UB vs. ONU

Deciding between University at Buffalo and Ohio Northern 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
Ohio Northern University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UB Buffalo, NY
  • ONU Ada, OH
  • Setting
  • UB Large Suburban
  • ONU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • UB 31,903
  • ONU 3,140
  • Type
  • UB Public 4 Year
  • ONU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UB #101
  • ONU #228
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UB -
  • ONU United Methodist
  • Status
  • UB Non-profit
  • ONU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UB
  • ONU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UB $10,936
  • ONU $39,800
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UB $31,536
  • ONU $39,800
  • Room & Board
  • UB $17,426
  • ONU $14,604
  • Average Net Price
  • UB $20,529
  • ONU $25,941
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UB $10,663
  • ONU $27,696
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UB 76%
  • ONU 97%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UB 40,856
  • ONU 4,640
  • Admitted
  • UB 30,308
  • ONU 3,452
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UB 74.2%
  • ONU 74.4%
  • Enrolled
  • UB 14.1%
  • ONU 19.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UB 1300
  • ONU 1290
  • Typical ACT score
  • UB 29
  • ONU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • UB 3.75
  • ONU 3.78
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UB A-
  • ONU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UB Very High
  • ONU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • UB Low
  • ONU Low
  • ACT Range
  • UB 27/32
  • ONU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • UB 1210/1380
  • ONU 1175/1400
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UB Test optional
  • ONU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UB
  • ONU Aug 15, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UB 11:1
  • ONU 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UB
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • ONU
    • Business (19%)
    • Engineering (16%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Education (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UB 71%
  • ONU 65%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UB $58,400
  • ONU $71,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UB 70%
  • ONU 82%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UB $19,500
  • ONU $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UB $201
  • ONU $279
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UB 51%
  • ONU 53%
  • % Women
  • UB 49%
  • ONU 47%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UB High
  • ONU Very Low
  • HBCU
  • UB No
  • ONU No
  • % White
  • UB 48%
  • ONU 84%
  • % Asian
  • UB 14%
  • ONU 1%
  • % Black
  • UB 7%
  • ONU 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • UB 6%
  • ONU 1%
  • % Native American
  • UB 0%
  • ONU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UB 0%
  • ONU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UB 2%
  • ONU 4%
  • % International
  • UB 16%
  • ONU 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UB 5%
  • ONU 3%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UB 88%
  • ONU 85%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UB 3%
  • ONU 13%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University at Buffalo in Buffalo, NY with Ohio Northern University in Ada, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University at Buffalo is larger than ONU based on total student enrollment (31,903 students vs. 3,140 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University at Buffalo is located in Buffalo, NY (Large Suburban setting); Ohio Northern University is in Ada, OH (Distant Town setting).
  • University at Buffalo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Ohio Northern University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University at Buffalo 11:1; Ohio Northern University 13:1.

UB vs. ONU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UB or ONU? 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 ONU ($20,529 vs. $25,941).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ohio Northern University are 16.2% lower than at University at Buffalo ($14,604 vs. $17,426).
  • Ohio Northern University is 263.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than UB (about $28,864 more per year; $39,800.00 vs. $10,936.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 26.2% higher at ONU than at University at Buffalo (about $8,264 more per year; $39,800.00 vs. $31,536.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ohio Northern University than at University at Buffalo (97% vs. 76%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ohio Northern University students is 159.7% larger than aid received by University at Buffalo students ($27,696 vs. $10,663).

UB vs. ONU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University at Buffalo (1300) is 10 points higher than at ONU (1290).
  • Incoming UB students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 26 at ONU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University at Buffalo 1210/1380; Ohio Northern University 1175/1400.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University at Buffalo 27/32; Ohio Northern University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UB - Test optional; ONU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: ONU Aug 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman ONU students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.78) than students at UB (3.75).
  • ONU has a higher acceptance rate (74.4%) than UB (74.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.1% at UB vs. 19.9% at ONU.

UB vs. ONU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UB and ONU? 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 Ohio Northern University's (65%).
  • Graduates from Ohio Northern University earn a median of about $12,800 more per year than UB graduates about ten years after starting college ($71,200 vs. $58,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University at Buffalo graduates have a $7,500 lower median loan debt than ONU graduates ($19,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, UB graduates have an estimated $78 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ONU graduates ($201 vs. $279).
  • More ONU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UB students, three years after graduation. (82% 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.