2024 Best Colleges for Public Policy in the Buffalo Area

• Buffalo, NY•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.64 out of 5  3,084 reviews

Alum: Overall pretty satisfied with my undergraduate experience, but SUNY Buffalo is definitely a school that might not appeal to everybody. If you're a fan of big schools like myself, then it's great; plenty of campus activities and sports, absolutely amazing food choices (the dorm even has a grocery store), different campuses with different vibes for different people, and so many groups of people from all different walks of life. However, it's definitely huge party school (a pro and a con), and there's some safety issues outside of South campus to be aware of. Likewise, due to the massive class size, it's essential to be self-reliant/driven in your studies, and I could definitely see the 500 person lecture halls and greater difficulty connecting with professors turning-off people from UB. Parts of North campus itself does look a bit visually unappealing, and parking is a constant issue among students as well. However, if you're looking for a city within a school feel, UB is the way to go!... Read 3,084 reviews

• grade A minus

• Acceptance rate 70%

• Net price $17,954

• SAT range 1180-1360

• Amherst, NY•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.52 out of 5  489 reviews

Senior: I have had an amazing experience at Daemen throughout my past 3.5 years here. The professors are excellent in some departments, while others could not care less. The clubs and student activities are lower than average universities due to the more academics driven atmosphere. Becoming involved on campus is an easy process with over 54 clubs and organizations. There are also some leadership positions available. Many offices on campus want to support you in whatever you need. I suggest that if you stay focused in your courses, pay attention in class, and manage a work-school-life balance, you will thrive here. I am proud to be a student here.... Read 489 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 78%

• Net price $20,180

• SAT range —

• Niagara University, NY•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.66 out of 5  582 reviews

Freshman: NU is amazing, the staff are wonderful and helpful and the university is so clean and well maintained. I get so happy everytime I go there. The education curriculum is easy to grasp and so far, all of my experiences with NU have been absolutely amazing. I feel like we are all a family there, everyone is kind to each other and NU is not just a university, but it's like a little community that respects and understands each other. Overall, I can say without absolutely any hesitation that the environment, people, and curriculum of Niagara University are a 10 out of 10 for me!... Read 582 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 92%

• Net price $18,118

• SAT range 1050-1220

• Buffalo, NY•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.48 out of 5  1,511 reviews

Senior: As a freshman coming into Buffalo State during the time of COVID, I will definitely say that my experience with Buffalo State has been interesting. I have definitely built a community with students that look like me and have similar ways of doing things. Being an education major I have learned that my professors support me to become the best student/teacher that I can possibly be. If you want to become a teacher, Buffalo State University has a great teaching program and gives you amazing hands-on experiences.... Read 1,511 reviews

• grade C+

• Acceptance rate 85%

• Net price $9,998

• SAT range 930-1160

• Hamburg, NY•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.83 out of 5  234 reviews

Senior: I genuinely love Hilbert and I am going to be very sad when I graduate next May. All of the professors I have had are very hands-on and work well with their students. They are always reachable via email - some faster than others - yet they all are reachable nonetheless. One thing I wish was different is that there be more class options or more specific majors for individuals who are pursuing a specific degree. I have never truly had any issues at this college in regard to my academics. If you are sick, do not worry about professors not accommodating you, because the professors at Hilbert are always very flexible to your situation.... Read 234 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 93%

• Net price $17,216

• SAT range —

• Buffalo, NY•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.67 out of 5  778 reviews

Alum: Canisius was great for the most part! I would say I had a great experience there, but it is a very average school. Your experience really is what you make of it. If you want to get involved and do things, you're going to have a great time. If you don't get out there, it's going to be very boring. Thankfully, there is lots of opportunity. The class offerings are pretty run of the mill. I enjoyed mine a lot, but there wasn't anything super cutting edge or unique. There is a lot of opportunity to travel through clubs, sports, volunteering, and study abroad options. There is always free stuff on campus which is awesome. The food is subpar, but has gotten a LOT better since my first year. The diversity is getting better, but isn't great. The alumni network is strong and Canisius really tries to take care of its people. The dorms are AMAZING in comparison to some of my friends at schools for 100k/yr. Parties are meh. Safety is alright. It's an urban campus and I never felt unsafe.... Read 778 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 81%

• Net price $18,486

• SAT range 1050-1250

• Buffalo, NY•

• 2 Year

• •
  Rating 3.63 out of 5  578 reviews

Freshman: This college is good for people looking to save money but still get all of the required classes done so they can succeed with their full potential at other colleges. Overall the college remains clean and there are great people to connect with if you can approach and talk with people. The food is ok in the cafeteria but i would recommend against it most of the time unless you are trying to stay on campus. The classes are small most of the time and are better if you go in person rather than online learning, the online learning feels disconnected and is not easy to get things fixed in a timely manner when you run into issues online. In person the professors are really nice and easy to get along with while helping you reach your goals. Overall the environment at the north campus is great except for the outdated areas of the campus with a lot of construction going on most of the time so they can get everything updated. They are actively maintaining and continuing to grow the campus. Great... Read 578 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 100%

• Net price $5,271

• SAT range —

• Sanborn, NY•

• 2 Year

• •
  Rating 3.79 out of 5  297 reviews

Alum: If you are looking for a campus that is out in the country and surrounded by trees, this may be the school for you! The campus is completely walkable and is fitted with a cute courtyard in the middle. The staff and teachers are always friendly and willing to help.... Read 297 reviews

• grade C+

• Acceptance rate 100%

• Net price $6,151

• SAT range —

• Sanborn, NY•

• 2 Year (Online)

• grade unavailable

• Acceptance rate —

• Net price —

• SAT range —