U of R vs. UB

Deciding between University of Rochester 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 Rochester
University at Buffalo

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • U of R Rochester, NY
  • UB Buffalo, NY
  • Setting
  • U of R Midsize City
  • UB Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • U of R 11,946
  • UB 31,903
  • Type
  • U of R Private 4 Year
  • UB Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • U of R #56
  • UB #101
  • Religious Affiliation
  • U of R -
  • UB -
  • Status
  • U of R Non-profit
  • UB Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • U of R
  • UB

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • U of R $67,080
  • UB $10,936
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • U of R $67,080
  • UB $31,536
  • Room & Board
  • U of R $19,792
  • UB $17,426
  • Average Net Price
  • U of R $40,462
  • UB $20,529
  • Average Grant Aid
  • U of R $45,500
  • UB $10,663
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • U of R 72%
  • UB 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • U of R 21,384
  • UB 40,856
  • Admitted
  • U of R 8,570
  • UB 30,308
  • Acceptance Rate
  • U of R 40.1%
  • UB 74.2%
  • Enrolled
  • U of R 15.4%
  • UB 14.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • U of R 1480
  • UB 1300
  • Typical ACT score
  • U of R 32
  • UB 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • U of R 3.75
  • UB 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • U of R A-
  • UB A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • U of R Exceptional
  • UB Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • U of R Low
  • UB Low
  • ACT Range
  • U of R 31/34
  • UB 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • U of R 1410/1540
  • UB 1210/1380
  • Submit Test Scores
  • U of R Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • UB Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • U of R Jan 5, 2027
  • UB

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • U of R 9:1
  • UB 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • U of R
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • UB
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Communication (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • U of R 83%
  • UB 71%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • U of R $71,000
  • UB $58,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • U of R 79%
  • UB 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • U of R $24,500
  • UB $19,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • U of R $253
  • UB $201

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • U of R 47%
  • UB 46%
  • % Women
  • U of R 53%
  • UB 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • U of R High
  • UB High
  • HBCU
  • U of R No
  • UB No
  • % White
  • U of R 48%
  • UB 48%
  • % Asian
  • U of R 11%
  • UB 14%
  • % Black
  • U of R 5%
  • UB 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • U of R 7%
  • UB 6%
  • % Native American
  • U of R 0%
  • UB 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • U of R 0%
  • UB 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • U of R 3%
  • UB 2%
  • % International
  • U of R 18%
  • UB 16%
  • % Unknown Race
  • U of R 7%
  • UB 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • U of R 30%
  • UB 88%
  • % Out-of-State
  • U of R 45%
  • UB 3%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Rochester 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 U of R based on total student enrollment (31,903 students vs. 11,946 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Rochester is located in Rochester, NY (Midsize City setting); University at Buffalo is in Buffalo, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of Rochester is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University at Buffalo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Rochester 9:1; University at Buffalo 11:1.

U of R vs. UB Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, U of R 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 U of R ($20,529 vs. $40,462).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University at Buffalo are 12% lower than at University of Rochester ($17,426 vs. $19,792).
  • University of Rochester is 513.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than UB (about $56,144 more per year; $67,080.00 vs. $10,936.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 112.7% higher at U of R than at University at Buffalo (about $35,544 more per year; $67,080.00 vs. $31,536.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University at Buffalo than at University of Rochester (76% vs. 72%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Rochester students is 326.7% larger than aid received by University at Buffalo students ($45,500 vs. $10,663).

U of R vs. UB Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, U of R 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 U of R.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Rochester (1480) is 180 points higher than at UB (1300).
  • Incoming U of R students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 29 at UB).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Rochester 1410/1540; University at Buffalo 1210/1380.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Rochester 31/34; University at Buffalo 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: U of R - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); UB - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: U of R Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman U of R students have the same average high school GPA (3.75) as students at UB (3.75).
  • UB has a higher acceptance rate (74.2%) than U of R (40.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.4% at U of R vs. 14.1% at UB.

U of R vs. UB Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for U of R 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 of Rochester's six-year graduation rate (83%) is higher than University at Buffalo's (71%).
  • Graduates from University of Rochester earn a median of about $12,600 more per year than UB graduates about ten years after starting college ($71,000 vs. $58,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University at Buffalo graduates have a $5,000 lower median loan debt than U of R graduates ($19,500 vs. $24,500).
  • Among borrowers, UB graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than U of R graduates ($201 vs. $253).
  • More U of R graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UB students, three years after graduation. (79% 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.