University at Buffalo's MS in Computer Science and Engineering, offered through UB's School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, sits inside one of the largest and most comprehensive campuses in the SUNY system — a genuine mass-volume public research university with an overall undergraduate acceptance rate above 55%, tuition well under private-university levels, and one of the top-20 US international student populations per the Institute of International Education. For graduate CS applicants specifically, UB's decentralized, department-run admissions process means the university-wide numbers only tell part of the story.
This guide walks through exactly what it takes to get into UB's MS in Computer Science and Engineering — acceptance rate realities, cost, requirements, English-test rules, and what graduates go on to do.
Acceptance Rate: What UB Actually Publishes
UB does not publish a specific acceptance rate for the MS in Computer Science and Engineering, and it does not publish a university-wide graduate acceptance rate at all — graduate admission at UB is decentralized, with individual departments, not a central office, setting requirements and evaluating applications.
What we know, grounded in UB's own data:
- UB's undergraduate acceptance rate runs at approximately 55.1% in recent first-year cycles, making UB one of the more genuinely accessible public research universities compared to elite private schools.
- UB's own guidance explicitly flags that capacity-limited majors like Computer Science attract disproportionately more qualified applicants than the university-wide rate implies — a borderline application to Computer Science and Engineering specifically faces meaningfully more competition than 55% alone would suggest.
- At the graduate level specifically, UB states plainly that "not all programs require test scores" and that requirements vary department to department, reinforcing that there is no single reliable UB-wide graduate acceptance figure to cite.
Bottom line: treat UB's MS in Computer Science and Engineering as considerably more competitive in practice than the 55.1% undergraduate headline number, without assuming any specific percentage — UB doesn't publish one for this program, and its own materials caution against extrapolating from the university-wide figure for Computer Science specifically.
Fees and Cost of Attendance
International students at UB pay the SUNY non-resident graduate tuition rate. Approximate annual figures for the MS in Computer Science and Engineering (2026-27, per UB's published cost data):
| Cost Item | Amount (USD/year) |
|---|---|
| Tuition (non-resident) | $23,100 |
| Living expenses (Buffalo area) | $18,000 |
| Total estimated cost of attendance | $41,100 |
For a standard two-year MS, this puts total program cost in the $80,000-$85,000 range before any funding — meaningfully lower than comparable master's programs at private research universities. UB's graduate application fee is typically around $75 (varies by program).
Funding is departmental: teaching and research assistantships, which typically include a tuition scholarship plus a living stipend, exist primarily for PhD and select master's students; international CS master's applicants interested in funding should ask their target department directly about assistantship availability, since it is not centrally guaranteed.
Admission Requirements
UB's MS in Computer Science and Engineering is administered through the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences under UB's decentralized graduate admissions model. Based on UB's published graduate requirements:
- Online graduate application specific to the program
- Bachelor's degree transcripts showing at least a 3.0/4.0 GPA equivalent
- English proficiency scores unless exempt
- Statement of purpose
- Letters of recommendation (program-dependent)
- GRE/GMAT scores: required only for the specific programs that request them — UB states there is no blanket university-wide testing mandate, so confirm directly whether Computer Science and Engineering currently requires the GRE
- Nonrefundable application fee, typically around $75 (varies by program)
Deadlines vary by department, generally falling between December and June for Fall intake; always confirm the exact date on the Computer Science and Engineering department's own admissions page rather than assuming a university-wide deadline.
How to Get Into UB's MS in Computer Science and Engineering
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Treat the published minimums as a floor, not a target. UB's own materials note that CS is one of its most capacity-limited, competitive programs — a transcript and test profile that only just clears the stated minimums is unlikely to be competitive in this specific department.
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Confirm the department's current GRE policy directly. Because GRE requirements are set program-by-program at UB rather than centrally, don't assume it's required or waived based on general UB guidance — check with the Computer Science and Engineering department specifically.
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Write a statement of purpose that names a specific technical focus. As with any oversubscribed CS graduate program, a generic "I want to study CS" narrative is weaker than one that identifies a subfield (systems, AI/ML, security, etc.) and connects it to prior coursework or project work.
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Apply well ahead of your department's deadline. Because UB's deadlines vary widely by department (December through June for Fall), and because assistantship funding is competitive and awarded on a rolling basis within departments, earlier applications have a practical edge.
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Clear the English-proficiency bar comfortably. UB's graduate minimums are lower than many peer universities, which makes them easy to underestimate — see the section below on why aiming above the floor matters, especially for programs with heavy teaching-assistant duties.
English Proficiency Requirement (IELTS/TOEFL)
UB's graduate-level English proficiency policy applies to the MS in Computer Science and Engineering:
- IELTS: minimum 6.5 overall, recommended 7.0
- TOEFL: minimum 79 overall (TOEFL Essentials: 8.5), recommended 90
- PTE Academic: minimum 55
- Duolingo English Test: minimum 120
- Cambridge CPE/CAE: score of 185+ also satisfies the requirement
- Waiver: waived for applicants holding a bachelor's or graduate degree from an institution where English is the sole language of instruction, and for citizens of designated English-speaking countries. Scores must be dated within two years of application review.
UB's own materials caution that because graduate admission is decentralized, individual departments — particularly those with heavy teaching-assistant duties — can and do set requirements above this university-wide floor, which is directly relevant for a large CS department that regularly staffs TAs from its graduate cohort. UB does not run a formal English-language conditional-admission bridge program for graduate applicants (unlike some peer schools with INTO or Shorelight partnerships); applicants who fall short should contact the Office of International Admissions directly, since options vary by cycle and department. For general context on UB's broader admissions picture, see University at Buffalo (SUNY): Acceptance Rate, Fees, IELTS/TOEFL Requirements & How to Get In.
Career Outcomes
UB does not publish outcomes broken out specifically for the MS in Computer Science and Engineering, but UB's broader graduate outcomes data give a proxy:
- Graduate employment rate within 6 months: ~92% (university-wide figure, based on UB's Career Design Center UB Next Survey; not CS-specific, but a reasonable proxy given engineering's typically strong placement)
- Average graduate starting salary: not published by UB for graduate programs
- Top recruiters (university-wide graduate): M&T Bank, Deloitte, Cisco, Sysco, Kaleida Health, and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
Graduates of the STEM-designated MS in Computer Science and Engineering qualify for the standard 12-month OPT period plus the 24-month STEM OPT extension, for up to 36 months of total US work authorization after graduation. UB's regional employer base (M&T Bank, Cisco, General Motors, Moog Inc.) reflects both engineering strength and proximity to the broader Northeast/Great Lakes corporate corridor, though CS-specific hiring also draws from national tech employers beyond this regional list.
FAQ
Does UB publish a specific acceptance rate for the MS in Computer Science and Engineering? No. UB doesn't publish a university-wide graduate acceptance rate, and its own materials specifically caution that Computer Science is a capacity-limited program that draws more competition than the 55.1% undergraduate figure would suggest.
Is the GRE required for UB's MS in Computer Science and Engineering? It depends on the department's current policy — UB states GRE/GMAT is required only for specific programs, with no blanket university-wide mandate. Confirm directly with the Computer Science and Engineering department.
What IELTS or TOEFL score do I need for UB's MS in Computer Science and Engineering? UB's graduate-wide minimum is IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 79 (TOEFL Essentials 8.5), though UB notes that departments with heavy teaching-assistant duties, which includes large CS departments, can set higher requirements.
How much does UB's MS in Computer Science and Engineering cost? Non-resident tuition is $23,100/year, with total estimated cost of attendance around $41,100/year — roughly $80,000-$85,000 for the full two-year program, notably lower than comparable private-university CS master's programs.
Does UB offer conditional admission if my English score is too low? No — UB does not run a formal English-proficiency bridge program for graduate applicants. Applicants who fall short of the published minimum should contact the Office of International Admissions directly, since flexibility varies by department and cycle.
What are the career outcomes for UB CS graduate students? UB doesn't publish CS-specific salary or employment data, but the university-wide graduate employment rate within 6 months is around 92%. Graduates of this STEM-designated program qualify for up to 36 months of total US work authorization via OPT and the STEM OPT extension.