Location: Buffalo, NY•In-State Tuition: $10,782•Out-of-State Tuition: $30,572•Admission Rate: 69%•Avg SAT: 1298
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$67,911
Est. from national median (47 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$25,832
Est. from national median (18 programs)

Analysis

University at Buffalo's engineering program appears positioned near the national median based on comparable programs across the country, with estimated first-year earnings around $68,000 and debt near $26,000. That 0.38 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests manageable repayment—roughly what you'd expect from a solid public university engineering degree.

What's interesting is how this compares within New York. The state median for engineering programs sits considerably lower at $52,000, which suggests UB's program may offer stronger career outcomes than many in-state alternatives. Programs like Stony Brook report actual earnings of $55,000, while similar programs nationally cluster around the $68,000 mark. If these estimates hold, Buffalo could be delivering outcomes closer to the national standard than the typical New York engineering program.

The 69% admission rate and reasonable estimated debt load make this accessible for families who can't swing private school tuition. Engineering is one of the safer bets in higher education, and even with estimated figures, the fundamentals look sound—mid-$60,000 starting salaries can support $26,000 in loans. The real question is whether Buffalo's actual outcomes track with these peer-based projections, something worth verifying directly with the school's career services before committing.

Where University at Buffalo Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all engineering bachelors's programs nationally

University at Buffalo (estimated ±10%)Other engineering programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Compare to Similar Programs in New York

Engineering bachelors's programs at peer institutions in New York (15 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
University at BuffaloBuffalo$10,782$67,911*—$25,832*—
Stony Brook UniversityStony Brook$10,560$55,437*$80,280$20,000*0.36
College of Staten Island CUNYStaten Island$7,490$48,898*$78,613—*—
National Median—$67,911*—$26,056*0.38
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with engineering graduates

Architectural and Engineering Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as architecture and engineering or research and development in these fields.

$167,740/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers

Define, plan, or execute biofuels/biodiesel research programs that evaluate alternative feedstock and process technologies with near-term commercial potential.

$167,740/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses pertaining to the application of physical laws and principles of engineering for the development of machines, materials, instruments, processes, and services. Includes teachers of subjects such as chemical, civil, electrical, industrial, mechanical, mineral, and petroleum engineering. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Engineers, All Other

All engineers not listed separately.

Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar

Design, develop, or evaluate energy-related projects or programs to reduce energy costs or improve energy efficiency during the designing, building, or remodeling stages of construction. May specialize in electrical systems; heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems; green buildings; lighting; air quality; or energy procurement.

Mechatronics Engineers

Research, design, develop, or test automation, intelligent systems, smart devices, or industrial systems control.

Microsystems Engineers

Research, design, develop, or test microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) devices.

Photonics Engineers

Design technologies specializing in light information or light energy, such as laser or fiber optics technology.

Robotics Engineers

Research, design, develop, or test robotic applications.

Nanosystems Engineers

Design, develop, or supervise the production of materials, devices, or systems of unique molecular or macromolecular composition, applying principles of nanoscale physics and electrical, chemical, or biological engineering.

Wind Energy Engineers

Design underground or overhead wind farm collector systems and prepare and develop site specifications.

Solar Energy Systems Engineers

Perform site-specific engineering analysis or evaluation of energy efficiency and solar projects involving residential, commercial, or industrial customers. Design solar domestic hot water and space heating systems for new and existing structures, applying knowledge of structural energy requirements, local climates, solar technology, and thermodynamics.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At University at Buffalo, approximately 32% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the national median of 47 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.