University at Buffalo, the State University of New York - Overview
About the University at Buffalo, State University of New York
Want to change the world? At the University at Buffalo, students and faculty members do it every day. UB's thinking, research, people, and creative activity transform life around the planet as UB's community members develop the solutions that make real differences the world over.
A History of Prestige
Founded in 1846 as a private medical school, the University at Buffalo has grown to become one of the nation's premier public research universities and SUNY's largest and most comprehensive campus. It was the first public university in New York to join North America's leading research universities in the Association of American Universities.
The Cream of the Crop
At UB, students will have chances to work side by side with world-renowned professors who care about students and their success. UB's faculty members have won such prestigious awards as the Nobel Prize, the Pulitzer Prize, the National Medal of Science, and the MacArthur Foundation "genius award." More than 100 UB professors have received the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching -- the most of any SUNY campus.
The World is Students' Oyster
The University at Buffalo has more than 100 undergraduate degree programs to choose from, so students can explore almost anything they like. In addition to nearly 30 departments in the College of Arts and Sciences, UB has schools of Architecture and Planning, Dental Medicine, Education, Engineering and Applied Sciences, Law, Management, Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Nursing, Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Public Health and Health Professions, and Social Work, all in addition to the Roswell Park Cancer Institute Graduate Division.
UB also has 30 study abroad programs -- and hundreds more available through the rest of the SUNY system. And the university's student body is so culturally diverse that UB is a national leader in international enrollment.
Academic Life
Students can get their smarts on and their hands dirty. UB's engaging learning environment means students will have the tools to get serious real-world experiences as undergraduates. A vast array of research opportunities, creative projects, and internships are available to equip students for success in the 21st-century marketplace. The Undergraduate Academies, the Honors College, Discovery Seminars, and the Center for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities are just a few of the resources that will help students get ahead by getting involved. Visit our website now to see how UB students are making differences in the world today.
Campus Life
Blue paint sells out fast in this town. Students are in Buffalo for the great education, but there's more to UB life than that. Sports are a big deal, which students will see in the number of painted faces at the games. UB's championship-caliber Division I athletic teams are strong contenders in the Mid-American Conference year after year.
UB sponsors more than 200 student clubs and organizations, from boxing to gospel choir to anime. And with nearly constant events like films, concerts, festivals and the Distinguished Speaker Series, there is always plenty to do without even leaving campus.
Most of UB's core academic programs take place on the North Campus, just north of the city in suburban Amherst. The university's picturesque South Campus, dedicated mainly to architecture and the health sciences, sits nearby in a residential section of Buffalo. The Stampede bus system connects the 2, and a subway line takes students right from the South Campus to the city center and the waterfront.
UB has a growing downtown campus, too, strategically located in the Buffalo Niagara Medical Corridor. It's home to the New York State Center for Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences, the Ross Eye Institute, and the Jacobs Executive Development Center, with more on the horizon.
Financial Aid
Students get their money's worth. Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine included UB on its 2011 list of the 100 Best Values in Public Colleges, ranking UB as No. 46 in the nation for in-state student tuition and fees and 18th in value for out-of-state students.
In 2011, UB awarded more than $4 million in merit scholarships to its incoming freshman class. About 65 percent of students receive some form of financial aid each year. UB attracts academically talented freshmen from across the country and supports the most gifted students with 2- and 4-year merit-based scholarships. To learn about costs, scholarships and aid, interested students should visit http://admissions.buffalo.edu/costs/index.php.
Admissions
Admission to UB is highly competitive and based on consideration of a student's academic record: high school average, rank in class, SAT (critical reading and math) or ACT score, and strength of the high school academic program. A student essay, recommendations, documented evidence of exceptional creative talent, demonstrated leadership, community service, and special circumstances are also considered.
Among the fall 2011 freshman class, 51 percent scored 1200 or higher on their SATs (critical reading and math), and 34 percent were in the top 10 percent of their high school classes. The mean high school average was 92.
Interested students can visit admissions.buffalo.edu/apply/howtoapply to learn more about applying to UB. Prospective students can also call UB's Office of Admissions with any questions: 716-645-6900 or toll free: 888-UB-ADMIT.
Location
Buffalo is a Great Lakes city on an international border with a metropolitan area population of more than 1 million. It's a place of friendly neighborhoods, with big-city activity for all tastes: professional sports, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, the renowned Albright-Knox Art Gallery, and a vibrant theater, restaurant, and music scene, all in a dramatic, historical setting on Lake Erie and the Niagara River -- and just a stone's throw from Canada. Boating, hiking, camping, skiing, snowboarding, and the natural wonder of Niagara Falls are all nearby.