optional
  • Carnegie Mellon Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UB
  • Carnegie Mellon Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UB 11:1
  • Carnegie Mellon 5:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UB
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • Carnegie Mellon
    • Engineering (26%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (14%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Business (9%)
    • General Studies (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UB 71%
  • Carnegie Mellon 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UB $58,400
  • Carnegie Mellon $102,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UB 70%
  • Carnegie Mellon 91%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UB $19,500
  • Carnegie Mellon $26,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UB $201
  • Carnegie Mellon $271

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UB 51%
  • Carnegie Mellon 57%
  • % Women
  • UB 49%
  • Carnegie Mellon 43%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UB High
  • Carnegie Mellon Very High
  • HBCU
  • UB No
  • Carnegie Mellon No
  • % White
  • UB 48%
  • Carnegie Mellon 32%
  • % Asian
  • UB 14%
  • Carnegie Mellon 28%
  • % Black
  • UB 7%
  • Carnegie Mellon 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • UB 6%
  • Carnegie Mellon 8%
  • % Native American
  • UB 0%
  • Carnegie Mellon 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UB 0%
  • Carnegie Mellon 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UB 2%
  • Carnegie Mellon 4%
  • % International
  • UB 16%
  • Carnegie Mellon 18%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UB 5%
  • Carnegie Mellon 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UB 88%
  • Carnegie Mellon 9%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UB 3%
  • Carnegie Mellon 68%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University at Buffalo in Buffalo, NY with Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University at Buffalo is larger than Carnegie Mellon based on total student enrollment (31,903 students vs. 15,888 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University at Buffalo is located in Buffalo, NY (Large Suburban setting); Carnegie Mellon University is in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting).
  • University at Buffalo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Carnegie Mellon University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University at Buffalo 11:1; Carnegie Mellon University 5:1.

UB vs. Carnegie Mellon Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UB or Carnegie Mellon? 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 Carnegie Mellon ($20,529 vs. $35,552).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University at Buffalo are 4.1% lower than at Carnegie Mellon University ($17,426 vs. $18,166).
  • Carnegie Mellon University is 505.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than UB (about $55,310 more per year; $66,246.00 vs. $10,936.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 110.1% higher at Carnegie Mellon than at University at Buffalo (about $34,710 more per year; $66,246.00 vs. $31,536.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University at Buffalo than at Carnegie Mellon University (76% vs. 51%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Carnegie Mellon University students is 351.2% larger than aid received by University at Buffalo students ($48,107 vs. $10,663).

UB vs. Carnegie Mellon Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Carnegie Mellon University (1540) is 240 points higher than at UB (1300).
  • Incoming Carnegie Mellon students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 29 at UB).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University at Buffalo 1210/1380; Carnegie Mellon University 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University at Buffalo 27/32; Carnegie Mellon University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UB - Test optional; Carnegie Mellon - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Carnegie Mellon Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Carnegie Mellon students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at UB (3.75).
  • UB has a higher acceptance rate (74.2%) than Carnegie Mellon (11.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.1% at UB vs. 45.7% at Carnegie Mellon.

UB vs. Carnegie Mellon Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UB and Carnegie Mellon? 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).

  • Carnegie Mellon University's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than University at Buffalo's (71%).
  • Graduates from Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of about $44,300 more per year than UB graduates about ten years after starting college ($102,700 vs. $58,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University at Buffalo graduates have a $6,750 lower median loan debt than Carnegie Mellon graduates ($19,500 vs. $26,250).
  • Among borrowers, UB graduates have an estimated $70 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Carnegie Mellon graduates ($201 vs. $271).
  • More Carnegie Mellon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UB students, three years after graduation. (91% 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.