UMass vs. UB

Deciding between University of Massachusetts Amherst 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 Massachusetts Amherst
University at Buffalo

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UMass Amherst, MA
  • UB Buffalo, NY
  • Setting
  • UMass Town Fringe
  • UB Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UMass 31,726
  • UB 31,903
  • Type
  • UMass Public 4 Year
  • UB Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UMass #169
  • UB #101
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UMass -
  • UB -
  • Status
  • UMass Non-profit
  • UB Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UMass
  • UB

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UMass $17,772
  • UB $10,936
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UMass $40,449
  • UB $31,536
  • Room & Board
  • UMass $16,710
  • UB $17,426
  • Average Net Price
  • UMass $22,948
  • UB $20,529
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UMass $13,110
  • UB $10,663
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UMass 81%
  • UB 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UMass 50,261
  • UB 40,856
  • Admitted
  • UMass 30,020
  • UB 30,308
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UMass 59.7%
  • UB 74.2%
  • Enrolled
  • UMass 17.9%
  • UB 14.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UMass 1410
  • UB 1300
  • Typical ACT score
  • UMass 31
  • UB 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • UMass 3.99
  • UB 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UMass A
  • UB A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UMass Exceptional
  • UB Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UMass Low
  • UB Low
  • ACT Range
  • UMass 30/33
  • UB 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • UMass 1310/1500
  • UB 1210/1380
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UMass Test optional
  • UB Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UMass Jan 15, 2027
  • UB

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UMass 17:1
  • UB 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UMass
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • UB
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Communication (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UMass 67%
  • UB 71%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UMass $55,200
  • UB $58,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UMass 76%
  • UB 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UMass $24,000
  • UB $19,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UMass $248
  • UB $201

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UMass 48%
  • UB 51%
  • % Women
  • UMass 52%
  • UB 49%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UMass Medium
  • UB High
  • HBCU
  • UMass No
  • UB No
  • % White
  • UMass 67%
  • UB 48%
  • % Asian
  • UMass 9%
  • UB 14%
  • % Black
  • UMass 4%
  • UB 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • UMass 5%
  • UB 6%
  • % Native American
  • UMass 0%
  • UB 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UMass 0%
  • UB 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UMass 3%
  • UB 2%
  • % International
  • UMass 4%
  • UB 16%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UMass 8%
  • UB 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UMass 69%
  • UB 88%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UMass 22%
  • UB 3%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Massachusetts Amherst in Amherst, MA 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 UMass based on total student enrollment (31,903 students vs. 31,726 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Massachusetts Amherst is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); University at Buffalo is in Buffalo, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst 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 Massachusetts Amherst 17:1; University at Buffalo 11:1.

UMass vs. UB Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMass 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 UMass ($20,529 vs. $22,948).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Massachusetts Amherst are 4.1% lower than at University at Buffalo ($16,710 vs. $17,426).
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst is 62.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than UB (about $6,836 more per year; $17,772.00 vs. $10,936.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 28.3% higher at UMass than at University at Buffalo (about $8,913 more per year; $40,449.00 vs. $31,536.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Massachusetts Amherst than at University at Buffalo (81% vs. 76%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Massachusetts Amherst students is 22.9% larger than aid received by University at Buffalo students ($13,110 vs. $10,663).

UMass vs. UB Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UMass 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 UMass.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Massachusetts Amherst (1410) is 110 points higher than at UB (1300).
  • Incoming UMass 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: University of Massachusetts Amherst 1310/1500; University at Buffalo 1210/1380.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Massachusetts Amherst 30/33; University at Buffalo 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UMass - Test optional; UB - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UMass Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UMass students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.99) than students at UB (3.75).
  • UB has a higher acceptance rate (74.2%) than UMass (59.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.9% at UMass vs. 14.1% at UB.

UMass vs. UB Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UMass 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 Massachusetts Amherst's (67%).
  • Graduates from University at Buffalo earn a median of about $3,200 more per year than UMass graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,400 vs. $55,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University at Buffalo graduates have a $4,500 lower median loan debt than UMass graduates ($19,500 vs. $24,000).
  • Among borrowers, UB graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UMass graduates ($201 vs. $248).
  • More UMass graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UB students, three years after graduation. (76% 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.