When the university opened its doors in 1871 as the Buffalo Normal School, its purpose was to train teachers to serve Buffalo’s fast-growing student population in the public schools. Buffalo State was authorized in 1945 to establish its first master's degree program and began accepting students on July 1, 1946, with an initial registration of 70 graduate students. From the beginning, Buffalo State focused on making quality education accessible to students while addressing the needs of the Western New York community.

Today, Buffalo State is the largest comprehensive four-year institution in the SUNY system, educating more than 7,000 undergraduate and graduate students each year in education, the arts, sciences, professional, and graduate studies. Buffalo State offers 64 graduate programs that include four certificate of advanced study programs and eight graduate certificate programs, as well as 79 undergraduate programs and eight postbaccalaureate teacher certification programs (undergraduate status). The university is known for its strong community engagement and continuing commitment to providing high-quality lifelong learning opportunities.

Convenient, Attractive Campus

Buffalo State’s park-like setting features 125 acres of landscaped green space and outdoor gathering spots, along with an eclectic mix of modern and traditional architecture. With 38 buildings on one campus, every destination is within easy walking distance. Forming a "town square" for the unversity community, four core buildings, including E. H. Butler Library and the Campbell Student Union, are situated around a central, open quadrangle.

Vibrant, Metropolitan Neighborhood

Home to the Burchfield Penney Art Center and the Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall, Buffalo State’s campus is a featured attraction of Buffalo’s cultural corridor. Nationally recognized recreational and cultural amenities are within easy walking distance, including the Albright-Knox Art Gallery and the historic 367-acre Delaware Park. Distinctive shops and restaurants help give the Elmwood strip its characteristic flavor.

Buffalo and Beyond

Buffalo State students enjoy all the advantages of living in New York State’s second-largest metropolitan area, and the good word is out! Travel & Leisure ranked Buffalo #7 in 2021 Best Places to Visit for the extent of Buffalo’s vibrant city development, restaurants, arts, and culture. Also known at the City of Good Neighbors, Queen City, City of Light, and Nickle City, Buffalo was listed #3 in 2017 America's Favorite Cities and voted in 2015 as one of the "hottest" cities for 25‒34-year-olds because of job opportunities, cost of living, and the variety of social and recreational activities.

Downtown Buffalo features national touring productions at Shea’s Performing Arts Center, Triple-A minor-league baseball at Sahlen Field, Sabres hockey and major concerts at KeyBank Center, and trendy night life. The NFL’s Buffalo Bills play in nearby Orchard Park. Niagara Falls—one of the world’s most visited natural wonders—is a half-hour away; cosmopolitan Toronto, Canada’s largest city, is about a two-hour drive from campus.