UB vs. UC

Deciding between University at Buffalo and University of Cincinnati Main Campus? 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
University of Cincinnati Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UB Buffalo, NY
  • UC Cincinnati, OH
  • Setting
  • UB Large Suburban
  • UC Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • UB 31,903
  • UC 45,026
  • Type
  • UB Public 4 Year
  • UC Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UB #101
  • UC #429
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UB -
  • UC -
  • Status
  • UB Non-profit
  • UC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UB
  • UC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UB $10,936
  • UC $13,976
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UB $31,536
  • UC $29,310
  • Room & Board
  • UB $17,426
  • UC $13,564
  • Average Net Price
  • UB $20,529
  • UC $24,696
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UB $10,663
  • UC $8,196
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UB 76%
  • UC 73%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UB 40,856
  • UC 34,285
  • Admitted
  • UB 30,308
  • UC 29,242
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UB 74.2%
  • UC 85.3%
  • Enrolled
  • UB 14.1%
  • UC 22.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UB 1300
  • UC 1270
  • Typical ACT score
  • UB 29
  • UC 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • UB 3.75
  • UC 3.69
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UB A-
  • UC A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UB Very High
  • UC Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • UB Low
  • UC
  • ACT Range
  • UB 27/32
  • UC 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • UB 1210/1380
  • UC 1160/1370
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UB Test optional
  • UC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UB
  • UC Mar 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UB 11:1
  • UC 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UB
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • UC
    • Health Professions (16%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UB 71%
  • UC 59%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UB $58,400
  • UC $45,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UB 70%
  • UC 57%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UB $19,500
  • UC $23,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UB $201
  • UC $237

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UB 51%
  • UC 47%
  • % Women
  • UB 49%
  • UC 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UB High
  • UC Low
  • HBCU
  • UB No
  • UC No
  • % White
  • UB 48%
  • UC 75%
  • % Asian
  • UB 14%
  • UC 3%
  • % Black
  • UB 7%
  • UC 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • UB 6%
  • UC 3%
  • % Native American
  • UB 0%
  • UC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UB 0%
  • UC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UB 2%
  • UC 3%
  • % International
  • UB 16%
  • UC 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UB 5%
  • UC 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UB 88%
  • UC 74%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UB 3%
  • UC 22%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University at Buffalo in Buffalo, NY with University of Cincinnati Main Campus in Cincinnati, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Cincinnati Main Campus is larger than UB based on total student enrollment (45,026 students vs. 31,903 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University at Buffalo is located in Buffalo, NY (Large Suburban setting); University of Cincinnati Main Campus is in Cincinnati, OH (Large City setting).
  • University at Buffalo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Cincinnati Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University at Buffalo 11:1; University of Cincinnati Main Campus 19:1.

UB vs. UC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UB or UC? 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 UC ($20,529 vs. $24,696).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Cincinnati Main Campus are 22.2% lower than at University at Buffalo ($13,564 vs. $17,426).
  • University of Cincinnati Main Campus is 27.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than UB (about $3,040 more per year; $13,976.00 vs. $10,936.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7.6% higher at UB than at University of Cincinnati Main Campus (about $2,226 more per year; $31,536.00 vs. $29,310.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University at Buffalo than at University of Cincinnati Main Campus (76% vs. 73%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University at Buffalo students is 30.1% larger than aid received by University of Cincinnati Main Campus students ($10,663 vs. $8,196).

UB vs. UC Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at University at Buffalo (1300) is 30 points higher than at UC (1270).
  • Incoming UB students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (29 vs. 26 at UC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University at Buffalo 1210/1380; University of Cincinnati Main Campus 1160/1370.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University at Buffalo 27/32; University of Cincinnati Main Campus 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UB - Test optional; UC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UC Mar 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman UB students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at UC (3.69).
  • UC has a higher acceptance rate (85.3%) than UB (74.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.1% at UB vs. 22.5% at UC.

UB vs. UC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UB and UC? 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.

  • University at Buffalo's six-year graduation rate (71%) is higher than University of Cincinnati Main Campus's (59%).
  • Graduates from University at Buffalo earn a median of about $12,800 more per year than UC graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,400 vs. $45,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University at Buffalo graduates have a $3,500 lower median loan debt than UC graduates ($19,500 vs. $23,000).
  • Among borrowers, UB graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UC graduates ($201 vs. $237).
  • More UB graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 57%)

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.