10-YEAR PAYOFF CURVECumulative economic payoff after graduation
−$29,610at year 10Net gainInvestment not yet recovered
NET GAIN$0UNRECOVERED
Public · COLLEGE PAYOFF
University at Buffalo
Buffalo, NY · 73 field-and-degree records
Earnings reported for 71 · Federal debt reported for 42
Based onObserved earnings + college priceEstimate10-year payoff
Estimated 10-year payoff
Negative payoff
−$29,610 over 10 years
Modeled from observed year-5 institution earnings and the institution-wide average net price over four years.
11.3 yrsTime to earn back the modeled cost
−11%Estimated return after 10 years
$68,437Observed earnings · year 5
$13,593Highest annual price before payoff reaches $0
The price benchmark would need to fall by $7,403 per year to reach it.
Start with your question
What do you want to understand?
ECONOMIC INVESTMENT → PAYBACK
Estimated payoff over ten years.
The scenario counts direct price and earnings forgone upfront, then applies the reported annual earnings premium.
FEDERAL COST DATA
Four ways to read college price.
Annual college-wide figures from the current College Scorecard release. Average net price covers full-time, first-time undergraduates receiving federal aid; public-college figures use in-state students. Program tuition and individual aid offers may differ.
PUBLISHED STUDENT BUDGET · 2024–25
What makes up the annual price?
Sticker-price components reported to IPEDS. Grants and scholarships are not subtracted here.
Living off campus: $17,426 housing and food allowance plus $4,830 in other expenses.
Do not confuse this with net price. Net price subtracts average grants and scholarships. DegreeVerdict continues to use the separately labeled average net price in its standard college ROI scenario.
PRICE SENSITIVITY
The price can change the verdict.
Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.
← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →
$0Annual price+$54,370
$8,000Annual price+$22,370
$16,000Annual price−$9,630
$21,000Current college-wide context−$29,630
$24,000Annual price−$41,630
$32,000Annual price−$73,630
$40,000Annual price−$105,630
HOW STUDENTS ATTEND · 2023-24
Online study is a meaningful part of the student experience.
IPEDS enrollment counts show course delivery across the whole institution. They do not indicate whether a specific degree can be completed online.
Institution-level attendance context from IPEDS. Program delivery is reported separately on degree pages and in the program directory. These figures do not enter ROI.
College identity and local contextAccreditation, institution type, dual enrollment and state prices
COLLEGE AT A GLANCE
Institution details
Current federal characteristics describing the college, not the outcomes of a specific program.
- Accreditor
- Middle States Commission on Higher Education
- Main award level
- Bachelor’s degrees
- Campus setting
- Suburban
- Admissions
- Selective admission
- Delivery
- Campus or mixed delivery
- Federal designation
- No special designation reported
DUAL-ENROLLMENT CONTEXT · 2024
148 high-school students took college courses.
IPEDS counts students enrolled in college credit while still in high school. A large dual-enrollment population can shape headline enrollment figures, especially at community colleges.
This is participation, not a college completion rate. It does not indicate how many students later enrolled after high school, earned a credential or entered the workforce.
STATE PRICE CONTEXT · 2024
Prices in New York run 8% above the U.S. level.
BEA Regional Price Parities compare price levels across states. A value of 100 equals the national average.
What it costs and what graduates earn
$20,995Average net price / year
$30,785Cost of attendance
$19,000Median federal student debt · completer borrowers
$201/moPublished 10-year payment estimate
$68,437Median earnings · year 5 after completion
75.2%Completion rate
74.2%Admission rate
1,295Average SAT score
28ACT midpoint
20,112Student size
Debt covers federal student-loan borrowers who completed. It does not include Parent PLUS or private loans. We show admissions scores only when a valid federal value is available.
What the numbers say about University at Buffalo
What does University at Buffalo cost?
University at Buffalo reports an average annual net price of $20,995 after grants and scholarships. This is an institution-wide average, not an individual aid offer.
What do University at Buffalo graduates earn?
The observed median earnings figure is $68,437 5 years after completion. It describes a federal cohort, not a guaranteed starting salary.
How much federal debt do University at Buffalo graduates have?
Completer borrowers report median cumulative federal student debt of $19,000. Parent PLUS and private loans are not included.
Is every degree at University at Buffalo worth the same?
No. The current release contains 73 field-and-degree records for University at Buffalo; 71 report year-4 earnings and 42 report federal debt. Outcomes can differ substantially by field and degree level.
DEBT AFTER COLLEGE
Are borrowers making progress?
Repayment progress, default and debt at exit describe different federal borrower cohorts. They are shown separately and do not change the ROI estimate.
Source: College Scorecard. Repayment progress is the share of borrowers who reduced principal by at least $1 at the stated measurement point. Debt covers federal student loans; Parent PLUS and private loans are excluded. Cohorts and reporting periods differ across measures.
Who studied here during the year
35,248Students enrolled at any point
22,551Undergraduate students
12,697Graduate students
Unduplicated students enrolled at any point from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025. This full-year measure is different from a fall headcount and does not enter ROI.
More student and earnings detailPrice by family income, retention, equity and common industries
WHO PAYS, WHO FINISHES, WHO EARNS
Outcomes are not the same for every family.
These federal cohorts add context that a single college average can hide. Missing figures remain unreported rather than estimated.
Complete within 150% of the expected time
66% received a Pell Grant within eight yearsMedian Parent PLUS debt
1,585 parent borrowers in the reported cohortMedian federal student debt
67% making progress in repayment after three yearsStudent family incomeMedian earnings after 10 yearsObserved federal cohorts
Lower income$64,947Earnings are not a guarantee
Middle income$68,103Earnings are not a guarantee
Higher income$76,434Earnings are not a guarantee
Three-year repayment progress
Lower income62%
Middle income68%
Higher income74%
Undergraduate student composition
White44%
Black9%
Hispanic9%
Asian18%
Source: College Scorecard, June 2026 release. Parent PLUS debt belongs to parents; student-debt measures exclude Parent PLUS and private loans. Cohort definitions differ by measure.
INDEPENDENT CENSUS EARNINGS VIEW
How earnings develop by field
Privacy-protected Census employment records follow graduate cohorts one, five and ten years after completion. This source is kept separate from College Scorecard because its population and methodology differ.
Field and credentialYear 1Year 5Year 10
Computer Programming.Doctoral, research/scholarship · Broad federal field 11
$179,858Year 1
$253,237Year 5
$186,860Year 10
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences.Doctoral, professional practice · Broad federal field 51
$78,875Year 1
$144,955Year 5
$183,067Year 10
Computer Programming.Master’s degree · Broad federal field 11
$125,614Year 1
$169,947Year 5
$167,430Year 10
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering.Doctoral, research/scholarship · Broad federal field 14
$94,768Year 1
$142,462Year 5
$165,855Year 10
Accounting and Related Services.Master’s degree · Broad federal field 52
$78,338Year 1
$113,027Year 5
$147,575Year 10
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology.Doctoral, research/scholarship · Broad federal field 26
$68,867Year 1
$112,807Year 5
$145,894Year 10
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering.Master’s degree · Broad federal field 14
$77,548Year 1
$111,067Year 5
$141,633Year 10
Astronomy and Astrophysics.Doctoral, research/scholarship · Broad federal field 40
$76,644Year 1
$102,218Year 5
$132,952Year 10
Median annual earnings in 2023 dollars. Each time point may use a different pooled graduation cohort. Coverage is limited to institutions participating in the Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes program.
NATIONAL CONTEXT
How this college compares
Percentiles compare this institution with currently operating colleges that report the same federal measure.
WHAT STANDS OUT
A faster read on this college
These summaries use every reportable field-and-credential record at this institution. They do not fill privacy-suppressed outcomes.
EARNINGS OVER TIME
What graduates earned in later years
$44,259Year 1
$71,430Year 4
$68,437Year 5
Each year can represent a different federal cohort, so the points do not track the same people over time.
Your choice of degree can change the payoff.
Graduate earnings differ by field and credential, even within the same college.
1Dentistry · First Professional Degree$198,1102Pharmacology and Toxicology · Doctoral Degree$180,2293Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · Doctoral Degree$156,7794Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration · First Professional Degree$137,1015Business Administration, Management and Operations · Master's Degree$114,4806Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology · Doctoral Degree$112,0257Chemistry · Doctoral Degree$109,4148Computer Engineering · Bachelor's Degree$109,221Observed year-4 earnings · compare the same field and credential across colleges
Programs that stand out against the same-degree benchmark
This view rewards performance relative to the same field and credential, not simply majors that pay more everywhere.
1Pharmacology and ToxicologyDoctoral Degree · $180,229 reported+65%vs same-degree national medianNot availablefederal debt2Accounting and Related ServicesBachelor's Degree · $92,314 reported+21%vs same-degree national median$19,680federal debt3Geography and CartographyBachelor's Degree · $68,176 reported+18%vs same-degree national median$24,255federal debt4Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied ProfessionsBachelor's Degree · $89,223 reported+17%vs same-degree national median$21,842federal debt5DentistryFirst Professional Degree · $198,110 reported+16%vs same-degree national medianNot availablefederal debt6Drama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftBachelor's Degree · $45,677 reported+15%vs same-degree national median$26,637federal debt
Comparable colleges in NY
Currently operating public institutions with the closest combination of annual net price and observed year-5 earnings. Similarity is descriptive, not a quality ranking.
Albany, NY
University at Albany
- Annual net price
- $17,167
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $64,597
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -21%
SUNY College at Geneseo
- Annual net price
- $18,211
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $62,263
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -32%
State University of New York at Cortland
- Annual net price
- $22,345
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $60,759
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -41%
SUNY Polytechnic Institute
- Annual net price
- $14,164
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $70,849
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- +9%
Compare fields and degree levels
Showing the 40 highest-earning records from 73 field-and-degree records. Use the program directory to search the complete set.
| Major or field | Degree level | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 2024–25 graduates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dentistry | First Professional Degree | $198,110 | Not available | Not reported |
| Pharmacology and Toxicology | Doctoral Degree | $180,229 | Not available | 1 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Doctoral Degree | $156,779 | Not available | 61 |
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration | First Professional Degree | $137,101 | Not available | Not reported |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Master's Degree | $114,480 | Not available | 0 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | Doctoral Degree | $112,025 | Not available | 12 |
| Chemistry | Doctoral Degree | $109,414 | Not available | 11 |
| Computer Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $109,221 | $22,500 | Not reported |
| Computer Science | Bachelor's Degree | $105,160 | $20,500 | Not reported |
| Chemical Engineering | Master's Degree | $102,730 | Not available | Not reported |
| Industrial Engineering | Master's Degree | $102,080 | Not available | Not reported |
| Medicine | First Professional Degree | $100,331 | Not available | Not reported |
| Accounting and Related Services | Master's Degree | $98,554 | Not available | Not reported |
| Mechanical Engineering | Master's Degree | $96,497 | Not available | 0 |
| Chemical Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $95,424 | $23,161 | Not reported |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $95,209 | $23,500 | Not reported |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Bachelor's Degree | $93,507 | $26,117 | 0 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $92,360 | $24,846 | Not reported |
| Accounting and Related Services | Bachelor's Degree | $92,314 | $19,680 | Not reported |
| Civil Engineering | Master's Degree | $90,707 | Not available | 0 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | Bachelor's Degree | $89,223 | $21,842 | Not reported |
| Public Health | Master's Degree | $87,916 | Not available | 0 |
| Industrial Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $86,118 | $24,750 | Not reported |
| Law | First Professional Degree | $85,126 | Not available | Not reported |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $84,920 | $21,000 | Not reported |
| Civil Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $84,868 | $22,913 | 2 |
| Mechanical Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $84,602 | $23,944 | 2 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | Master's Degree | $82,528 | Not available | Not reported |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | Doctoral Degree | $75,450 | Not available | 43 |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $75,263 | $27,000 | Not reported |
| Economics | Bachelor's Degree | $70,720 | $20,225 | 0 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Bachelor's Degree | $69,903 | $21,500 | 0 |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology | Master's Degree | $69,581 | Not available | Not reported |
| Chemistry | Bachelor's Degree | $68,413 | $23,250 | Not reported |
| Geography and Cartography | Bachelor's Degree | $68,176 | $24,255 | Not reported |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | Bachelor's Degree | $66,880 | $23,900 | Not reported |
| Architecture | Master's Degree | $66,761 | Not available | Not reported |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | Master's Degree | $65,788 | Not available | 0 |
| International Business | Bachelor's Degree | $64,711 | $22,782 | Not reported |
| Pharmacology and Toxicology | Bachelor's Degree | $64,445 | $23,503 | Not reported |
Graduate counts come from IPEDS and group related majors into the same federal field. Missing earnings or debt values remain labeled as unavailable.
Search every University at Buffalo program record →Earnings, price, completion and enrollment are observed federal measures. ROI, payoff and break-even are modeled scenarios built from those measures and fixed assumptions. College payoff is not the payoff of every degree at this school; use the program table for a more precise comparison.