UB vs. UH

Deciding between University at Buffalo and University of Houston? 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 Houston

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UB Buffalo, NY
  • UH Houston, TX
  • Setting
  • UB Large Suburban
  • UH Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • UB 31,903
  • UH 47,980
  • Type
  • UB Public 4 Year
  • UH Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UB #101
  • UH #449
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UB -
  • UH -
  • Status
  • UB Non-profit
  • UH Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UB
  • UH

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UB $10,936
  • UH $9,717
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UB $31,536
  • UH $22,547
  • Room & Board
  • UB $17,426
  • UH $11,286
  • Average Net Price
  • UB $20,529
  • UH $14,309
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UB $10,663
  • UH $12,159
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UB 76%
  • UH 74%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UB 40,856
  • UH 31,716
  • Admitted
  • UB 30,308
  • UH 23,446
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UB 74.2%
  • UH 73.9%
  • Enrolled
  • UB 14.1%
  • UH 26.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UB 1300
  • UH 1250
  • Typical ACT score
  • UB 29
  • UH 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • UB 3.75
  • UH 3.46
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UB A-
  • UH B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • UB Very High
  • UH Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • UB Low
  • UH Low
  • ACT Range
  • UB 27/32
  • UH 23/29
  • SAT Range
  • UB 1210/1380
  • UH 1160/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UB Test optional
  • UH Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UB
  • UH May 31, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UB 11:1
  • UH 22:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UB
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • UH
    • Business (30%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Biology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UB 71%
  • UH 46%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UB $58,400
  • UH $59,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UB 70%
  • UH 61%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UB $19,500
  • UH $19,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UB $201
  • UH $204

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UB 51%
  • UH 48%
  • % Women
  • UB 49%
  • UH 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UB High
  • UH Very High
  • HBCU
  • UB No
  • UH No
  • % White
  • UB 48%
  • UH 26%
  • % Asian
  • UB 14%
  • UH 22%
  • % Black
  • UB 7%
  • UH 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • UB 6%
  • UH 32%
  • % Native American
  • UB 0%
  • UH 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UB 0%
  • UH 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UB 2%
  • UH 3%
  • % International
  • UB 16%
  • UH 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UB 5%
  • UH 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UB 88%
  • UH 93%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UB 3%
  • UH 3%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University at Buffalo in Buffalo, NY with University of Houston in Houston, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Houston is larger than UB based on total student enrollment (47,980 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 Houston is in Houston, TX (Large City setting).
  • University at Buffalo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Houston is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University at Buffalo 11:1; University of Houston 22:1.

UB vs. UH Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UB or UH? 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 of Houston than UB ($14,309 vs. $20,529).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Houston are 35.2% lower than at University at Buffalo ($11,286 vs. $17,426).
  • University at Buffalo is 12.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than UH (about $1,219 more per year; $10,936.00 vs. $9,717.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 39.9% higher at UB than at University of Houston (about $8,989 more per year; $31,536.00 vs. $22,547.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University at Buffalo than at University of Houston (76% vs. 74%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Houston students is 14% larger than aid received by University at Buffalo students ($12,159 vs. $10,663).

UB vs. UH Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University at Buffalo (1300) is 50 points higher than at UH (1250).
  • Incoming UB students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 26 at UH).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University at Buffalo 1210/1380; University of Houston 1160/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University at Buffalo 27/32; University of Houston 23/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UB - Test optional; UH - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UH May 31, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UB students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at UH (3.46).
  • UB has a higher acceptance rate (74.2%) than UH (73.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.1% at UB vs. 26.5% at UH.

UB vs. UH Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UB and UH? 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 University of Houston's (46%).
  • Graduates from University of Houston earn a median of about $600 more per year than UB graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,000 vs. $58,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University at Buffalo graduates have a $250 lower median loan debt than UH graduates ($19,500 vs. $19,750).
  • Among borrowers, UB graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UH graduates ($201 vs. $204).
  • More UB graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UH students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 61%)

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.