U of A vs. UB

Deciding between University of Arizona and University at Buffalo? 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 of Arizona
University at Buffalo

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • U of A Tucson, AZ
  • UB Buffalo, NY
  • Setting
  • U of A Large City
  • UB Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • U of A 56,365
  • UB 31,903
  • Type
  • U of A Public 4 Year
  • UB Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • U of A #292
  • UB #101
  • Religious Affiliation
  • U of A -
  • UB -
  • Status
  • U of A Non-profit
  • UB Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • U of A
  • UB

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • U of A $13,926
  • UB $10,936
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • U of A $42,278
  • UB $31,536
  • Room & Board
  • U of A $16,746
  • UB $17,426
  • Average Net Price
  • U of A $19,055
  • UB $20,529
  • Average Grant Aid
  • U of A $13,776
  • UB $10,663
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • U of A 95%
  • UB 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • U of A 58,339
  • UB 40,856
  • Admitted
  • U of A 50,252
  • UB 30,308
  • Acceptance Rate
  • U of A 86.1%
  • UB 74.2%
  • Enrolled
  • U of A 18.4%
  • UB 14.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • U of A 1290
  • UB 1300
  • Typical ACT score
  • U of A 25
  • UB 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • U of A 3.48
  • UB 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • U of A B+
  • UB A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • U of A Difficult
  • UB Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • U of A
  • UB Low
  • ACT Range
  • U of A 21/29
  • UB 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • U of A 1150/1420
  • UB 1210/1380
  • Submit Test Scores
  • U of A Test optional
  • UB Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • U of A
  • UB

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • U of A 20:1
  • UB 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • U of A
    • Business (16%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (5%)
  • UB
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Communication (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • U of A 61%
  • UB 71%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • U of A $54,000
  • UB $58,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • U of A 66%
  • UB 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • U of A $19,000
  • UB $19,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • U of A $196
  • UB $201

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • U of A 45%
  • UB 51%
  • % Women
  • U of A 55%
  • UB 49%
  • Racial Diversity
  • U of A High
  • UB High
  • HBCU
  • U of A No
  • UB No
  • % White
  • U of A 52%
  • UB 48%
  • % Asian
  • U of A 6%
  • UB 14%
  • % Black
  • U of A 4%
  • UB 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • U of A 25%
  • UB 6%
  • % Native American
  • U of A 1%
  • UB 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • U of A 0%
  • UB 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • U of A 4%
  • UB 2%
  • % International
  • U of A 6%
  • UB 16%
  • % Unknown Race
  • U of A 1%
  • UB 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • U of A 50%
  • UB 88%
  • % Out-of-State
  • U of A 45%
  • UB 3%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Arizona is larger than UB based on total student enrollment (56,365 students vs. 31,903 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Arizona is located in Tucson, AZ (Large City setting); University at Buffalo is in Buffalo, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of Arizona is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University at Buffalo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Arizona 20:1; University at Buffalo 11:1.

U of A vs. UB Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, U of A or UB? 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 Arizona than UB ($19,055 vs. $20,529).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Arizona are 3.9% lower than at University at Buffalo ($16,746 vs. $17,426).
  • University of Arizona is 27.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than UB (about $2,990 more per year; $13,926.00 vs. $10,936.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 34.1% higher at U of A than at University at Buffalo (about $10,742 more per year; $42,278.00 vs. $31,536.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Arizona than at University at Buffalo (95% vs. 76%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Arizona students is 29.2% larger than aid received by University at Buffalo students ($13,776 vs. $10,663).

U of A vs. UB Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, U of A or UB? 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 UB and U of A.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University at Buffalo (1300) is 10 points higher than at U of A (1290).
  • Incoming UB students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 25 at U of A).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Arizona 1150/1420; University at Buffalo 1210/1380.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Arizona 21/29; University at Buffalo 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: U of A - Test optional; UB - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman UB students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at U of A (3.48).
  • U of A has a higher acceptance rate (86.1%) than UB (74.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.4% at U of A vs. 14.1% at UB.

U of A vs. UB Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for U of A and UB? 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 Arizona's (61%).
  • Graduates from University at Buffalo earn a median of about $4,400 more per year than U of A graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,400 vs. $54,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Arizona graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than UB graduates ($19,000 vs. $19,500).
  • Among borrowers, U of A graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UB graduates ($196 vs. $201).
  • More UB graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former U of A students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 66%)

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.