Getting in
For Fall 2025, 45,637 first-year students applied to UB, 36,780 were admitted and 5,155 enrolled: an acceptance rate of 80.6%.
Source: UB Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C1. Read Oct 1, 2026.
By residency, first-year applicants, Fall 2025
| Applicants | Applied | Admitted | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-state | 36,127 | 28,935 | 80.1% |
| Out-of-state | 4,739 | 3,340 | 70.5% |
| International | 4,771 | 4,505 | 94.4% |
Source: UB Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C1, residency table. Read Oct 1, 2026.
By school or major. UB's Common Data Set reports one first-year acceptance rate for the whole university, with no rate by school or major.
Source: UB Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Early action. UB has no early decision plan. Its early action plan is not restrictive, and the Common Data Set does not report how many applied or were admitted early, so it gives no early acceptance rate.
Source: UB Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), sections C21 and C22. Read Oct 1, 2026.
Programs with extra requirements
For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027
You name your intended major when you apply, and for most majors the review is the same. These work differently:
- Accounting and Business Management. Direct admission is subject to limited enrollment. UB recommends finishing pre-calculus and being calculus-ready before you enroll.
- Theatre and Dance. An audition is required for acting, dance and music theatre. BFA design/technology applicants need a portfolio review and an interview.
- Music. An audition is required for acceptance into music.
- Engineering. Engineering applications get an additional review of your readiness in key science and math areas.
- Pharmacy. Admitted pharmacy first-year students enter the PharmD Early Assurance Program (2+4=6). Keeping the seat takes minimum grades and GPA each semester and an interview; there are no extra high school GPA or test requirements to get in.
Source: UB Undergraduate Admissions, Special Requirements for Certain Majors (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Majors
110 majors across 1 school. Every bachelor's major in UB's official 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog, with the degree it leads to. The catalog lists majors in one list, not by school; a major with several concentrations appears once. Minors, certificates, combined degrees and graduate programs are left out.
Undergraduate majors110
- Accounting (BS)Extra requirement: Direct admission is subject to limited enrollment.
- Acting (BFA)Extra requirement: An audition is required.
- Aerospace Engineering (BS)
- African-American Studies (BA)
- AI and Geospatial Analytics (BS)
- AI and Language and Intercultural Competence (BS)
- AI and Language Technology (BS)
- AI and Logic and Ontology (BS)
- AI and Philosophy, Politics and Economics (BS)
- AI and Policy Analysis (BS)
- AI and Quantitative Economics (BS)
- AI and Responsible Communication (BS)
- American Studies (BA)
- Anthropology (BA)
- Architecture (BS)
- Art History (BA)
- Asian Studies (BA)
- Biochemistry (BS)
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (BS)
- Biological Sciences (BA)
- Biological Sciences (BS)
- Biomedical Engineering (BS)
- Biomedical Sciences (BS)
- Biotechnology (BS)
- Business Administration (BS)Extra requirement: Direct admission is subject to limited enrollment.
- Chemical Engineering (BS)
- Chemistry (BA)
- Chemistry (BS)
- Civil Engineering (BS)
- Classics (BA)
- Cognitive Science (BA)
- Communication (BA)
- Computational Linguistics (BS)
- Computational Physics (BS)
- Computer Engineering (BS)
- Computer Science (BA)
- Computer Science (BS)
- Criminology (BA)
- Dance (BA)Extra requirement: An audition is required.
- Dance (BFA)Extra requirement: An audition is required.
- Economics (BA)
- Economics (BS)
- Electrical Engineering (BS)
- Engineering Physics (BS)
- Engineering Science (BS)
- English (BA)
- Environmental Design (BA)
- Environmental Engineering (BS)
- Environmental Science (BS)
- Environmental Studies (BS)
- Environmental Sustainability (BA)
- Exercise Science (BS)
- Film Studies (BA)
- Finance (BS)
- Fine Arts (BFA)
- French (BA)
- Geographic Information Science (BS)
- Geography (BA)
- Geological Sciences (BA)
- Geological Sciences (BS)
- German (BA)
- Global Affairs (BA)
- Global Gender Studies (BA)
- Health and Human Services (BA)
- History (BA)
- Indigenous Studies (BA)
- Industrial Engineering (BS)
- Information Technology and Management (BS)
- International Studies (BA)
- International Trade (BA)
- Italian (BA)
- Jewish Studies (BA)
- Law (BA)
- Legal Studies (BA)
- Linguistics (BA)
- Material Science and Engineering (BS)
- Mathematical Physics (BS)
- Mathematics (BA)
- Mathematics (BS)
- Mathematics-Economics (BA)
- Mechanical Engineering (BS)
- Media Study (BA)
- Medical Laboratory Science (BS)
- Medicinal Chemistry (BS)
- Music (BA)Extra requirement: An audition is required.
- Music Performance (MusB)Extra requirement: An audition is required.
- Music Theatre (BFA)Extra requirement: An audition is required.
- Neuroscience (BS)
- Nuclear Medicine Technology (BS)
- Nursing (BS)
- Nutrition Science (BS)
- Pharmaceutical Sciences (BS)
- Pharmacology and Toxicology (BS)
- Philosophy (BA)
- Philosophy, Politics and Economics (BA)
- Physics (BA)
- Physics (BS)
- Political Science (BA)
- Psychology (BA)
- Psychology (BS)
- Public Health (BS)
- Sociology (BA)
- Spanish (BA)
- Special Studies (BA/BS)
- Speech and Hearing Science (BA)
- Statistics (BA)
- Studio Art (BA)
- Theatre (BA)
- Theatre Design/Technology (BFA)Extra requirement: A portfolio review and an interview are required.
- Urban and Public Policy Studies (BA)
Source: UB 2026-2027 Undergraduate Catalog, Majors and Combined Degrees (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Source: UB Undergraduate Admissions, Special Requirements for Certain Majors (opens in a new tab), for the extra requirements. Read Oct 1, 2026.
Deadlines for Fall 2027
For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027
| Plan | Apply by | Decision | Binding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Action | November 1 | not published | No |
| Honors College priority consideration | December 15 | not published | No |
| Regular Decision | February 1 | not published | No |
The application opens August 1 and the fee is $50. After February 1, UB keeps taking applications until it reaches capacity. Early action brings a priority response and priority consideration for merit scholarships. The enrollment deposit is due May 1, or 10 days after acceptance if later. UB does not publish decision dates.
Source: UB Undergraduate Admissions, Important Dates and Deadlines (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Early action is not binding: you do not have to commit to UB until the May 1 enrollment deposit deadline.
Source: UB Undergraduate Admissions, First-Year (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Testing
For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027
UB does not require SAT or ACT scores for admission or scholarship consideration. You choose on the application whether your scores are considered; if you answer no, scores you already sent are not used. Scores you do send must come directly from the testing agency.
Source: UB Undergraduate Admissions, First-Year (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
The Common Data Set also marks the SAT or ACT as not required for admission, but considered if submitted, and says every applicant can choose to be considered test-optional.
Source: UB Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C8. Read Oct 1, 2026.
Applying next year?
For students applying in fall 2027, entering fall 2028
Not announced yet. When we checked UB's admission pages on October 1, 2026, we found no announced changes for fall 2028 entry. The deadlines and rules above are for fall 2027 entry.
Source: UB Undergraduate Admissions, First-Year (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Cost, and what families paid after aid
The published cost of a year at UB, 2026-2027:
| Item | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $7,070 | $29,070 |
| Required fees (academic excellence, student activity, comprehensive) | $3,966 | $3,966 |
| Housing (on campus) | $10,376 | $10,376 |
| Food (meals) | $8,230 | $8,230 |
| Books, course materials, supplies and equipment | $1,500 | $1,500 |
| Transportation | $3,078 | $3,078 |
| Personal expenses | $2,238 | $2,238 |
| Federal loan origination fee | $72 | $72 |
| Total | $36,530 | $58,530 |
For an undergraduate living on campus, as UB's financial aid office budgets the full year.
Source: UB Financial Aid, Cost of Attendance 2026-2027 (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Average net price per year, by family income, 2023-24:
| Family income | Paid after grants |
|---|---|
| $0 to $30,000 | $14,668 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $16,585 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $21,262 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $24,117 |
| Over $110,000 | $28,079 |
| All incomes | $20,995 |
What first-year, full-time, in-state students who received federal aid paid after grants and scholarships, by family income, in 2023-24, the latest year the Department of Education publishes. Your own price comes from UB's aid offer.
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Similar schools
Chosen for how close each is to University at Buffalo on acceptance rate, public or private, location and majors offered.
Rowan UniversityGlassboro, NJ · Public76.5% admitted$22,408 average net price
University at AlbanyAlbany, NY · Public70.4% admitted$17,167 average net price
Montclair State UniversityMontclair, NJ · Public89.4% admitted$15,566 average net price
Temple UniversityPhiladelphia, PA · Public86.2% admitted$28,198 average net price
SUNY College of Environmental Science and ForestrySyracuse, NY · Public84.7% admitted$18,952 average net price
Admitted: each school's latest first-year acceptance rate, so the year can differ from school to school; each school's page names its year and source. Average net price: what federal aid recipients paid per year after grants, 2023-24, and the in-state figure for a public university.