Admissions
Getting in, fall 2024
University at Buffalo admits about 7 in 10 applicants (74%). That puts it in the "Selective" tier, more selective than 56% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.
Out of every 100 applicants…
The funnel
$50 to apply
Can be waived for applicants with financial need.
Grants credit for AP exams
Men and women
Men were admitted at 73%, women at 76%.
Yield
14% of admitted students enroll, in the typical range nationally.
Wait list: 4,267 offered a place, 1,785 accepted, 706 admitted (40% of those who accepted)
Applying early
Early action (not binding): apply by Nov 1; decisions by Nov 19
No early decision plan.
Where you stand
How University at Buffalo reads a record
GPA and the high school record are required; class rank and a college-prep program are considered. 50% of first-years who sent test scores had a 3.75 or higher. Scores are optional. 28% of first-years sent an SAT and 3% an ACT. Most first-years were admitted without scores. Recommends 4 years of English and social studies. See the years by subject
What they look at
- High school GPA
- Required
- High school record
- Required
- Class rank
- Considered
- College-prep program
- Considered
- Recommendations
- Considered
- Essay
- Required
- Legacy status
- Not considered
- Work experience
- Considered
- Demonstration of competencies
- Considered
- English proficiency test
- Required
- Other tests
- Not considered
Transferring in
65% of transfer applicants were admittedvs. 74% of first-year applicants
4,083 applied · 2,643 admitted · 1,224 enrolled
At least 12 semester hours completed to apply as a transfer.
Minimum college GPA: 2.5
Grants credit for course work completed at another college
What the application needs
- High school transcript
- Required
- College transcripts
- Required
- Essay or personal statement
- Required of some
- Interview
- Not required
- Standardized test scores
- Required of some
- Statement of good standing from a prior college
- Not required
Applying
The regular round, as the college reports it. Early rounds have their own dates.
- Priority date: February 1. Applying by then can matter for scholarships, programs, or housing.
- $300 housing deposit, due May 1, refundable.
What you'll need in high school
Requires a high school diploma; accepts the GED.
Recommends a college-preparatory program in high school.
| Years of | Recommended |
|---|---|
| English | 4 |
| Math | 3 |
| Science | 3 |
| Foreign language | 3 |
| Social studies | 4 |
| Total | 17 |
A unit is a year of the subject; lab science is part of science.
On the admissions map
↑ SAT midpoint (higher = higher scores)
Fall 2024 first-years
First-years' high school GPA
Average GPA 3.70
High schools grade differently, and colleges recalculate or weight GPAs their own way, so compare this college only with itself.
First-years by high school GPA (4.0 scale)
- 4.036%
- 3.75–3.9913%
- 3.50–3.7421%
- 3.25–3.4911%
- 3.00–3.2412%
- below 3.07%
The middle half had GPAs of 3.25–4.0.
All nine bands
| GPA | Sent test scores |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 36.2% |
| 3.75–3.99 | 13.4% |
| 3.50–3.74 | 20.8% |
| 3.25–3.49 | 11.2% |
| 3.00–3.24 | 11.6% |
| 2.50–2.99 | 6.7% |
| 2.0–2.49 | 0.0% |
| 1.0–1.99 | 0.0% |
| below 1.0 | 0.0% |
28% were in the top tenth of their high school class, 59% in the top quarter, of the 33% whose high school reported a rank.
Source:University at Buffalo Common Data Set 2024–25, Fall 2024About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Test scores
What enrolled first-years scored
The typical enrolled first-year who sent scores is around 1295 on the SAT, 125 points above the median for colleges that report scores.
Optional
Scores are considered if you send them. For students who entered in fall 2024.
Where would you land?
Middle 50% of enrolled first-years who sent scores This college's median National median midpoint
Score bands
19% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 1400 or higher.
46% of enrolled first-years who sent an ACT scored 30 or higher.
18% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 700 or higher.
25% of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored 700 or higher.
Shares of the 28% of first-years who sent an SAT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Shares of the 3% of first-years who sent an ACT; students who didn't send scores aren't in these bands.
Who submitted scores?
submitted SAT
submitted ACT
Read with care: fewer than half of enrolled students submitted either test, so these ranges may run high. Learn about admissions.
Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;University at Buffalo Common Data Set 2024–25, Fall 2024;University at Buffalo Common Data Set 2024–25, 2024–25;University at Buffalo Common Data Set 2024–25, Fall 2025 cycleAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)