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Moderately selectiveReviewed for the 2026-2027 cycle

Buffalo State University acceptance rate and your odds of getting in

Buffalo State University, a public university in New York, reports a 73% acceptance rate and sits in the moderately selective band. In practice that means it admits more applicants than it rejects, so a strong application is judged against an applicant pool that is already self-selected.

Your odds at Buffalo State University
Three numbers, no account, the same published model the full calculator runs.

Use this page to see what Buffalo State University weighs, where it ranks among New York schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1180, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

Acceptance rate
73%
Moderately selective
SAT middle 50%
980-1240
of admitted students
Type
Public
Buffalo, NY
Average net price
$11,346
per year after aid

What do students study at Buffalo State University?

Bachelor's degrees awarded by field in 2023 (IPEDS completions). Each field has its own page with the school's numbers, the model's major adjustment, and peers offering it.

Education · 178 (16.3%)Business, Management and Marketing · 147 (13.5%)Liberal Arts and General Studies · 83 (7.6%)Homeland Security, Law Enforcement and Firefighting · 79 (7.2%)Visual and Performing Arts · 77 (7.1%)Social Sciences · 70 (6.4%)Communication and Journalism · 61 (5.6%)Psychology · 61 (5.6%)Health Professions and Related Programs · 58 (5.3%)Computer and Information Sciences · 55 (5%)Biological and Biomedical Sciences · 47 (4.3%)Engineering Technologies · 45 (4.1%)

Will I get into Buffalo State University?

Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into Buffalo State University, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.

What are my chances of getting into Buffalo State University?

Your odds at Buffalo State University are not the same as its 73% acceptance rate. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for Buffalo State University in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is Buffalo State University hard to get into?

Buffalo State University is moderately selective: it admits more applicants than it rejects, with about a 73% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

What GPA do you need to get into Buffalo State University?

There is no hard GPA cutoff at Buffalo State University, but admitted students often present roughly a 3.2 to 3.7 GPA. Buffalo State University reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.

Calculate your chances at Buffalo State University →

Your chances at Buffalo State University by GPA and SAT

Estimated chance of admission at Buffalo State University for plain profiles, from the same model as the calculator. Unweighted GPA, 3 AP courses, Regular Decision, no legacy, athletic or first-generation hook. The last column is test-optional (no score sent).

What are my chances at Buffalo State University with a 3.1 GPA and a 1110 SAT?

About 90% (Safety), by CollegeCalcAI's deterministic model, for an applicant with a 3.1 unweighted GPA and a 1110 SAT, the middle of Buffalo State University's admitted range, applying Regular Decision without a hook. A 3.4 GPA with a 1240 SAT comes out near 98%. Courses, activities, essays and the application round move the number; the free calculator includes them.

Estimated admission chance at Buffalo State University by unweighted GPA (rows) and SAT score (columns)
GPASAT 98025th pctSAT 1110middleSAT 124075th pctNo testtest-optional
2.525%Target48%Likely72%Safety36%Target
2.850%Likely74%Safety88%Safety70%Safety
3.177%Safety90%Safety96%Safety91%Safety
3.491%Safety97%Safety98%Safety98%Safety

Estimates, not guarantees. Get yours with your real courses and activities. Assistants and developers can fetch this table from the free API: /api/v1/colleges/buffalo-state-university.

How to get into Buffalo State University

Built from Buffalo State University's admitted class and what it reports weighing. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled figures, not published cutoffs.

There is no formula that guarantees a spot at Buffalo State University, but the applicants who get in tend to do the same four things. Here is what the numbers say each one looks like.

Step 1
Match the typical admit on the transcript

CollegeCalcAI's modeled typical admit at Buffalo State University carries about a 3.20 core GPA and a 1190 SAT, in the most rigorous schedule available. Meeting it puts you in the admitted range for most applicants.

Step 2
Decide on scores with the real range

The admitted middle 50% is 980 to 1240 SAT. Submit a score at 1110 or higher; below 980, apply test-optional if the policy allows.

Step 3
Build the file around what Buffalo State University weighs

Buffalo State University rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores highest in its own Common Data Set. Put your depth there: and a transcript whose rigor rises through junior year.

Step 4
Apply in the round that helps

Most public universities read early applicants first without a binding commitment. Apply by Buffalo State University's early or priority deadline (confirm dates at suny.buffalostate.edu), and if you are out of state, know that residency changes both the bar and the price.

See your odds and your top moves at Buffalo State University →Add it to your college list →Official site: suny.buffalostate.edu ↗

How many students apply to Buffalo State University, and how many get in?

Buffalo State University admitted 12,096 of the 15,943 students who applied for fall 2023, which works out to 75.9%. 1,456 enrolled. Only about 12% of admitted students enrolled, so the school admits several students for every seat it expects to fill, which is why its acceptance rate reads higher than its selectivity feels. Buffalo State University enrolls about 5,097 undergraduates in total, 56% of them women, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 14 to 1.

Applied
15,943
fall 2023
Admitted
12,096
75.9% of applicants
Enrolled
1,456
12% yield
Undergraduates
5,097
Buffalo, large city

Source: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS 2023 admissions and enrollment.

What SAT and ACT scores do you need for Buffalo State University?

Admitted students at Buffalo State University post SAT scores of 980 to 1240 in the middle 50%, with an average of 1070. A score above 1240 puts you in the top quarter of admits and turns the test into an asset; a score below 980 puts you in the bottom quarter, where the rest of the application has to carry more weight. Buffalo State University is test-optional: scores are considered if you submit them but not required. Send a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one and let your transcript lead.

SAT middle 50%
980-1240
average 1070
Test scores
Test-optional
admissions policy

Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10.

What Buffalo State University looks for

What Buffalo State University weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.

The factors that carry the most weight at Buffalo State University are rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from Buffalo State University's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.

Rigor of secondary school record
Very important
Academic GPA
Very important
Class rank
Considered
Standardized test scores
Important
Application essay
Considered
Recommendations
Considered
Extracurricular activities
Considered
Talent / ability
Considered
Character / personal qualities
Considered
First-generation status
Considered
State residency
Considered
Volunteer work
Considered
Work experience
Considered
Level of applicant interest
Considered

SAT score positioning at Buffalo State University

How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability. Your full profile determines the real estimate.

SATWhere it sits at Buffalo State University
1600Above the admitted 75th percentile
1500Above the admitted 75th percentile
1400Above the admitted 75th percentile
1300Above the admitted 75th percentile
1200In the competitive admitted range
1100Below the middle, makes the rest of the profile matter more
Colleges for a 1180 SAT →Colleges for a 24 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How much does Buffalo State University cost after financial aid?

The full sticker price at Buffalo State University (tuition, fees, housing, food, books) is about $24,279 a year. Tuition and fees are $8,533 for NY residents and $19,653 for out-of-state students, a $11,120 gap that makes residency the single biggest lever on cost. What families actually pay is different: the average net price after grants and scholarships is $11,346 a year, and it ranges from $7,405 for families earning under $30,000 to $19,332 for families earning over $110,000. 56% of undergraduates receive a federal Pell Grant.

Sticker price
$24,279
per year, before aid
Average net price
$11,346
after grants and scholarships
In-state tuition
$8,533
$19,653 out of state
Pell recipients
56%
of undergraduates
Family incomeAverage net price per year
$0 to $30k$7,405
$30k to $48k$9,393
$48k to $75k$14,706
$75k to $110k$17,155
Over $110k$19,332

Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Net price is what students receiving aid paid after grants, by family income.

What do Buffalo State University graduates earn, and how many graduate?

Median earnings for Buffalo State University students ten years after entry are $52,334 ($40,877 at the six-year mark). 33% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years, and 58% return for a second year. Among graduates who borrowed, median federal debt at graduation is $21,028; 50% of undergraduates take federal loans.

Median earnings
$52,334
10 years after entry
Graduation rate
33%
within six years
Retention
58%
return for year two
Median debt
$21,028
at graduation, borrowers

Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Earnings cover students who received federal aid.

How Buffalo State University compares in New York

Buffalo State University ranks #40 most selective of 59 schools in New York in our database.

Among the 59 New York schools we track, Buffalo State University ranks #40 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like Columbia University (4%) and Cornell University (9%) sit nearby, which makes New York a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list. As a public university, residency matters: in-state applicants generally see meaningfully better odds than the headline rate suggests.

Columbia University
4%acceptance · NY
Cornell University
9%acceptance · NY
New York University
9%acceptance · NY
U.S. Military Academy
12%acceptance · NY
Colgate University
14%acceptance · NY
Hamilton College
14%acceptance · NY
Vassar College
19%acceptance · NY
Skidmore College
21%acceptance · NY
See all New York schools →

Similar to Buffalo State University

Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.

Applicants targeting Buffalo State University often weigh Louisiana State University, Texas Tech University, and Missouri S&T, which sit at a similar level. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.

Louisiana State University
73%acceptance · LA
Texas Tech University
73%acceptance · TX
Missouri S&T
73%acceptance · MO
USC Beaufort
73%acceptance · SC
IU Northwest
73%acceptance · IN
New College of Florida
73%acceptance · FL

Frequently asked questions

What is Buffalo State University's acceptance rate?

Buffalo State University admitted 12,096 of 15,943 applicants for the fall 2023 entering class, an acceptance rate of 75.9% (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS). 12% of admitted students enrolled.

What SAT score do you need for Buffalo State University?

The middle 50% of admitted students scored 980 to 1240 on the SAT. A score above 1240 is in the top quarter of admits. Buffalo State University is test-optional, so only submit a score that helps.

Is Buffalo State University test-optional?

Yes. Buffalo State University reports that test scores are considered but not required. Submit a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one.

How much does Buffalo State University cost after financial aid?

The average net price at Buffalo State University, what students receiving aid paid after grants and scholarships, is $11,346 a year against a sticker price of about $24,279. Families earning under $30,000 paid about $7,405 on average.

What do Buffalo State University graduates earn?

Median earnings ten years after entering Buffalo State University are $52,334 a year among students who received federal aid, and 33% of students graduate within six years (College Scorecard).

What does Buffalo State University value most in applicants?

Based on its admissions profile, Buffalo State University weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.

Does Buffalo State University favor in-state applicants?

As a public university, Buffalo State University generally admits in-state applicants at a higher rate than out-of-state applicants, so your home state affects your odds. CollegeCalcAI applies an in-state residency boost when you select your state.

How can I improve my chances at Buffalo State University?

Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at Buffalo State University specifically.

What are the admission requirements for Buffalo State University?

Buffalo State University reviews GPA, course rigor, test scores (where submitted), activities, and essays. With a more accessible acceptance rate, meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

Acceptance rate, application counts, admitted test ranges, cost, and outcomes reflect publicly reported federal data (U.S. Department of Education: IPEDS 2023 and the College Scorecard) and each school's Common Data Set; figures are rounded and lag the current cycle by one to two years, so confirm deadlines and policies on the school's own site. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled estimates. Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.