University at Buffalo (UB) vs University of Massachusetts-Amherst (UMass)

When it comes to choosing the right university, University at Buffalo (UB) and University of Massachusetts-Amherst (UMass-Amherst) stand out as two excellent options. Both offer a wide range of academic programs, vibrant campus life, and opportunities for personal growth. However, there are some key differences between the two institutions that prospective students should consider. UB boasts a slightly higher acceptance rate, making it a more accessible choice for students with diverse academic backgrounds. UMass-Amherst, on the other hand, has a larger student body and offers a more extensive selection of undergraduate majors. To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table that delves into the acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, graduation rates, and more. Explore the table to discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
University at Buffalo logo

University at Buffalo

University of Massachusetts-Amherst logo

University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Overview

Location Buffalo, New York Amherst, Massachusetts
Campus setting Suburb: Large 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 83.0% 91.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 70.1% 65.5%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $75
Undergraduate: $85

Graduate: $85
SAT range 1180 - 1360 1250 - 1460
ACT range 25 - 31 28 - 33
Students submitting SAT score 29.0% 26.0%
Students submitting ACT score 5.0% 5.0%
Total number of applicants 30,750 42,540
Total number of admissions given out 21,552 27,877
Admitted students who chose to enroll 4,309 4,872
Yield rate 20.0% 17.5%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $30,240

Out of state: $48,160
In state: $32,434

Out of state: $52,959
Average net price $17,954 $17,291
Tuition
In state: $7,070

Out of state: $24,990
In state: $15,791

Out of state: $36,316
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $8,952

Meal plan: $6,500
Room/dormitory: $7,611

Meal plan: $5,984
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

71.0%
Average amount $8,810
86.0%
Average amount $10,662
Students receiving federal student loan 45.0%
Average amount $5,071
39.0%
Average amount $5,123
Students taking out private loans 8.0%
Average amount $13,892
7.0%
Average amount $15,924

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 21,467
Men 54.3% Women 45.7%
24,231
Men 48.8% Women 51.2%
Graduate students 10,865
Men 47.5% Women 52.5%
7,814
Men 47.9% Women 52.1%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Low
Out-of-state students 3.2% N/A
International students 18.3% 11.1%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity 7,711 13,582
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from New York New Jersey Pennsylvania Connecticut Florida New York New Jersey Connecticut California New Hampshire

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Engineering
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Education
  • Social Sciences
  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Health Professions
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Computer and Information Science
Students to faculty ratio 13:1 18:1
Institutional accreditation Middle States Commission on Higher Education New England Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 73.8% 83.7%
Dropout rate 8.7% 5.1%
Transferred out 16.4% 10.5%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
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
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $112,236
  • Year 2: $99,741
  • Year 3: $118,959
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $97,497
  • Year 2: $97,071
  • Year 3: $105,578
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $79,216
  • Year 2: $78,232
  • Year 3: $95,030
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,683
  • Year 2: $75,518
  • Year 3: $94,055
Education, General (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,391
  • Year 2: $76,460
  • Year 3: $79,970
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,906
  • Year 2: $67,202
  • Year 3: $79,007
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,222
  • Year 2: $69,338
  • Year 3: $76,636
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,607
  • Year 2: $68,647
  • Year 3: $74,913
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,719
  • Year 2: $65,594
  • Year 3: $74,578
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,571
  • Year 2: $63,646
  • Year 3: $73,746

Compare Similar Colleges

The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page. There, you can search for the specific colleges and initiate your comparison.
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