UB vs. UofSC

Deciding between University at Buffalo and University of South Carolina Columbia? 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 at Buffalo
University of South Carolina Columbia

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UB Buffalo, NY
  • UofSC Columbia, SC
  • Setting
  • UB Large Suburban
  • UofSC Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • UB 31,903
  • UofSC 38,532
  • Type
  • UB Public 4 Year
  • UofSC Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UB #101
  • UofSC #220
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UB -
  • UofSC -
  • Status
  • UB Non-profit
  • UofSC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UB
  • UofSC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UB $10,936
  • UofSC $12,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UB $31,536
  • UofSC $35,972
  • Room & Board
  • UB $17,426
  • UofSC $13,534
  • Average Net Price
  • UB $20,529
  • UofSC $24,488
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UB $10,663
  • UofSC $7,139
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UB 76%
  • UofSC 91%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UB 40,856
  • UofSC 52,703
  • Admitted
  • UB 30,308
  • UofSC 31,701
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UB 74.2%
  • UofSC 60.2%
  • Enrolled
  • UB 14.1%
  • UofSC 22.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UB 1300
  • UofSC 1270
  • Typical ACT score
  • UB 29
  • UofSC 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • UB 3.75
  • UofSC 3.69
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UB A-
  • UofSC A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UB Very High
  • UofSC Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UB Low
  • UofSC Low
  • ACT Range
  • UB 27/32
  • UofSC 26/32
  • SAT Range
  • UB 1210/1380
  • UofSC 1180/1360
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UB Test optional
  • UofSC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UB
  • UofSC Dec 1, 2026

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UB 11:1
  • UofSC 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UB
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • UofSC
    • Business (35%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UB 71%
  • UofSC 70%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UB $58,400
  • UofSC $51,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UB 70%
  • UofSC 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UB $19,500
  • UofSC $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UB $201
  • UofSC $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UB 51%
  • UofSC 40%
  • % Women
  • UB 49%
  • UofSC 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UB High
  • UofSC Low
  • HBCU
  • UB No
  • UofSC No
  • % White
  • UB 48%
  • UofSC 77%
  • % Asian
  • UB 14%
  • UofSC 3%
  • % Black
  • UB 7%
  • UofSC 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • UB 6%
  • UofSC 4%
  • % Native American
  • UB 0%
  • UofSC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UB 0%
  • UofSC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UB 2%
  • UofSC 4%
  • % International
  • UB 16%
  • UofSC 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UB 5%
  • UofSC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UB 88%
  • UofSC 54%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UB 3%
  • UofSC 45%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University at Buffalo in Buffalo, NY with University of South Carolina Columbia in Columbia, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of South Carolina Columbia is larger than UB based on total student enrollment (38,532 students vs. 31,903 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University at Buffalo is located in Buffalo, NY (Large Suburban setting); University of South Carolina Columbia is in Columbia, SC (Midsize City setting).
  • University at Buffalo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of South Carolina Columbia is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University at Buffalo 11:1; University of South Carolina Columbia 19:1.

UB vs. UofSC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UB or UofSC? 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 UofSC ($20,529 vs. $24,488).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Carolina Columbia are 22.3% lower than at University at Buffalo ($13,534 vs. $17,426).
  • University of South Carolina Columbia is 16% more expensive for in-state tuition than UB (about $1,752 more per year; $12,688.00 vs. $10,936.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 14.1% higher at UofSC than at University at Buffalo (about $4,436 more per year; $35,972.00 vs. $31,536.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of South Carolina Columbia than at University at Buffalo (91% vs. 76%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University at Buffalo students is 49.4% larger than aid received by University of South Carolina Columbia students ($10,663 vs. $7,139).

UB vs. UofSC Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University at Buffalo (1300) is 30 points higher than at UofSC (1270).
  • Incoming UB students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 29) as students at UofSC (29).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University at Buffalo 1210/1380; University of South Carolina Columbia 1180/1360.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University at Buffalo 27/32; University of South Carolina Columbia 26/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UB - Test optional; UofSC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UofSC Dec 1, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman UB students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at UofSC (3.69).
  • UB has a higher acceptance rate (74.2%) than UofSC (60.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.1% at UB vs. 22.9% at UofSC.

UB vs. UofSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UB and UofSC? 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 South Carolina Columbia's (70%).
  • Graduates from University at Buffalo earn a median of about $6,700 more per year than UofSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,400 vs. $51,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University at Buffalo graduates have a $3,750 lower median loan debt than UofSC graduates ($19,500 vs. $23,250).
  • Among borrowers, UB graduates have an estimated $39 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UofSC graduates ($201 vs. $240).
  • More UB graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UofSC students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 69%)

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.