UB vs. Drexel

Deciding between University at Buffalo and Drexel 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
Drexel University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UB Buffalo, NY
  • Drexel Philadelphia, PA
  • Setting
  • UB Large Suburban
  • Drexel Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • UB 31,903
  • Drexel 21,153
  • Type
  • UB Public 4 Year
  • Drexel Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UB #101
  • Drexel #118
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UB -
  • Drexel -
  • Status
  • UB Non-profit
  • Drexel Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UB
  • Drexel

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UB $10,936
  • Drexel $62,412
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UB $31,536
  • Drexel $62,412
  • Room & Board
  • UB $17,426
  • Drexel $18,096
  • Average Net Price
  • UB $20,529
  • Drexel $42,801
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UB $10,663
  • Drexel $35,051
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UB 76%
  • Drexel 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UB 40,856
  • Drexel 37,314
  • Admitted
  • UB 30,308
  • Drexel 29,642
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UB 74.2%
  • Drexel 79.4%
  • Enrolled
  • UB 14.1%
  • Drexel 8.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UB 1300
  • Drexel 1340
  • Typical ACT score
  • UB 29
  • Drexel 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • UB 3.75
  • Drexel 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UB A-
  • Drexel A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UB Very High
  • Drexel Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UB Low
  • Drexel
  • ACT Range
  • UB 27/32
  • Drexel 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • UB 1210/1380
  • Drexel 1240/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UB Test optional
  • Drexel Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UB
  • Drexel Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UB 11:1
  • Drexel 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UB
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • Drexel
    • Health Professions (22%)
    • Business (21%)
    • Engineering (18%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UB 71%
  • Drexel 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UB $58,400
  • Drexel $77,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UB 70%
  • Drexel 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UB $19,500
  • Drexel $26,243
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UB $201
  • Drexel $271

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UB 51%
  • Drexel 46%
  • % Women
  • UB 49%
  • Drexel 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UB High
  • Drexel High
  • HBCU
  • UB No
  • Drexel No
  • % White
  • UB 48%
  • Drexel 54%
  • % Asian
  • UB 14%
  • Drexel 14%
  • % Black
  • UB 7%
  • Drexel 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • UB 6%
  • Drexel 6%
  • % Native American
  • UB 0%
  • Drexel 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UB 0%
  • Drexel 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UB 2%
  • Drexel 3%
  • % International
  • UB 16%
  • Drexel 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UB 5%
  • Drexel 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UB 88%
  • Drexel 46%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UB 3%
  • Drexel 44%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University at Buffalo is larger than Drexel based on total student enrollment (31,903 students vs. 21,153 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University at Buffalo is located in Buffalo, NY (Large Suburban setting); Drexel University is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
  • University at Buffalo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Drexel University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University at Buffalo 11:1; Drexel University 9:1.

UB vs. Drexel Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UB or Drexel? 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 Drexel ($20,529 vs. $42,801).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University at Buffalo are 3.7% lower than at Drexel University ($17,426 vs. $18,096).
  • Drexel University is 470.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than UB (about $51,476 more per year; $62,412.00 vs. $10,936.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 97.9% higher at Drexel than at University at Buffalo (about $30,876 more per year; $62,412.00 vs. $31,536.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Drexel University than at University at Buffalo (100% vs. 76%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Drexel University students is 228.7% larger than aid received by University at Buffalo students ($35,051 vs. $10,663).

UB vs. Drexel Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Drexel University (1340) is 40 points higher than at UB (1300).
  • Incoming UB students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 29) as students at Drexel (29).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University at Buffalo 1210/1380; Drexel University 1240/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University at Buffalo 27/32; Drexel University 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UB - Test optional; Drexel - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Drexel Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UB students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Drexel (3.67).
  • Drexel has a higher acceptance rate (79.4%) than UB (74.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.1% at UB vs. 8.1% at Drexel.

UB vs. Drexel Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UB and Drexel? 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).

  • University at Buffalo's six-year graduation rate (71%) is higher than Drexel University's (68%).
  • Graduates from Drexel University earn a median of about $19,000 more per year than UB graduates about ten years after starting college ($77,400 vs. $58,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University at Buffalo graduates have a $6,743 lower median loan debt than Drexel graduates ($19,500 vs. $26,243).
  • Among borrowers, UB graduates have an estimated $70 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Drexel graduates ($201 vs. $271).
  • More Drexel graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UB students, three years after graduation. (77% 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.