How to Apply to Engineering at the University at Buffalo: Thirteen SEAS Majors, Choosing a Major (or “Engineering”) on the Application, and Calculus, Chemistry and Physics Core Courses with 2.5 to 2.8 GPAs for Entry Later, with Admission Routes and Prerequisites for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

At the University at Buffalo (UB), undergraduate engineering is offered by the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS). Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on UB’s website, for U.S. domestic applicants, international applicants (including applicants from China) and transfer students.

1. Majors

• Thirteen majors: aerospace, biomedical, chemical, civil, computer engineering, computer science, electrical, engineering physics, engineering science, environmental, industrial, materials science and engineering, and mechanical engineering. Computer science has its own guide on this site.
• Double majors are possible; SEAS gives mechanical plus aerospace engineering as a typical pair. You must be accepted into each major, and you graduate with one bachelor’s degree and two majors.
• Minors and combined degrees: minors include robotics, nuclear engineering, cybersecurity and manufacturing; combined programs include BS/MS degrees in biomedical and electrical engineering and several engineering BS/MBA degrees, open once you are accepted into a SEAS major.
• ABET: the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering states that the Mechanical Engineering BS is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. We did not check every other program; see each department’s website.
• First year: SEAS first-year courses include EAS 199 Engineering Principles and EAS 202 Engineering Impact on Society, with student leaders and professional mentors.

2. Admission: choose your major on the application

• First-year applicants simply select the engineering major they want on the UB application; no separate SEAS application is needed. Undecided applicants can choose “engineering”. If you change your mind after applying, contact UB Admissions. SEAS says enrolled students in good standing can readily switch majors in their first year.
• Review: SEAS says admission to UB and to SEAS majors is competitive and holistic, considering high school performance, standardized test scores, New York Regents and Common Core exam scores, personal statements, recommendations and non-cognitive attributes. The international first-year page adds that engineering applications receive an additional review of readiness in key science and math areas.
• Second choice: Common App and Coalition applicants are encouraged to select a second-choice major.
• Entering a SEAS major as a current UB student: SEAS says this process covers UB students outside SEAS and current “intended” engineering or computer science majors who wish to be admitted to the “approved” major. The first-year page we read does not say whether new students are admitted as intended or approved majors, so check with SEAS. Requirements:
  • Engineering core courses: Calculus 1 (MTH 141 or 153), Calculus 2 (MTH 142 or 154), General Chemistry 1 (CHE 101, 105 or 107) and General Physics 1 (PHY 107 or 117). The standard path is all four with a combined core GPA of at least 2.5; the fast track is at least two of the four (graded A-F) with at least a 3.0.
  • Cumulative GPA: 2.8 for aerospace, computer and mechanical engineering (and computer science); 2.5 for biomedical, chemical, civil, electrical, environmental and industrial engineering, engineering physics and materials science; 2.0 for engineering science. The current-student page labels this table as the 2022-23 standard while the transfer page labels the same figures as the current year, so confirm with SEAS.
  • Apply by the end of May for fall or early December for spring. Declined students cannot take engineering courses and must show changed circumstances to reapply.
• Exam credit: AP credit may satisfy the calculus, physics and chemistry core courses depending on the exam and score; IB, GCE and CLEP exams may also count, per UB’s articulation charts.

3. High school preparation

• The SEAS pages we read do not list required high school courses for engineering; the international page says engineering applications get an extra look at math and science readiness. Specific math, physics and chemistry expectations are not published, so check with the SEAS Office of Academic Affairs (ubengineer@buffalo.edu).

4. Dates and materials

• Fall entry (admissions table): applications open 1 August; Early Action 1 November; Honors College priority 15 December; Regular Decision completion 1 February, then applications are considered until capacity is reached; deposit by 1 May or 10 days after acceptance, whichever is later. The table does not show a year, so confirm before applying.
• Spring entry: apply by 1 October (recommended).
• Applications: ApplySUNY, the Common App or Coalition, with a $50 non-refundable fee.
• Recommendations: not required, but at least one is strongly recommended (up to three).
• Testing: admissions says SAT or ACT scores are not required for admission or scholarships and may be submitted; the SEAS first-year page lists test scores among the factors considered.

5. U.S. domestic applicants

• 2026-27 estimated annual costs: tuition $7,070 for New York residents and $29,070 for out-of-state students; fees $3,966; housing and dining $18,606; related expenses $6,888; totals $36,530 in-state and $58,530 out-of-state. The tuition page does not list an engineering surcharge.
• In-state tuition requires a permanent home in New York State for at least 12 months before the semester; living in New York only to attend college does not count.
• Scholarships: high-achieving out-of-state domestic first-years are automatically considered for the Provost Scholarship (renewable up to four years); high-achieving New York first-years are considered for the Pride of New York Scholarship (non-tuition costs only); the Presidential Scholarship needs a separate application through the Honors College. See HESC for the Excelsior Scholarship and the NYS STEM Incentive Program.
• Financial aid: the FAFSA priority date is 1 March.

6. International applicants

• Grades: UB expects the equivalent of a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (a B, or 83 on a 100-point scale), with an extra review of math and science readiness for engineering.
• English minimums: TOEFL iBT 70 (4 on the new scale), IELTS Academic 6.0, Duolingo 105 or PTE 50; ACT, SAT, IB, AP, IGCSE or A-Level English results can also qualify.
• Costs: 2026-27 estimated tuition $29,070 and fees $6,466 (including the international student fee and health insurance), for about $61,030 in total.
• Scholarships: admitted international first-years are automatically considered for the Flagship Scholarship, renewable for up to four years; the Presidential Scholarship requires an Honors College application.
• Documents: anything not in English needs an English translation.

7. Applicants from China

• The international first-year page lists required documents by country (selected from a drop-down); the requirements for China are not shown in the static page, so select China there.
• Whether and how the Gaokao is used is not published; ask International Admissions (intadmit@buffalo.edu).

8. Transfer

• Two steps: be admitted to UB, then submit the SEAS Supplemental Application. SEAS recommends applying to UB by the end of March for fall or early October for spring. About 30% of SEAS graduates are transfer students.
• Requirements: the same core courses and cumulative GPAs as above. Applicants who meet the GPA but not the core courses may get conditional admission, usually requiring the core courses (2.5 core GPA) or 10+ credits of relevant technical courses (2.5 GPA) within one or two semesters. Declined applicants are placed in UB’s Exploratory Transitions major and cannot take engineering courses.
• Deadlines: domestic transfers 1 May (priority scholarship consideration 15 March); international transfers share the international first-year table, with Regular Decision on 1 February.
• International transfers: UB expects college grades equivalent to a 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, and also reviews high school records for applicants with fewer than 24 credits. Transfer scholarships are awarded automatically based on transfer GPA.

9. SEAS scholarships

• SEAS says it awards over $600,000 in scholarships each year through the UB Scholarship Portal: students complete the General Application and the SEAS Conditional Application and are matched to awards. Most SEAS scholarships open at the end of August, close in September and are awarded in October or early November. New students accepted into a SEAS major receive an email in early spring. The page does not say whether international students can apply.

Checklist

• Choose an engineering major on the application, or “engineering” if undecided; add a second choice on the Common App or Coalition
• Apply by 1 November (Early Action) or complete your file by 1 February
• International applicants: prepare TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo scores and translate non-English documents
• After enrolling, complete Calculus 1 and 2, Chemistry 1 and Physics 1 on schedule
• Transfers: complete the core courses and check the GPA for your target major
• Apply for SEAS scholarships in the UB Scholarship Portal after enrolling

Sources: University at Buffalo, SEAS undergraduate programs; SEAS first-year admission; SEAS admission for current UB students; SEAS transfer admission; First Year Experience; SEAS scholarships; Mechanical Engineering ABET accreditation; First-year application; International first-year; Dates and deadlines; Tuition and estimated costs; Scholarships. Dates follow the current admissions tables and costs are the estimates shown; check the University at Buffalo for the latest details.