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Syracuse University vs University at Buffalo
Syracuse University Law School · Syracuse, NY | University at Buffalo Law School · Buffalo, NY
This pairing is listed because these two schools are same state, similar selectivity in New York — the circumstances in which one school is a realistic alternative to the other.
Side by side
All figures from the 2025 ABA 509 reporting cycle. Bold marks the stronger figure on each row where a direction exists.
| Measure | Syracuse University | University at Buffalo | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 34.59% | 42.37% | −7.8 |
| Median LSAT | 158 | 157 | +1 |
| Median GPA | 3.6 | 3.71 | −0 |
| Annual tuition | $64,650 | $26,430 | +38,220 |
| 3-year total cost | $274,236 | $163,692 | +110,544 |
| Median grant / year | $24,351 | $7,500 | +16,851 |
| Net tuition after grant | not reported | not reported | — |
| First-year class size | 271 | 167 | +104 |
| Offer yield | not reported | not reported | — |
| Class fill | 98.2% | 97.6% | +0.6 |
| Bar pass (1st time) | 84.8% | 88.5% | −3.7 |
Bold is not a recommendation. On cost and acceptance it marks the lower number; on grant aid and bar passage the higher one. Where no direction applies — median LSAT, GPA and class size — nothing is bolded, because a higher median LSAT is not obviously better than a lower one for a given applicant.
Where the two differ most
Ranked by the size of the gap relative to University at Buffalo's figure. These are the differences most likely to change a decision.
| Measure | Syracuse University | University at Buffalo | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median grant / year | $24,351 | $7,500 | +16,851in dollars |
| Annual tuition | $64,650 | $26,430 | +38,220in dollars |
| 3-year total cost | $274,236 | $163,692 | +110,544in dollars |
| First-year class size | 271 | 167 | +104 |
Cost compared
Both schools report tuition, mandatory fees and living costs, so a full three-year figure can be computed for each. This is the comparison that tuition-only rankings cannot make.
| Component (per year) | Syracuse University | University at Buffalo |
|---|---|---|
| Annual tuition | $64,650 | $26,430 |
| 3-year total cost | $274,236 | $163,692 |
| Median grant / year | $24,351 | $7,500 |
| Net tuition after median grant | — | — |
Net tuition subtracts the median grant from annual tuition. It is an optimistic floor: the median covers only students who received aid, and it assumes the same award holds for all three years. See the full cost ranking for every school.
Outcomes compared
| Measure | Syracuse University | University at Buffalo |
|---|---|---|
| First-time bar passage | 84.8% | 88.5% |
| Offer yield | 27.9% | 39.4% |
| Class fill | 98.2% | 97.6% |
| Students enrolled | 266 | 163 |
| First-year class size | 271 | 167 |
The national median offer yield is 31.6%. Offer yield measures how many admitted students chose each school; class fill measures whether the class was filled. A low yield is common and usually reflects a wide offer policy rather than a school students avoid.
Choosing between them
- There is no better school here, only a different one. These figures describe cohort averages. Where your own profile falls relative to a school's admitted range matters more than any published median.
- Cost is a family question, not a ranking. The three-year figure covers tuition, fees and published living costs. It does not include books, a laptop, travel home, or the income lost to three years of not working.
- Grant figures are history, not offers. Both medians describe past cohorts. Your award depends on your circumstances, the school's policy and its aid budget that year.
- Bar passage is heavily shaped by selectivity. A school that admits broadly and passes fewer of its own admittees is not necessarily providing a weaker education; the comparison is confounded by who each school chooses.
Full details on each school
| Syracuse University | University at Buffalo | |
|---|---|---|
| Admissions data | All Syracuse University admissions data | All University at Buffalo admissions data |
| Admissions funnel | Funnel & yield | Funnel & yield |
| Financial aid | Grants & aid bands | Grants & aid bands |
| Cost | Cost of attendance | Cost of attendance |
Other comparisons
Other University at Buffalo pairings, and other alternatives to Syracuse University.
- No further pairings available for these two schools.
Common questions
What is the acceptance rate at Syracuse University vs University at Buffalo?
Syracuse University admitted 34.59% of applicants while University at Buffalo admitted 42.37%.
Which is cheaper, Syracuse University or University at Buffalo?
Over three years, University at Buffalo costs $110,544 less. Syracuse University runs $274,236 and University at Buffalo runs $163,692, including tuition, mandatory fees and disclosed living costs.
Which school offers more financial aid, Syracuse University or University at Buffalo?
Syracuse University reports a median grant of $24,351 per year for full-time students, compared with $7,500 at University at Buffalo. Median figures describe past cohorts and are not aid offers.
Source: ABA Standard 509 Required Disclosures, 2025 reporting cycle, for Syracuse University Law School and University at Buffalo Law School. Three-year cost totals multiply one year of disclosed tuition, mandatory fees and living costs by three; the 509 does not disclose program length. Figures describe the most recent entering class and past aid cohorts. Not financial advice and not a recommendation of either school.