Colleges in Buffalo, NY: Full List of Schools

Forget the blizzards. Buffalo, New York has a reputation as a warm and inviting place to live. The City of Good Neighbors has welcomed immigrants and refugees since the 1800s. This small city boasts New York’s second-largest population after New York City, with more than 276,000 residents and a growing college population.

Buffalo State, one of 12 colleges in Buffalo, reported a 2023 incoming class of 2,045 — its largest undergraduate student body to date. We spotlight three of the most popular colleges in Buffalo and break down costs and the highest-earning jobs. But if Buffalo isn’t for you, check out our list of the best colleges in New York for even more options in the state.

Whether you’re looking for small and private or large and public, Buffalo has many schools you can consider. Below is a list of three popular colleges in Buffalo, highlighting their location, cost, and reputation.

We’ve created a complete list of all four-year nonprofit universities in Buffalo and its surrounding suburbs. You can use the table below to compare data on student population, average net cost, acceptance rate, and number of applicants.

The following school data comes from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). All data is from 2022. Schools with fewer than 500 undergraduates were not included in this list.

Buffalo offers high wages for a variety of occupations across many industries. And some jobs pay more in Buffalo than the national average. For instance, financial managers earn a national median wage of $139,790, while in Buffalo, they make a median annual salary of $183,910.

But not all positions pay more in Buffalo. Computer hardware engineers earn a mean annual salary of $104,580 and $132,360 nationally. Here, we feature more of the highest-paying jobs in Buffalo that only require a bachelor’s degree.

According to Payscale, the cost of living in Buffalo is 5% lower than the national average and 138% lower than New York City. Payscale reports that the median renter in Buffalo pays $1,271 a month and $169 per month on an energy bill, compared to $4,773 each month in Manhattan.

Food and groceries also cost 3% lower in Buffalo than the national average. Buying a loaf of bread in Buffalo costs about $3.76, and a gallon of milk costs $2.36, on average.

Forbes Advisor reports that the average home costs $469,156 in Buffalo. With that said, what you earn determines what you can afford. And going to college in New York can make it difficult to work full time.

Buffalo has 12 colleges, including eight four-year private and public schools. The University of Buffalo educates some 32,099 students, the biggest student enrollment in the city.

SUNY Buffalo State University offers the most affordable tuition and fees. Students there pay an average annual net price of $13,812, the cheapest among all four-year colleges in Buffalo.

Non-residents pay considerably more. Full-time, out-of-state learners pay $8,745 per semester. That said, 91% of students at SUNY at Buffalo State get financial aid.

Buffalo offers a small-town feel with the same opportunities and diverse population seen in a big city. According to the U.S. Census, Buffalo’s is 47.8% white, 33.3% Black or African American, 6.87% Asian, and 12.2% Hispanic or Latino/a.

Buffalo colleges also come cheaper than the national average. For instance, SUNY at Buffalo charges an average net price of $13,812, compared to the national price of $14,700.