RIT vs. UB

Deciding between Rochester Institute of Technology 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.

Rochester Institute of Technology
University at Buffalo

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • RIT Rochester, NY
  • UB Buffalo, NY
  • Setting
  • RIT Large Suburban
  • UB Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • RIT 17,098
  • UB 31,903
  • Type
  • RIT Private 4 Year
  • UB Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • RIT #175
  • UB #101
  • Religious Affiliation
  • RIT -
  • UB -
  • Status
  • RIT Non-profit
  • UB Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • RIT
  • UB

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • RIT $59,274
  • UB $10,936
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • RIT $59,274
  • UB $31,536
  • Room & Board
  • RIT $16,142
  • UB $17,426
  • Average Net Price
  • RIT $39,534
  • UB $20,529
  • Average Grant Aid
  • RIT $35,077
  • UB $10,663
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • RIT 98%
  • UB 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • RIT 27,911
  • UB 40,856
  • Admitted
  • RIT 18,682
  • UB 30,308
  • Acceptance Rate
  • RIT 66.9%
  • UB 74.2%
  • Enrolled
  • RIT 16.3%
  • UB 14.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • RIT 1380
  • UB 1300
  • Typical ACT score
  • RIT 31
  • UB 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • RIT 3.7
  • UB 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • RIT A-
  • UB A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • RIT Very High
  • UB Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • RIT Low
  • UB Low
  • ACT Range
  • RIT 29/33
  • UB 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • RIT 1300/1460
  • UB 1210/1380
  • Submit Test Scores
  • RIT Test optional
  • UB Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • RIT Jan 15, 2027
  • UB

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • RIT 13:1
  • UB 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • RIT
    • Visual and Performing Arts (16%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (14%)
    • Engineering (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Engineering Technology (11%)
  • UB
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Communication (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • RIT 64%
  • UB 71%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • RIT $64,900
  • UB $58,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • RIT 75%
  • UB 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • RIT $28,000
  • UB $19,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • RIT $289
  • UB $201

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • RIT 64%
  • UB 51%
  • % Women
  • RIT 36%
  • UB 49%
  • Racial Diversity
  • RIT Medium
  • UB High
  • HBCU
  • RIT No
  • UB No
  • % White
  • RIT 66%
  • UB 48%
  • % Asian
  • RIT 8%
  • UB 14%
  • % Black
  • RIT 5%
  • UB 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • RIT 7%
  • UB 6%
  • % Native American
  • RIT 0%
  • UB 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • RIT 0%
  • UB 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • RIT 3%
  • UB 2%
  • % International
  • RIT 6%
  • UB 16%
  • % Unknown Race
  • RIT 5%
  • UB 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • RIT 44%
  • UB 88%
  • % Out-of-State
  • RIT 51%
  • UB 3%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY 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 RIT based on total student enrollment (31,903 students vs. 17,098 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rochester Institute of Technology is located in Rochester, NY (Large Suburban setting); University at Buffalo is in Buffalo, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • Rochester Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University at Buffalo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rochester Institute of Technology 13:1; University at Buffalo 11:1.

RIT vs. UB Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RIT 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 at Buffalo than RIT ($20,529 vs. $39,534).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rochester Institute of Technology are 7.4% lower than at University at Buffalo ($16,142 vs. $17,426).
  • Rochester Institute of Technology is 442% more expensive for in-state tuition than UB (about $48,338 more per year; $59,274.00 vs. $10,936.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 88% higher at RIT than at University at Buffalo (about $27,738 more per year; $59,274.00 vs. $31,536.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rochester Institute of Technology than at University at Buffalo (98% vs. 76%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rochester Institute of Technology students is 229% larger than aid received by University at Buffalo students ($35,077 vs. $10,663).

RIT vs. UB Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, RIT 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 RIT .

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rochester Institute of Technology (1380) is 80 points higher than at UB (1300).
  • Incoming RIT students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 29 at UB).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rochester Institute of Technology 1300/1460; University at Buffalo 1210/1380.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rochester Institute of Technology 29/33; University at Buffalo 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: RIT - Test optional; UB - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: RIT Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UB students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at RIT (3.7).
  • UB has a higher acceptance rate (74.2%) than RIT (66.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.3% at RIT vs. 14.1% at UB.

RIT vs. UB Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for RIT 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 Rochester Institute of Technology's (64%).
  • Graduates from Rochester Institute of Technology earn a median of about $6,500 more per year than UB graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,900 vs. $58,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University at Buffalo graduates have a $8,500 lower median loan debt than RIT graduates ($19,500 vs. $28,000).
  • Among borrowers, UB graduates have an estimated $88 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RIT graduates ($201 vs. $289).
  • More RIT graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UB students, three years after graduation. (75% 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.