IU vs. UB

Deciding between Indiana University Bloomington 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.

Indiana University Bloomington
University at Buffalo

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IU Bloomington, IN
  • UB Buffalo, NY
  • Setting
  • IU Small City
  • UB Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • IU 48,424
  • UB 31,903
  • Type
  • IU Public 4 Year
  • UB Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IU #207
  • UB #101
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IU -
  • UB -
  • Status
  • IU Non-profit
  • UB Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IU
  • UB

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IU $12,144
  • UB $10,936
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IU $41,891
  • UB $31,536
  • Room & Board
  • IU $13,984
  • UB $17,426
  • Average Net Price
  • IU $17,270
  • UB $20,529
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IU $10,487
  • UB $10,663
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IU 73%
  • UB 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IU 67,658
  • UB 40,856
  • Admitted
  • IU 52,918
  • UB 30,308
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IU 78.2%
  • UB 74.2%
  • Enrolled
  • IU 18.2%
  • UB 14.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IU 1290
  • UB 1300
  • Typical ACT score
  • IU 30
  • UB 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • IU 3.74
  • UB 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IU A-
  • UB A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • IU Very High
  • UB Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • IU
  • UB Low
  • ACT Range
  • IU 27/33
  • UB 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • IU 1170/1400
  • UB 1210/1380
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IU Test optional
  • UB Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IU
  • UB

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IU 18:1
  • UB 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IU
    • Business (21%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Education (7%)
  • UB
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Communication (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IU 72%
  • UB 71%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IU $56,200
  • UB $58,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IU 72%
  • UB 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IU $22,500
  • UB $19,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IU $232
  • UB $201

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IU 50%
  • UB 51%
  • % Women
  • IU 50%
  • UB 49%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IU Medium
  • UB High
  • HBCU
  • IU No
  • UB No
  • % White
  • IU 71%
  • UB 48%
  • % Asian
  • IU 4%
  • UB 14%
  • % Black
  • IU 4%
  • UB 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • IU 5%
  • UB 6%
  • % Native American
  • IU 0%
  • UB 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IU 0%
  • UB 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IU 4%
  • UB 2%
  • % International
  • IU 11%
  • UB 16%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IU 0%
  • UB 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IU 55%
  • UB 88%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IU 41%
  • UB 3%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Indiana University Bloomington in Bloomington, IN with University at Buffalo in Buffalo, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Indiana University Bloomington is larger than UB based on total student enrollment (48,424 students vs. 31,903 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Indiana University Bloomington is located in Bloomington, IN (Small City setting); University at Buffalo is in Buffalo, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • Indiana University Bloomington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University at Buffalo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Indiana University Bloomington 18:1; University at Buffalo 11:1.

IU vs. UB Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IU 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 Indiana University Bloomington than UB ($17,270 vs. $20,529).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana University Bloomington are 19.8% lower than at University at Buffalo ($13,984 vs. $17,426).
  • Indiana University Bloomington is 11% more expensive for in-state tuition than UB (about $1,208 more per year; $12,144.00 vs. $10,936.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 32.8% higher at IU than at University at Buffalo (about $10,355 more per year; $41,891.00 vs. $31,536.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University at Buffalo than at Indiana University Bloomington (76% vs. 73%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University at Buffalo students is 1.7% larger than aid received by Indiana University Bloomington students ($10,663 vs. $10,487).

IU vs. UB Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, IU 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 IU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University at Buffalo (1300) is 10 points higher than at IU (1290).
  • Incoming IU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 29 at UB).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University Bloomington 1170/1400; University at Buffalo 1210/1380.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University Bloomington 27/33; University at Buffalo 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IU - Test optional; UB - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman UB students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at IU (3.74).
  • IU has a higher acceptance rate (78.2%) than UB (74.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.2% at IU vs. 14.1% at UB.

IU vs. UB Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IU 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).

  • Indiana University Bloomington's six-year graduation rate (72%) is higher than University at Buffalo's (71%).
  • Graduates from University at Buffalo earn a median of about $2,200 more per year than IU graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,400 vs. $56,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University at Buffalo graduates have a $3,000 lower median loan debt than IU graduates ($19,500 vs. $22,500).
  • Among borrowers, UB graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IU graduates ($201 vs. $232).
  • More IU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UB students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 70%)

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.