WSU vs. UB

Deciding between Wayne State University 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.

Wayne State University
University at Buffalo

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • WSU Detroit, MI
  • UB Buffalo, NY
  • Setting
  • WSU Large City
  • UB Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • WSU 23,803
  • UB 31,903
  • Type
  • WSU Public 4 Year
  • UB Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • WSU #551
  • UB #101
  • Religious Affiliation
  • WSU -
  • UB -
  • Status
  • WSU Non-profit
  • UB Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • WSU
  • UB

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • WSU $15,190
  • UB $10,936
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • WSU $32,037
  • UB $31,536
  • Room & Board
  • WSU $14,252
  • UB $17,426
  • Average Net Price
  • WSU $14,416
  • UB $20,529
  • Average Grant Aid
  • WSU $12,953
  • UB $10,663
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • WSU 98%
  • UB 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • WSU 16,981
  • UB 40,856
  • Admitted
  • WSU 13,781
  • UB 30,308
  • Acceptance Rate
  • WSU 81.2%
  • UB 74.2%
  • Enrolled
  • WSU 22.4%
  • UB 14.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • WSU 1170
  • UB 1300
  • Typical ACT score
  • WSU 26
  • UB 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • WSU 3.42
  • UB 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • WSU B+
  • UB A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • WSU Challenging
  • UB Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • WSU
  • UB Low
  • ACT Range
  • WSU 23/29
  • UB 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • WSU 1060/1270
  • UB 1210/1380
  • Submit Test Scores
  • WSU Test optional
  • UB Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • WSU Aug 1, 2027
  • UB

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • WSU 14:1
  • UB 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • WSU
    • Business (17%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • UB
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Communication (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • WSU 26%
  • UB 71%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • WSU $51,000
  • UB $58,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • WSU 38%
  • UB 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • WSU $22,258
  • UB $19,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • WSU $230
  • UB $201

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • WSU 40%
  • UB 51%
  • % Women
  • WSU 60%
  • UB 49%
  • Racial Diversity
  • WSU High
  • UB High
  • HBCU
  • WSU No
  • UB No
  • % White
  • WSU 57%
  • UB 48%
  • % Asian
  • WSU 8%
  • UB 14%
  • % Black
  • WSU 19%
  • UB 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • WSU 5%
  • UB 6%
  • % Native American
  • WSU 0%
  • UB 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • WSU 0%
  • UB 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • WSU 3%
  • UB 2%
  • % International
  • WSU 2%
  • UB 16%
  • % Unknown Race
  • WSU 5%
  • UB 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • WSU 95%
  • UB 88%
  • % Out-of-State
  • WSU 2%
  • UB 3%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Wayne State University in Detroit, MI with University at Buffalo in Buffalo, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University at Buffalo is larger than WSU based on total student enrollment (31,903 students vs. 23,803 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Wayne State University is located in Detroit, MI (Large City setting); University at Buffalo is in Buffalo, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • Wayne State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University at Buffalo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Wayne State University 14:1; University at Buffalo 11:1.

WSU vs. UB Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WSU 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 Wayne State University than UB ($14,416 vs. $20,529).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wayne State University are 18.2% lower than at University at Buffalo ($14,252 vs. $17,426).
  • Wayne State University is 38.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than UB (about $4,254 more per year; $15,190.00 vs. $10,936.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.6% higher at WSU than at University at Buffalo (about $501 more per year; $32,037.00 vs. $31,536.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wayne State University than at University at Buffalo (98% vs. 76%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wayne State University students is 21.5% larger than aid received by University at Buffalo students ($12,953 vs. $10,663).

WSU vs. UB Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at University at Buffalo (1300) is 130 points higher than at WSU (1170).
  • Incoming UB students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (29 vs. 26 at WSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Wayne State University 1060/1270; University at Buffalo 1210/1380.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Wayne State University 23/29; University at Buffalo 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: WSU - Test optional; UB - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: WSU Aug 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman UB students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at WSU (3.42).
  • WSU has a higher acceptance rate (81.2%) than UB (74.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.4% at WSU vs. 14.1% at UB.

WSU vs. UB Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for WSU and UB? 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 Wayne State University's (26%).
  • Graduates from University at Buffalo earn a median of about $7,400 more per year than WSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,400 vs. $51,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University at Buffalo graduates have a $2,758 lower median loan debt than WSU graduates ($19,500 vs. $22,258).
  • Among borrowers, UB graduates have an estimated $29 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WSU graduates ($201 vs. $230).
  • More UB graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSU students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 38%)

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.