Colleges in Buffalo, New York
10 colleges and universities — federal Scorecard data.
There are 10 colleges and universities in Buffalo, New York (5 Private nonprofit, 3 Public, 2 Private for-profit). The figures below are pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard — the same federal dataset colleges are required to report to.
Across all 10 institutions, the median net price after grants and scholarships works out to about $15,386 per year, the median 6-year graduation rate is 33.3%, schools that report admissions data accept a median 78% of applicants.
The median net price in Buffalo runs about $2,608 lower than the New York statewide median of $17,993.
Whether you're comparing in-state public tuition, looking for a private nonprofit with strong outcomes, or trying to find the right program in Buffalo, the table below lets you sort every institution side-by-side on cost, admissions, graduation rate, and size.
Median net price
$15,386
After aid
Median grad rate
33.3%
6-year
Median admission rate
78%
Median enrollment
1,258
Undergrad
All colleges in Buffalo
Sorted by enrollment.
| School | State | Type | Net price | Grad rate | Admission | Size | Data | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University at Buffalo Buffalo, NY | NY | Public, 4-year | $20,995 | 75.2% | 74% | 20,112 | Complete | |
| Erie Community College Buffalo, NY | NY | Public, 2-year | $7,765 | 28.0% | Not available | 6,099 | Partial | |
| SUNY Buffalo State University Buffalo, NY | NY | Public, 4-year | $11,346 | 33.3% | 73% | 5,097 | Complete | |
| Canisius University Buffalo, NY | NY | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $17,940 | 66.4% | 72% | 1,685 | Complete | |
| D'Youville University Buffalo, NY | NY | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $20,433 | 67.5% | 81% | 1,258 | Complete | |
| Trocaire College Buffalo, NY | NY | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $16,636 | 30.9% | 97% | 984 | Complete | |
| Bryant & Stratton College-Buffalo Buffalo, NY | NY | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $14,135 | 21.2% | Not available | 743 | Partial | |
| Villa Maria College Buffalo, NY | NY | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $13,494 | 31.4% | 87% | 603 | Complete | |
| Professional Culinary Academy Buffalo, NY | NY | Private for-profit, <2-year | Not available | 65.6% | Not available | 17 | Partial | |
| Sharp Edgez Barber Institute - Buffalo Buffalo, NY | NY | Private for-profit, <2-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Missing |
By institution type
Private nonprofit (5)
Private nonprofit colleges in Buffalo are mission-driven institutions — often religiously affiliated or research-focused — that reinvest tuition into academics and aid rather than distributing profit.
- Canisius UniversityNet price: $17,940Grad: 66.4%
- D'Youville UniversityNet price: $20,433Grad: 67.5%
- Trocaire CollegeNet price: $16,636Grad: 30.9%
- Bryant & Stratton College-BuffaloNet price: $14,135Grad: 21.2%
- Villa Maria CollegeNet price: $13,494Grad: 31.4%
Public (3)
Public colleges in Buffalo are state- or locally-funded institutions that typically offer lower in-state tuition and serve a broad mix of residents and commuters.
- University at BuffaloNet price: $20,995Grad: 75.2%
- Erie Community CollegeNet price: $7,765Grad: 28.0%
- SUNY Buffalo State UniversityNet price: $11,346Grad: 33.3%
Private for-profit (2)
Private for-profit colleges in Buffalo operate as businesses, generally focused on career-oriented and online programs with rolling admissions.
- Professional Culinary AcademyNet price: Not availableGrad: 65.6%
- Sharp Edgez Barber Institute - BuffaloNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
Top programs in Buffalo
Most-completed programs across Buffalo colleges, weighted by enrollment.
- Business14.8% of degrees
- Health professions13.5% of degrees
- Social sciences9.0% of degrees
- Engineering8.2% of degrees
- Biological sciences7.0% of degrees
- Psychology6.9% of degrees
- Computer science5.5% of degrees
- Communication5.0% of degrees
Frequently asked questions about colleges in Buffalo
Q.How many colleges are in Buffalo, New York?
There are 10 colleges and universities in Buffalo, New York that report to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard — 5 Private nonprofit, 3 Public, 2 Private for-profit.
Q.What is the largest college in Buffalo?
By undergraduate enrollment, University at Buffalo is the largest institution in Buffalo with roughly 20,112 undergraduates.
Q.What is the cheapest college in Buffalo?
Based on average net price after aid, Erie Community College is the most affordable institution in Buffalo at $7,765 per year.
Q.Which Buffalo college has the highest graduation rate?
University at Buffalo reports the highest 6-year graduation rate among Buffalo institutions at 75.2%.
Q.What is the average tuition in Buffalo?
The median net price across all 10 colleges in Buffalo is $15,386 per year after grants and scholarships.
Q.What are the most popular college majors in Buffalo?
Across Buffalo colleges, the most-completed programs by share of degrees awarded are Business, Health professions, Social sciences.
Q.Are there community colleges in Buffalo?
Yes — Buffalo includes 3 public institutions, many of which offer 2-year associate degrees and transfer pathways to 4-year programs.
Other cities in New York
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS. Medians are computed across institutions in Buffalo that report each metric. Net price, graduation rate, and earnings figures reflect the latest available federal release. Always verify current tuition and program availability directly with each institution.