UCF vs. UB

Deciding between University of Central Florida 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 Central Florida
University at Buffalo

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCF Orlando, FL
  • UB Buffalo, NY
  • Setting
  • UCF Large Suburban
  • UB Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UCF 69,713
  • UB 31,903
  • Type
  • UCF Public 4 Year
  • UB Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCF #412
  • UB #101
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCF -
  • UB -
  • Status
  • UCF Non-profit
  • UB Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCF
  • UB

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCF $6,368
  • UB $10,936
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCF $22,467
  • UB $31,536
  • Room & Board
  • UCF $12,452
  • UB $17,426
  • Average Net Price
  • UCF $13,351
  • UB $20,529
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCF $9,704
  • UB $10,663
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCF 86%
  • UB 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCF 61,456
  • UB 40,856
  • Admitted
  • UCF 24,653
  • UB 30,308
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCF 40.1%
  • UB 74.2%
  • Enrolled
  • UCF 33.5%
  • UB 14.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCF 1280
  • UB 1300
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCF 27
  • UB 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCF 3.64
  • UB 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCF A-
  • UB A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCF Difficult
  • UB Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCF Low
  • UB Low
  • ACT Range
  • UCF 25/29
  • UB 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • UCF 1200/1350
  • UB 1210/1380
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCF Required
  • UB Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UCF May 1, 2027
  • UB

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCF 28:1
  • UB 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCF
    • Business (25%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Engineering (5%)
  • UB
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Communication (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCF 63%
  • UB 71%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCF $48,900
  • UB $58,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCF 59%
  • UB 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCF $18,270
  • UB $19,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCF $188
  • UB $201

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCF 46%
  • UB 51%
  • % Women
  • UCF 54%
  • UB 49%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCF High
  • UB High
  • HBCU
  • UCF No
  • UB No
  • % White
  • UCF 53%
  • UB 48%
  • % Asian
  • UCF 6%
  • UB 14%
  • % Black
  • UCF 11%
  • UB 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCF 24%
  • UB 6%
  • % Native American
  • UCF 0%
  • UB 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCF 0%
  • UB 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCF 4%
  • UB 2%
  • % International
  • UCF 1%
  • UB 16%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCF 1%
  • UB 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCF 93%
  • UB 88%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCF 6%
  • UB 3%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Central Florida in Orlando, FL with University at Buffalo in Buffalo, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Central Florida is larger than UB based on total student enrollment (69,713 students vs. 31,903 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Central Florida is located in Orlando, FL (Large Suburban setting); University at Buffalo is in Buffalo, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of Central Florida 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 Central Florida 28:1; University at Buffalo 11:1.

UCF vs. UB Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCF 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 Central Florida than UB ($13,351 vs. $20,529).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Central Florida are 28.5% lower than at University at Buffalo ($12,452 vs. $17,426).
  • University at Buffalo is 71.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCF (about $4,568 more per year; $10,936.00 vs. $6,368.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 40.4% higher at UB than at University of Central Florida (about $9,069 more per year; $31,536.00 vs. $22,467.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Central Florida than at University at Buffalo (86% vs. 76%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University at Buffalo students is 9.9% larger than aid received by University of Central Florida students ($10,663 vs. $9,704).

UCF vs. UB Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCF 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 UCF.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University at Buffalo (1300) is 20 points higher than at UCF (1280).
  • Incoming UB students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 27 at UCF).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Central Florida 1200/1350; University at Buffalo 1210/1380.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Central Florida 25/29; University at Buffalo 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCF - Required; UB - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCF May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UB students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at UCF (3.64).
  • UB has a higher acceptance rate (74.2%) than UCF (40.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 33.5% at UCF vs. 14.1% at UB.

UCF vs. UB Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCF 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 Central Florida's (63%).
  • Graduates from University at Buffalo earn a median of about $9,500 more per year than UCF graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,400 vs. $48,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Central Florida graduates have a $1,230 lower median loan debt than UB graduates ($18,270 vs. $19,500).
  • Among borrowers, UCF graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UB graduates ($188 vs. $201).
  • More UB graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCF students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 59%)

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.