Apply as a First-Year Student
Choose Your Application
Complete and submit only one of the applications below. A $50 non-refundable fee is required.
Select “University at Buffalo (SUNY).”
Select “Buffalo, University at."
After You Apply
We will send you an email with a unique link to your Applicant Status Page, where you can monitor your application status. You are strongly encouraged to check this page regularly for updates about your application.
Fall 2026 Dates & Deadlines
| Domestic First-Year Students | ||
|---|---|---|
| Application opens | August 1 | |
| Recommended ACT test date for fall admission | September/October | |
| Recommended SAT test date for fall admission | October/November | |
| Office of Admissions begins to acknowledge receipt of fall applications | Mid-October | |
| Early Action/Priority Scholarship Consideration | November 1 | |
| Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opens | October | |
| Regular Decision application completion deadline | February 1 Students can continue to submit an application for consideration until capacity is reached. | |
| UB FAFSA priority filing date | March 1 However, you should file as early as possible to be considered for the best financial aid package. | |
| Enrollment/Tuition Deposit deadline | May 1 or 10 days after acceptance, whichever is later. | |
| Housing Deposit deadline | May 15 | |
| Classes begin | August See UB Academic Calendar. | |
We take great care in reviewing each application as we look to welcome the next class of exceptional students who will enrich and shape our vibrant community.
Admission to UB is based on a holistic review of each student. We consider both academic and non-academic factors, including your high school GPA and the overall strength of your academic coursework. We’re looking to get a full picture of your accomplishments and potential, both in and out of the classroom.
High School Transcripts
UB requires your high school transcript or completion of your Self-reported Transcript and Academic Record System (STARS). To complete your STARS, follow the link in your UB Applicant Status Page.
Our applicants have completed rigorous coursework in high school. Most students have taken high school courses in basic academic knowledge areas. The following courses are not required for admission, but are suggested as adequate preparation for university-level coursework:
- Four years of English (with a substantial writing component)
- Four years of social studies
- Three years of college-preparatory science
- Three years of a second language
- At least three years of college-preparatory mathematics
Some students who haven’t completed such a program still qualify for admission; however, it might be necessary to take additional courses to strengthen your knowledge in one or more of those areas after you enter the university.
When applying, you should indicate your intended major on the application form. If you apply via the Common Application you are encouraged to select a second-choice major. In general, the admissions consideration process is the same for most majors, including for exploratory students.
An audition is required for admission to the Department of Music and the Department of Theatre and Dance. Intended theatre majors with professional experience are also required to audition.
English proficiency tests are required to ensure that language skills don’t prevent students from successfully completing university-level courses in the United States. In general, the English proficiency tests are required for applicants whose native language is not English and if any portion of their high school studies was completed in a non-English speaking country. Additionally, students who speak English as a second language and have SAT critical reading scores below 440 are encouraged to take an English proficiency test. Transfer applicants whose native language is not English may also be required to submit English proficiency test results.
Below are the minimum scores to be eligible for consideration for admission to UB's undergraduate programs.
Early Action Option
Our Early Action option is designed for students who have identified UB as their intended college choice. The deadline for Early Action applications is November 1. Early Action plans are nonbinding; candidates will receive an early response to their application, but they do not have to commit to the university until the enrollment/tuition deposit deadline of May 1.