Paving the Way to a Better Future

Those who grew up with the University at Buffalo as their neighborhood university may not realize how extraordinary an institution it is. In fact, UB is recognized as a leading public research university around the country and the world. It was the first public university in the state invited to join the Association of American Universities (AAU), in 1989; to this day, it is one of only two AAU institutions within SUNY. It is also a flagship institution within SUNY. And it has been consistently ranked among the top 40 public universities in the country by U.S. News & World Report.

The 71 member institutions of the AAU are the leading research universities in North America. UB’s longstanding membership reflects its research strength in vital fields such as climate science, advanced manufacturing, quantum computing and artificial intelligence, as well as its commitment to translational research and clinical care in critical areas of medicine and public health. Along with other AAU members, it has been at the forefront of the battle against COVID-19 and striving to protect humanity against future pandemics.

Upward of 100 research centers and institutes, and annual research expenditures of $428 million, give UB the ability to make breakthrough discoveries across multiple fields. Included among its large-center grants are 32 years of continuous funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for the landmark Women’s Health Initiative; two Clinical and Translational Science Awards from the NIH totaling $36.7 million; and two Science and Technology Center Awards—the National Science Foundation’s most prestigious award—totaling $47.5 million.

In addition to their research prowess, AAU institutions are also known for educating the leaders and innovators of tomorrow.

More than 2,500 scholars make up UB’s full- and part-time faculty ranks. UB’s faculty have received such prestigious awards as the Nobel, the Pulitzer, the MacArthur “genius award,” the National Medal of Science and the National Medal of Technology and Innovation. They have been elected to the National Inventors Hall of Fame and the National Academies, and they hold 132 active patents.

UB’s culture of collaboration supports research and scholarship across disciplines, spurring discovery and positive change that responds to the complex challenges of today’s world.

As a highly ranked public university, UB is a top choice for students of diverse socioeconomic backgrounds who seek a world-class education. The university’s 30,000-plus students find their individual paths to success through 12 academic units, which together offer more than 500 degree programs. And they are indeed successful: They land the most prestigious scholarships, including Goldwater, Marshall and Truman, and go on to make their mark on society as world leaders, Fortune 500 entrepreneurs, NASA astronauts, Pulitzer-winning journalists and more.