The Pennsylvania State University (PSU) vs University at Buffalo (UB)

Envision yourself as a college student, surrounded by vibrant campuses and endless opportunities. As you embark on your academic journey, it's crucial to find the university that aligns with your aspirations and goals. To help you make an informed decision, we present a comprehensive comparison between The Pennsylvania State University and the University at Buffalo. Delve into the details of acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates, meticulously presented in a side-by-side format. Discover the unique strengths and characteristics of each institution, empowering you to choose the environment that best fosters your intellectual growth and personal development.
The Pennsylvania State University logo

The Pennsylvania State University

University at Buffalo logo

University at Buffalo

Overview

Location University Park, Pennsylvania Buffalo, New York
Campus setting City: Small Suburb: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 87.0% 83.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 92.3% 70.1%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $65

Graduate: $65
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $75
SAT range 1140 - 1360 1180 - 1360
ACT range 25 - 31 25 - 31
Students submitting SAT score 32.0% 29.0%
Students submitting ACT score 6.0% 5.0%
Total number of applicants 96,686 30,750
Total number of admissions given out 89,207 21,552
Admitted students who chose to enroll 16,049 4,309
Yield rate 18.0% 20.0%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $38,270

Out of state: $55,848
In state: $30,240

Out of state: $48,160
Average net price $24,012 $17,954
Tuition
In state: $18,368

Out of state: $35,946
In state: $7,070

Out of state: $24,990
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $7,360

Meal plan: $5,618
Room/dormitory: $8,952

Meal plan: $6,500
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

51.0%
Average amount $9,884
71.0%
Average amount $8,810
Students receiving federal student loan 49.0%
Average amount $5,305
45.0%
Average amount $5,071
Students taking out private loans 13.0%
Average amount $19,837
8.0%
Average amount $13,892

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 73,476
Men 53.7% Women 46.3%
21,467
Men 54.3% Women 45.7%
Graduate students 15,438
Men 51.7% Women 48.3%
10,865
Men 47.5% Women 52.5%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Moderate
Out-of-state students 34.1% 3.2%
International students 10.5% 18.3%
Campus local/setting City: Small Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity 20,547 7,711
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Pennsylvania New Jersey New York Maryland Virginia New York New Jersey Pennsylvania Connecticut Florida

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Health Professions
  • Social Sciences
  • Health Professions
  • Engineering
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Education
  • Social Sciences
Students to faculty ratio 15:1 13:1
Institutional accreditation Middle States Commission on Higher Education Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 72.3% 73.8%
Dropout rate 25.7% 8.7%
Transferred out N/A 16.4%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Information Science/Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $109,295
  • Year 2: $120,549
  • Year 3: $125,527
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $99,798
  • Year 2: $95,930
  • Year 3: $120,289
Computer Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $100,190
  • Year 2: $97,959
  • Year 3: $113,544
Mining and Mineral Engineering (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $98,403
  • Year 3: $108,754
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $100,372
  • Year 2: $100,455
  • Year 3: $107,874
Systems Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $96,574
  • Year 2: $99,291
  • Year 3: $104,370
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $95,304
  • Year 2: $97,855
  • Year 3: $104,056
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $92,512
  • Year 2: $94,864
  • Year 3: $103,461
Management Information Systems and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $92,632
  • Year 3: $98,201
Nuclear Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $89,155
  • Year 3: $94,780
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $140,469
  • Year 2: $159,761
  • Year 3: $146,042
Dentistry (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $70,533
  • Year 2: $67,772
  • Year 3: $132,503
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $95,335
  • Year 2: $104,510
  • Year 3: $123,979
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,109
  • Year 2: $61,020
  • Year 3: $82,514
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $70,415
  • Year 2: $68,499
  • Year 3: $78,884
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,859
  • Year 2: $67,101
  • Year 3: $76,613
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,249
  • Year 2: $61,078
  • Year 3: $75,877
Civil Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,773
  • Year 2: $66,653
  • Year 3: $75,097
Industrial Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,581
  • Year 2: $59,350
  • Year 3: $74,704
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,797
  • Year 2: $59,485
  • Year 3: $72,822

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