University at Buffalo (UB) vs University of Georgia (UGA)

Envision yourself immersed in the vibrant college towns of Buffalo, New York, and Athens, Georgia, home to the esteemed University at Buffalo (UB) and the University of Georgia (UGA), respectively. While both institutions share a commitment to academic excellence, they offer distinct experiences shaped by their unique locations, student demographics, and academic strengths. UB, a public research university, boasts a diverse student body and a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs, while UGA, a land-grant research university, is renowned for its strong athletics programs and its focus on agricultural and environmental sciences. With acceptance rates of 49% and 46%, respectively, both universities offer competitive admissions processes. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into further details, including popular majors, graduation rates, and additional factors that will help you make an informed decision about your academic journey.

	University at Buffalo	University of Georgia
Overview
Location	Buffalo, New York	Athens, Georgia
Campus setting	Suburb: Large	City: Midsize
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%	95.0%
Common app member	Yes	Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission
Acceptance rate	70.1%	40.0%
Application fees	Undergraduate: $50 Graduate: $75	Undergraduate: $70 Graduate: $75
SAT range	1180 - 1360	1270 - 1450
ACT range	25 - 31	29 - 33
Students submitting SAT score	29.0%	45.0%
Students submitting ACT score	5.0%	40.0%
Total number of applicants	30,750	39,229
Total number of admissions given out	21,552	15,685
Admitted students who chose to enroll	4,309	5,819
Yield rate	20.0%	37.1%
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	Not required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	In state: $30,240 Out of state: $48,160	In state: $26,622 Out of state: $45,662
Average net price	$17,954	$16,902
Tuition	In state: $7,070 Out of state: $24,990	In state: $9,790 Out of state: $28,830
Room & board	Room/dormitory: $8,952 Meal plan: $6,500	Room/dormitory: $6,292 Meal plan: $4,036
Available payment plans	Tuition payment plan	Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	71.0% Average amount $8,810	92.0% Average amount $11,045
Students receiving federal student loan	45.0% Average amount $5,071	25.0% Average amount $5,227
Students taking out private loans	8.0% Average amount $13,892	3.0% Average amount $13,477

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	21,467 Men 54.3% Women 45.7%	30,166 Men 42.0% Women 58.0%
Graduate students	10,865 Men 47.5% Women 52.5%	9,952 Men 38.2% Women 61.8%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Moderate	Low
Out-of-state students	3.2%	17.5%
International students	18.3%	4.8%
Campus local/setting	Suburb: Large	City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity	7,711	10,050
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	Georgia Texas North Carolina Florida New York

Academics
Popular study areas	Health Professions Engineering Computer and Information Science Education Social Sciences	Business Communication and Journalism Education Health Professions Engineering
Students to faculty ratio	13:1	17:1
Institutional accreditation	Middle States Commission on Higher Education	Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome
Graduation rate	73.8%	87.8%
Dropout rate	8.7%	3.6%
Transferred out	16.4%	7.5%
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	Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: $107,603 Year 2: $120,325 Year 3: $122,859 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $101,544 Year 2: $111,283 Year 3: $122,491 Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Master's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $122,038 Year 3: $117,307 Veterinary Medicine (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: $71,726 Year 2: N/A Year 3: $92,754 Marketing (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $71,513 Year 2: $81,333 Year 3: $91,218 Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees) Year 1: $87,059 Year 2: $71,015 Year 3: $85,532 Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $67,138 Year 2: $68,778 Year 3: $79,772 Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $70,908 Year 2: $70,456 Year 3: $79,190 Law (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: $64,622 Year 2: $64,068 Year 3: $78,529 Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Doctoral Degrees) Year 1: $79,002 Year 2: $77,144 Year 3: $77,709

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main differences between the University at Buffalo (UB) and the University of Georgia (UGA)?

The University at Buffalo (UB) is a large, public research university located in Buffalo, New York, known for its strong engineering, computer science, and health sciences programs. The University of Georgia (UGA) is a flagship public university in Athens, Georgia, renowned for its journalism, business, and agricultural programs. UB offers a more urban environment with a focus on technology and innovation, while UGA provides a classic college town experience with a strong emphasis on tradition and Southern culture. Location, academic strengths, and campus culture are key differentiators.
Which university is larger: University at Buffalo or University of Georgia?

The University at Buffalo generally has a larger student body than the University of Georgia. UB typically enrolls a greater number of undergraduate and graduate students combined.
How do the tuition costs compare between UB and UGA?

Tuition costs vary depending on residency. Generally, for in-state students, UGA will have a lower tuition cost than UB. However, for out-of-state students, both universities have comparable tuition rates, though UB may sometimes be slightly lower. Be sure to check the most recent tuition and fees on each university's official website for the most accurate information.
What are the academic strengths of each university?

The University at Buffalo excels in engineering (particularly aerospace, mechanical, and electrical), computer science, data science, pharmacy, and other health-related fields. The University of Georgia is highly regarded for its journalism and mass communication, business (especially risk management and insurance), agriculture, law, and veterinary medicine programs.
What is the campus environment like at UB versus UGA?

UB offers a more diverse and urban campus environment with a strong emphasis on research and innovation. The campus is spread across three locations in the Buffalo area. UGA provides a classic college town experience in Athens, Georgia, with a strong sense of tradition, Greek life, and school spirit. UGA's campus is more centralized and known for its beautiful historic architecture.
How do the research opportunities compare between the two universities?

Both UB and UGA are major research universities with significant funding and opportunities for students to get involved in research. UB has a strong focus on engineering, medical, and technological research, while UGA has notable research programs in agriculture, environmental science, and public health. Both offer undergraduate research programs and encourage student participation.
What are the athletic programs like at UB and UGA?

UGA's athletic program is part of the NCAA Division I Southeastern Conference (SEC) and is highly competitive, particularly in football. UB's athletic program is part of the NCAA Division I Mid-American Conference (MAC). While UB has strong teams, UGA's athletics program has a higher national profile and greater resources.
What is the surrounding city like for each university?

UB is located in Buffalo, New York, a mid-sized city with a rich history, diverse culture, and affordable cost of living. Buffalo offers access to arts, entertainment, and outdoor activities, including Niagara Falls. UGA is located in Athens, Georgia, a classic college town known for its vibrant music scene, historic architecture, and Southern charm. Athens offers a more laid-back and community-focused environment.
Which university is better for international students?

Both UB and UGA welcome international students and offer resources to support their academic and personal success. UB, being located in a more diverse city and having a larger overall student population, may offer a slightly more diverse international student body. However, both universities provide comprehensive international student services, including visa assistance, orientation programs, and cultural events.
What are the career opportunities like after graduating from UB versus UGA?

Career opportunities after graduation depend on your field of study. UB graduates have strong connections to industries in the Northeast, particularly in engineering, technology, and healthcare. UGA graduates have strong connections to industries in the Southeast, particularly in business, agriculture, and communications. Both universities have career services offices that provide resources and support to help students find internships and jobs.
How does the student life and campus activities compare?

Both universities offer a wide range of student activities, clubs, and organizations. UGA has a very strong Greek life presence and a vibrant social scene centered around its campus and the town of Athens. UB also has a variety of clubs and organizations, but student life may be more focused on academic pursuits and research opportunities. The urban setting of UB also provides access to a wider range of off-campus activities.

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.