WMU vs. Buffalo State College

Should I go to Western Michigan University or SUNY College at Buffalo? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if WMU or Buffalo State College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Western Michigan University vs. SUNY College at Buffalo comparison
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Western Michigan University SUNY College at Buffalo
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Overview

WMU Buffalo State College
Location Kalamazoo, MI Buffalo, NY
Setting Small City Large City
Enrollment 17,000 6,445
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #634 #665
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wmich.edu buffalostate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

WMU Buffalo State College
Tuition (In State) $14,523 $7,070
Tuition (Out of State) $18,154 $16,980
Room & Board $11,102 $14,386
Avg Net Price $20,030 $13,812
Avg Grant Aid $6,813 $10,756
% Receiving Grant Aid 93% 92%

Admission

WMU Buffalo State College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 20,501 12,292
Admitted 17,334 10,569
Acceptance Rate 84.6% 86%
Enrolled % 15.1% 11.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.5 2.84
Typical High School Grades B+ B-
Admissions Standards Average Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/27
SAT Range 990/1220 940/1178
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

WMU Buffalo State College
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Communication (6%)
  • Engineering (6%)
  • Education (26%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)

Outcomes

WMU Buffalo State College
Graduation Rate 56% 47%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,900 $40,700
Making Student Loan Payments 54% 59%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,633 $21,409
Median Loan Payment $275 $221

Diversity

WMU Buffalo State College
% Men 47% 41%
% Women 53% 59%
Racial Diversity Low High
HBCU No No
% White 72% 51%
% Black 12% 28%
% Hispanic 5% 12%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 4% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

WMU Buffalo State College
% In-State 79% 96%
% Out-of-State 19% 3%

Campus

WMU Buffalo State College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Western Michigan University is larger than than Buffalo State College based on total student enrollment (17,000 students vs. 6,445 students)

WMU vs. Buffalo State College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WMU or Buffalo State College?

  • Western Michigan University is 105.4% more expensive to attend than Buffalo State College for in-state tuition ($14,523.00 vs. $7,070.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 6.9% higher at WMU than SUNY College at Buffalo ($18,154.00 vs. $16,980.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at SUNY College at Buffalo than WMU ($13,812 vs. $20,030)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Michigan University are 29.6% lower than costs at SUNY College at Buffalo ($11,102 vs. $14,386)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Western Michigan University than SUNY College at Buffalo (93% vs. 92%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by SUNY College at Buffalo students is 57.9% larger than aid received Western Michigan University ($10,756 vs. $6,813)

WMU vs. Buffalo State College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, WMU or Buffalo State College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Buffalo State College or WMU .

  • The average SAT score at Western Michigan University (1030) is 129 points higher than at Buffalo State College (901)
  • Incoming WMU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Buffalo State College (19)
  • Accepted freshman WMU students have a 0.66 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Buffalo State College (2.84)
  • Buffalo State College has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than WMU (84.6%)

WMU vs. Buffalo State College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, WMU or Buffalo State College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Buffalo State College and WMU.

  • The graduation rate at WMU is higher than SUNY College at Buffalo (56% vs. 47%)
  • Graduates from Western Michigan University earn on average $8,200 more per year than Buffalo State College graduates after ten years. ($48,900 vs. $40,700)
  • SUNY College at Buffalo students graduate with a $5,224 lower median federal student loan debt than WMU graduates. ($21,409 vs. $26,633)
  • Buffalo State College graduates are paying $54 less per month on federal student loans than WMU graduates. ($221 vs. $275)
  • More Buffalo State College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WMU students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 54%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/