First Impressions: SUNY University at Buffalo
My visit to SUNY University at Buffalo helped me to set a personal milestone. I have now visited every college that offered me admission to their freshman class—40 years ago. I’ve posted my First Impressions and assembled photos for a Pinterest page.
New York’s largest flagship state university with just under 20,000 undergraduates, SUNY University at Buffalo offers more than 110 undergraduate majors to choose from as well as 24 combined programs where students can take an accelerated path to earn an advanced degree. With the exception of the Architecture, Nursing and Pharmacy programs, it is possible to enter any major as a sophomore as long as s/he maintains good academic standing. You will not find “limited access” or “impacted” programs.
SUNY University at Buffalo is also one of the more reasonably priced flagship state schools. Last year’s resident tuition and fees were approximately $9,800. Non-residents, who make up less than five percent of the undergraduate student body, were asked to pay less than $27,000 last year. Approximately half of the Class of 2015 graduated with no student loan deb!
SUNY University at Buffalo houses nearly 40 percent of its undergraduates on campus in residence halls or apartments, high for a flagship state university. The school has also taken many positive steps to improve its customer services to students as well as it’s dining options. The campus is laid out in a straightforward way. All resident students may have cars, and pay no fee to park them, as long as they leave them parked close to home while they are in class!
There’s a lot for college students to do in Buffalo, the second-largest city in New York, and many recreational opportunities are not far away! The major downside for some prospective students is SUNY University at Buffalo is not a “spirit and sports” school like Ohio State or Penn State. Mid-America Conference athletics come nowhere near the profile of the Atlantic Coast Conference or the Big Ten. The university does not have a natural sports rivalry to hype. However, Buffalo also has the Bills and the Sabres. They have the Patriots and Penguins to face in battle. They’re the more serious rivalries in New York’s Queen City.
Report Card: SUNY University at Buffalo
- Four-Year/Six-Year Graduation Rates B+/B+
- Freshman Retention: B+
- Costs: A
- Curriculum: A
- Community: B+
- Comforts: A
- Connections: A
Check out my First Impressions of SUNY University at Buffalo!
