SUNY Buffalo State University

Buffalo State offers 70+ undergraduate majors, with education and business as the most popular. Small class sizes are a selling point: 90% of courses have fewer than 40 students, and the average undergraduate class has just 15 students. Faculty credentials are solid (79% hold doctorates), but the curriculum leans vocational, with programs like forensic chemistry and urban planning emphasizing hands-on training. The School of Arts and Sciences anchors traditional liberal arts majors, though interdisciplinary options like ‘environmental sustainability’ hint at newer priorities.

• Top Majors: Education, Business, Marketing
• Student-Faculty Ratio: Not explicitly stated, but small classes suggest close interaction
• Notable Fact: 52% of undergraduates come from underrepresented populations, shaping classroom discussions.

A commuter-heavy campus (only 37% live on-site) means Buffalo State’s social scene requires effort, but the university compensates with NCAA Division III sports and a packed calendar of cultural events. The campus itself mixes historic brick buildings with modernist outliers, dotted with outdoor art installations. Reddit threads describe the dorm culture as ‘quiet but friendly,’ with off-campus apartments popular among upperclassmen. Buffalo’s revitalized downtown—just minutes away—offers internships at nonprofits and tech startups, a perk the administration heavily promotes.

Buffalo State’s graduation rates are the lowest in the SUNY system: just 37% graduate in four years, rising to 47% by year six (per College Factual). Investigative Post reports these figures trail SUNY’s average by 18 points. Post-grad earnings are modest ($35,096 median income one year out), though the school’s career office touts local employer connections. The data suggests Buffalo State serves many first-gen?First-generation (first-gen)A student who would be the first in their immediate family to earn a four-year college degree. Many colleges consider this in context. and part-time students who face completion challenges, rather than underpreparation alone.

Buffalo State’s average net price is $13,735/year after aid, with 78% of students receiving assistance. Aid packages lean on public funding: $5,699 average federal grants, $3,689 from New York State. The financial aid office emphasizes SUNY’s fixed-rate tuition guarantee, locking in costs for four years—a boon for budget-conscious families. Private scholarships are scarce (just $4,911 average institutional grants), so in-state applicants fare best.

Buffalo State’s identity hinges on access and urban engagement. It’s the SUNY campus most committed to serving underrepresented students (52% of undergrads), with admissions policies that prioritize opportunity over selectivity. The location—embedded in Buffalo’s cultural institutions and resurgent economy—lets students test classroom ideas in real-world labs, from the Albright-Knox Art Gallery to Tesla’s nearby factory. For learners who thrive on autonomy and city energy, it’s a scrappy alternative to SUNY’s more cloistered flagships.