The Cost of Attendance is the sum of a student's direct costs (Items appearing on your bill) and indirect costs (other expenses incurred while enrolled) while attending Buffalo State.

The Financial Aid Office uses the cost of attendance in conjunction with the student's FAFSA to determine their financial need and eligibility for federal, state, and institutional aid. 

Direct Costs

Direct costs are costs billed by the university to the student that the student must pay. Students are billed each semester they are enrolled. Direct costs the student will be billed for include:

 

Tuition- Tuition rates are set by the State University Board of Trustees. Tuition rates vary based on the student's level (undergraduate vs. graduate) and on their New York residency status. Students should review the Student Accounts website for the current per-credit and full-time tuition rates.

Fees- Fees are set by the State University Board of Trustees. Fees vary for undergraduate and graduate students. Students should review the Student Accounts website for the current per-credit and full-time fee rates. Only in rare instances can mandatory fees be waived.

Housing- Students who live in campus housing will be billed for housing. Housing rates vary depending on what facility the student lives in and if they are in a single or double room. Questions about housing should be directed to Residence Life.

Meal Plans- Students who are required to or choose to have a meal plan will be billed.

Indirect Costs

Indirect costs represent costs the student may incur while attending enrolled that are not billed by Buffalo State. Indirect costs are included in the overall cost of attendance because it allows students to receive additional financial aid to help with these expenses. However, this does not guarantee that the student will receive enough aid to cover all direct and indirect costs. Your actual expenses may be higher or lower than estimates

Housing- Students who live in off-campus apartments or homes will incur housing costs while attending school. Although these costs will not appear on the student's bill, an allowance is included in the student's cost of attendance so that the student could potentially receive financial aid to help them with their living costs.

Meals- Students will need to purchase food even if they are not using the university's meal plan. The meal allowance is an estimate of what a student not using a meal plan will spend on food.

Books and Supplies- Books and supplies are not included in the student's semester bill. The cost of attendance includes an allowance for books and financial aid can be used to purchase books through a textbook deferment if the student qualifies. If a student does not qualify for a book deferment, they will need to make other arrangements to purchase their textbooks.

Personal Expenses- Personal expenses account for items like personal hygiene products the student will need to purchase while enrolled.

Transportation- Transportation represents an estimated cost of commuting to and from campus. 

The cost of attendance below represents the estimated costs of attending Buffalo State as an undergraduate, full-time student.

The top portion of each chart represents billable charges and the bottom portion represents indirect (unbilled) costs the student may incur while being a student. Only those students living on campus will be billed for housing costs. The Student Accounts Office is responsible for all billing which is done exclusively online in Banner. Students who enroll less than full-time (12 credits) will be billed on a per-credit basis. Refer to Student Accounts for the per-credit rates.

Refer to the bill estimator to estimate your out-of-pocket costs each semester.

  Commuter Off-Campus On Campus Housing
Cost Component Single Semester Two Semesters Single Semester Two Semesters One Semester Two Semesters
Direct costs billed by Buffalo State
Tuition $3,535 $7,070 $3,535 $7,070 $3,535 $7,070
Fees $708 $1,416 $708 $1,416 $708 $1,416
Housing $0 $0 $0 $0 $5,044 $10,088
Meal Plan $0 $0 $0 $0 $3,535 $7,070
Total billed by Buffalo State $4,243 $8,486 $4,243 $8,486 $12,822 $25,644
Indirect costs a student may incur while enrolled
Housing Costs $0 $0 $5,044 $10,088 $0 $0
Meal Costs $3,535 $7,070 $3,535 $7,070 $0 $0
Books & Supplies $526 $1,052 $526 $1,052 $526 $1,052
Personal Expenses $797 $1,594 $797 $1,594 $797 $1,594
Transportation $901 $1,802 $901 $1,802 $641 $1,282
Total Costs (direct & Indirect) $10,002 $20,004 $15,046 $30,092 $14,786 $29,572
Out of state & International students are billed the following amounts in addition to other direct costs* $5,210 $10,420 $5,210 $10,420 $5,210 $10,420

*To determine the direct costs paid to the university for out-of-state or international students, add the last row in the above chart to the "= Total billed by Buffalo State (direct costs)" line above.  This does not include any indirect costs a student may be subject to such as books, personal expenses, etc.

Additional information regarding how a student's in-state residency status is determined can be found with the Student Accounts Office.

The cost of attendance below represents the estimated costs of attending Buffalo State as an graduate, full-time student.

The top portion of each chart represents billable charges and the bottom portion represents indirect (unbilled) costs the student may incur while being a student. Only those students living on campus will be billed for housing costs. The Student Accounts Office is responsible for all billing which is done exclusively online in Banner. Students who enroll less than full-time (12 credits) will be billed on a per-credit basis. Refer to Student Accounts for the per-credit rates.

Refer to the bill estimator to estimate your out-of-pocket costs each semester.

  Commuter Off-Campus On Campus Housing
Cost Component Single Semester Two Semesters Single Semester Two Semesters One Semester Two Semesters
Direct costs billed by Buffalo State
Tuition $5,655 $11,310 $5,655 $11,310 $5,655 $11,310
Fees $424 $847 $424 $847 $424 $847
Housing $0 $0 $0 $0 $5,044 $10,088
Meal Plan $0 $0 $0 $0 $3,535 $7,070
Total billed by Buffalo State $6,079 $12,157 $6,079 $12,157 $16,622 $33,243
Indirect costs a student may incur while enrolled
Housing Costs $0 $0 $5,044 $10,088 $0 $0
Meal Costs $3,535 $7,070 $3,535 $7,070 $0 $0
Books & Supplies $526 $1,052 $526 $1,052 $526 $1,052
Personal Expenses $797 $1,594 $797 $1,594 $797 $1,594
Transportation $901 $1,802 $901 $1,802 $641 $1,282
Total Costs (direct & Indirect) $11,838 $23,675 $16,882 $33,763 $16,622 $33,243
Out of state & International students are billed the following amounts in addition to other direct costs* $6,240 $12,480 $6,240 $12,480 $6,240 $12,480

*To determine the direct costs paid to the university for out-of-state or international students, add the last row in the above chart to the "= Total billed by Buffalo State (direct costs)" line above.  This does not include any indirect costs a student may be subject to such as books, personal expenses, etc.

Additional information regarding how a student's in-state residency status is determined can be found with the Student Accounts Office.