Prospective Students

Aerial image of Hayes Hall on South Campus taken in July 2023. Photographer: Douglas Levere.

The University at Buffalo offers the most valuable merit scholarships in the SUNY system. Honors students may be eligible for a variety of exclusive and campus-wide other funding opportunities.

How to be Considered for Scholarships

To be considered for a merit scholarship, your general application for admission to the University at Buffalo (either SUNY, Common or Coalition for College Application) must be on file and complete (including all supplemental materials) by Dec. 8.

Types of Scholarships

The Presidential Scholarship

UB’s top entering first-year students from New York State are awarded Presidential Scholarships.

  • This scholarship is valued at $15,000 annually (when combined with other scholarships and grants, this amount may not exceed the cost of attendance), renewable for four years of undergraduate study. 
  • While there are no minimum criteria for consideration, the unweighted GPA for the 2023 Presidential Scholarship class ranged from a 95% to 100% with most being admitted at 97%. The University at Buffalo is test optional this year and standardized test scores are not required to apply for this scholarship.
  • Students must be United States citizens or permanent residents and be New York State residents. 
  • Students who receive Presidential Scholarships will participate in the Honors College Presidential Scholars Program.

How to Apply for a Presidential Scholarship

  1. To apply, you must first submit your application to the University at Buffalo
  2. Typically within a week after submission, you will receive an email from the Office of Undergraduate Admissions with instructions for logging into your applicant status page. 
  3. Once you have received your login information, you can then apply for the Presidential Scholarship. Presidential Scholarship funding is only available to New York State residents.

    **The deadline to apply for the Presidential Scholarship for fall 2025 is February 1, 2025.

International and Out-of-State Presidential Scholars

International and out-of-state students are eligible and encouraged to apply for the Presidential Sccholarship. If selected, this scholarship could be valued at up to $20,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study.

Steven B. Sample Distinguished Honors Scholarship

Established in 2004 by Jeremy M. Jacobs, '60, Stanford Lipsey, Robert G. Wilmers, and the directors of Moog, Inc. to honor former University at Buffalo president Steven B. Sample. This scholarship is renewable for up to four years of undergraduate study.

To be eligible for this scholarship, you must be:

  • A newly admitted first-year student accepted into both the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and University Honors College. 
  • A New York State resident.
  • This scholarship application will be available for those apply for fall 2026 admission to the University at Buffalo.

Frequently Asked Questions

For More Information

Tim Matthews.

Tim Matthews

Senior Assistant Director

University Honors College

Phone: 716-645-3020

Email: trm7@buffalo.edu