A Place to Learn, Grow, and Prepare for Your Future

Each year, more than 7,000 students choose Buffalo State for its superb academic programs, applied learning opportunities, affordable tuition, and metropolitan location. Our goal is to inspire a lifelong passion for learning and to empower a diverse population of students to succeed as citizens of a challenging world. The college is recognized for its excellence in classroom teaching and scholarship and is known for its small class sizes—nearly 90 percent of all classes have fewer than 40 students. Buffalo State offers the perfect academic blend: small college learning environments coupled with large university opportunities.

History to Celebrate

In 1871, when the Buffalo Normal School opened its doors to its first class, the school’s sole purpose was to train teachers to serve Buffalo’s fast-growing student population in the public schools. Today, Buffalo State is the largest comprehensive four-year college in the State University of New York system, educating undergraduate and graduate students in education, the arts, sciences, professional, and graduate studies. Buffalo State just celebrated its 150th anniversary, serving as a cornerstone in the City of Buffalo and surrounding communities. Buffalo State is known for its strong community engagement and continuing commitment to providing high-quality lifelong learning opportunities—home to an engaged, diverse community of learners, scholars, and leaders whose passion is discovery, community, and changing the world.

Excellent, Comprehensive Academic Offerings

Buffalo State’s wide array of 79 undergraduate programs and 64 graduate programs include several that are completely unique within the State University of New York (SUNY) system. The college’s visual arts program is one of the largest and most comprehensive within SUNY. Building on its historical foundation as a teachers college, Buffalo State continues to earn national recognition for the quality of its teacher-preparation programs. All eligible academic programs are accredited.

Quality Learning Environment

Buffalo State fosters a learning environment that focuses on advancing each student’s potential. With one faculty member for every 15 students, students interact directly with qualified, committed instructors—four out of five hold the highest degrees in their fields.

Support programs assist students through mentoring, tutorials, workshops, and independent learning experiences. Honors curricula provide enrichment opportunities for advanced students. Campus resources address the specific needs of underrepresented students, students with disabilities, and adult learners.

Diverse Student Body

Buffalo State’s students represent the largest and most diverse student body of the SUNY comprehensive colleges. The college enrolls significant proportions of nontraditional (adult), first-generation, and disadvantaged students with demonstrated potential.

Hands-on Career Preparation

Buffalo State and the Western New York community offer plenty of convenient opportunities for students to "learn by doing" through internships with local organizations.

Students gain valuable skills through involvement with applied undergraduate research opportunities, service-learning programs, and career development services sponsored by campus centers. The college has been nationally recognized for its efforts in community engagement and social mobility.

Students preparing to be teachers are involved in classrooms early in their academic careers, and they learn in a variety of educational settings—urban, rural, and suburban. Undergraduate students are encouraged to engage in original research, with assistance from faculty mentors.

Those who wish to learn by experiencing distant places and cultures can earn college credit by participating in a variety of study abroad and national student exchange opportunities.

Convenient, Attractive Campus

The college’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 college 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. 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.

The State University of New York

As a comprehensive public university, the State University of New York provides a meaningful educational experience to the broadest spectrum of learners. Nearly 400,000 students are pursuing traditional study in classrooms and laboratories or are working at home, at their own pace, through such innovative institutions as the SUNY Learning Network and Empire State College.

The Covenant

Buffalo State Is Committed to Providing:

Superb Teaching Faculty

Buffalo State faculty members are:

• Dedicated teachers.
• Nationally renowned scholars who bring the latest research to the classroom.
• Degreed professionals, not teaching assistants.
• Among the best in SUNY—more than 50 have received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence.

Innovative and Relevant Programs

• The Intellectual Foundations 2014 (IF 14) or core curriculum ensures that students have a broad-based education.
• The professional curriculum—the academic major—prepares students for career success.
• Accredited professional programs.¹
• State-of-the-art technologies, facilities, and library.

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 Copies of accreditation papers are on file and may be viewed upon request.

An Excellent Learning Environment

• The only SUNY campus in a major metropolitan area, offering exceptional cultural and recreational opportunities—all within walking distance.
• A dynamic and diverse faculty, staff, and student body.
• Strong student support and academic services, delivered by a committed professional staff.
• Outstanding library, with a strong technical and computing infrastructure.

The Buffalo State Student Is Committed to:

First and Foremost, Being a Student

Academics is the driving, paramount goal of student life. It means a dedication to study and being fully prepared for the classroom, laboratory, or studio.

Making Progress Toward a Degree

Advance through your program at the expected pace, whether you are a full-time, part-time, day, or evening student.

Graduating

Oath of Matriculation

As a new student to Buffalo State, being now admitted to the rite of matriculation in baccalaureate studies, I do pledge to be an exemplary learner; to place the highest value on my intellectual, personal, and professional growth; and to respect learning and knowledge.

My priority is to be an educated person, to make significant progress in my program of study, and to graduate. As a student at Buffalo State, I will conduct myself with dignity, honestly, and civility, respecting the views and diverse backgrounds of my teachers and peers, enhancing the quality of life of my community, and promoting the welfare and esteemed reputation of Buffalo State. This I pledge to myself.