UB Ranked Among Top National Public Universities by U.S. News & World Report

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Students who want to enroll in an outstanding public university that won't saddle them with crushing debt would be wise to consider the University at Buffalo, according to U.S. News and World Report.

The magazine's annual "Best Colleges" guide released today ranks UB among the top 25 prominent national universities with students who graduate with the "lightest debt load." UB students who took out loans to cover four years of undergraduate tuition and expenses graduated with an average of just $15,911 in debt, according to U.S. News.

In comparison, students who graduated from universities with high debt loads graduated owing from $33,000 to $49,000, the magazine states. The data were compiled from students who graduated in 2009.

U.S. News also ranks UB as one of the top national public universities, at No. 58 out of 164 public universities nationwide. UB's combination of academic excellence and affordability -- as indicated by the U.S. News rankings -- has helped the university maintain a reputation as one of the nation's best public universities in a difficult economic climate.

"We take considerable pride in offering undergraduate students the opportunity to learn at a nationally prominent research university that is one of the most affordable in the United States," said UB Provost Satish K. Tripathi.

"Over the past few years we've made investments in our undergraduate program to ensure that UB students have a transformative educational experience, with opportunities to engage in truly distinctive research and creative and public-service activities that are hallmarks of a top-tier university education."

U.S. News also ranks UB as a top tier "national university," a list that includes 262 public and private universities in the U.S. that offer a wide range of undergraduate majors as well as master's and doctoral degrees. UB is ranked No. 120 in this list tied with the University of Arizona and two other schools. In separate categories, U.S. News also ranks hundreds of "regional universities" and "national liberal arts colleges."

UB programs in engineering and business again earned high rankings from the magazine. The UB School of Management's undergraduate business program is ranked No. 67 among 362 business schools. The School of Engineering and Applied Sciences' undergraduate engineering program is ranked No. 65 among the best undergraduate engineering programs at 169 schools whose highest degree is a doctorate.

The University at Buffalo is a premier research-intensive public university, a flagship institution in the State University of New York system and its largest and most comprehensive campus. UB's more than 28,000 students pursue their academic interests through more than 300 undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs. Founded in 1846, the University at Buffalo is a member of the Association of American Universities.