Tuition and Financial Aid
The University at Buffalo ranks among the most affordable public universities in the United States. Students fund their graduate education through a variety of sources, including federal and state aid, as well as UB scholarships and fellowships.
Tuition
The University of Buffalo is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system, and as such, has differential tuition rates for New York State residents and non-residents (out-of-state/ international students).
Out-of-state students who move to NY and establish a permanent residence may apply for NY residency and obtain the in-state resident rate for the remainder of their program. You can read more about NY residency on the Student Accounts website.
Fees
Students are required to pay fees in addition to tuition. Students enrolled in our online part-time programs are waived from some (not all) of the fees.
Billing
Full-time students are billed a flat rate each semester, and part-time students are billed per credit hour for the number of credits they are taking that semester.
Students receive an electronic bill (eBill) each semester through the HUB Student Center. Payment plans are available; detailed information can be found on the Student Accounts Office website.
Watch our Tuition and Funding Video! [4:19 min]
Full-Time (per semester)
- NY Residents: $8,149.86
- Non-Residents: $13,274.86
Part-Time (per credit)
ONLINE Part-Time (per credit)
*Rates based on fall 2024 combined tuition and fees, subject to change. Rates apply only to matriculated MSW students. View all current rates on the Student Accounts website.
The Online DSW tuition rates are posted on the DSW program page.
New York Residency
To qualify for the in-state tuition rate, admitted students must provide proof of New York State residency. Visit the accepted student information page for details.
When planning how you will fund your graduate degree, make sure to budget for not only the direct costs (like tuition and fees), but also indirect costs, such as housing, food, books, supplies, transportation and child care. View the full-time cost of attendance on the Financial Aid Office website to see a sample budget.
There are various types of financial assistance available to students. Below are some of the most common.
Eligibility: All U.S. citizens and certain eligible non-citizens who are enrolled in at least 6 graduate credits per semester.
About: The FAFSA is an application for federal student aid that collects the basic information needed to determine your eligibility for all of the financial aid programs sponsored by the federal government. The most common types of graduate student aid are low interest federal student loans such as Federal Direct, Stafford, and Perkins loans.
How to Apply: You can file a free FAFSA application online. This form must be filed every year, as soon as possible after January 1. Be sure to file your financial aid application as soon as possible, UB's priority due date is March 1. The University at Buffalo's federal title IV school code is 002837. Filling out a FAFSA doesn't mean that you have to accept all of the aid. You will have the option of accepting all or some of it, or of declining to take any at all. Therefore, you should fill out a FAFSA even if you are not sure you will be attending UB.
Questions?: Steps on how to apply for financial aid and maintaining eligibility can be accessed at the UB Office of Financial Aid. You may also contact the office at 716-645-8232 or e-mail at ubfa@buffalo.edu.
Eligibility: Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or protected citizens who are residents of Ontario.
About: UB is an approved school under the Canada Student Loans Plan through the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP).
How to Apply: Visit the OSAP website for details on how to apply and the link to the application.
Eligibility: All full-time and part-time MSW students
About: Each year the School of Social Work awards a number of scholarships to incoming students who demonstrate academic achievement and a commitment to the social work profession.
How to apply: No separate application is required; simply apply to the social work degree program of your choice. We consider all applicants for these scholarships at the time of application review. If scholarship funding is awarded, the award and amount will be stated in your acceptance letter. Due to the limited amount of funding, we recommend submitting your program application early for the best chance of consideration.
The School of Social Work has several funding opportunities that require a separate application to be considered. View all opportunities.
Eligibility: Full-time MSW students who are New York State residents and graduates of an EOP, SEEK, or HEOP program.
About: Awards include a tuition scholarship at the in-state graduate tuition rate. Students are responsible for paying the difference in graduate and MSW tuition rates and all fees associated with enrollment. Applications are reviewed by UB committee, and the awards are competitive/limited.
How to Apply: View details and application process on the The Graduate School website. Application deadline is March 1.
Eligibility: New, full-time MSW/PhD dual-degree, and PhD students who are U.S. citizens.
About: This highly competitive fellowship is sponsored by the SUNY office of Diversity Equity and Inclusion and offers support for academically outstanding students who can demonstrate that they would contribute to the diversity of the student body, especially those who can demonstrate that they have overcome a disadvantage or other impediment to success in higher education. Arthur A. Schomburg fellows receive a significant annual stipend.
How to Apply: Eligible MSW/PhD dual-degree and PhD students will indicate on their application if they are interested in applying for the Schomburg Fellowship, and if so, will be required complete a brief additional fellowship application.
Eligibility: New PhD in Social Welfare students
About: These competitive fellowships are available for academically outstanding new PhD in Social Welfare students. To be considered, students must have an undergraduate GPA of 3.4 or higher or a combined verbal/quant GRE score of 313 and writing score of 4.5. The award comes with a significant annual stipend.
How to Apply: No separate application is necessary; all PhD applicants are considered and recipients are selected by the PhD Admissions Committee after program applications are reviewed.
Eligibility: Full-time MSW, MSW/PhD and PhD students
About: Assistantships typically require 20 hours of work per week (during normal business hours) in exchange for a tuition scholarship and stipend. PhD and MSW/PhD students are typically awarded an assistantship for a set number of years as part of their funding package when they are admitted. Full-time MSW students are typically in class and field from 9am-5pm four days a week, which means that very few are able to find assistantships that can accommodate their class and field hours.
How to Apply: At present there is no centralized tracking of GA opportunities. Students typically respond to postings on campus, send resumes to various academic units or check with the Career Design Center.
Students can find additional sources of funding that come from outside the UB School of Social Work.
- Some part-time students who continue working while attending school get tuition assistance from their employer.
- External scholarships may be available from professional social work organizations, such as the National Association for Social Workers (NASW).
- Other external scholarships and information about finding other awards can be found on the UB's Graduate School Scholarships page.