Graduate Schools in Buffalo, NY

Going to Grad School in Buffalo

Students who pursue their Masters or Doctorate degree at one of the Graduate Schools in Buffalo could find it truly stands up to its nickname as the City of Good Neighbors. This classic American city is in the midst of a renaissance and has plenty to do and discover. Start here to learn about going to grad school in Buffalo.

Buffalo Graduate Schools & Programs

Browse some choices from partner graduate schools below.

written by Rana Waxman

Why Choose Universities in Buffalo, NY?

Graduate Schools in Buffalo situate you in the second largest metropolis in the state of New York. Situated on the eastern shore of Lake Erie, just 16 miles south of Niagara Falls,

Buffalo is a waterfront city and major gateway for commerce and travel at the Canada-US border.

Its early embrace of hydroelectric power gave this city another nickname, The City of Light. Also, part of the automobile revolution, Buffalo has manufacturing in its DNA, but is now largely focused on healthcare, research and higher education.

While you may have heard that the Great Depression initiated the slow decline of Buffalo’s lofty economic status, the region is now once again on the rise.

The Buffalo Billion

In fact, today’s graduate student steps into a vibrant city that is undergoing a 21st century resurgence that includes over $1 billion in redevelopment. The Buffalo Billion is an investment roadmap initiated by New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to spur new economic activity.ii

Summer of 2017 saw the Tesla Giga Factory 2 open its doors as a result of this program.

Between the revitalized waterfront and neighborhoods, a burgeoning craft beer scene, new attractions, restaurants, and hotels, there is much to anticipate in the years to come.

Grad students could take in the old (Frank Lloyd Wright buildings) as well as look for a contemporary scene with much to offer in the way of food, fun and festivities.

What Is It Like to Live in Buffalo, NY?

Buffalo is a big city with a hometown, neighborhood vibe. There are tree-lined avenues and manageable traffic which means an average 21-minute commute.iii

An estimated 256, 902 people lived in Buffalo city, New York in 2016. Buffalo’s population is relatively young, thanks to a large number of students and millennials, and an average age of 32.9.iv

Per U.S. News and World Report, Buffalo offers good value in terms of everyday expenses like groceries, utilities and health care costs since these are below the national average.v You may be pleasantly surprised at the choice of old, new, suburban, urban and rural places to choose.

Check out some of the neighborhoods below.

  • Allentown: here you could find wall-size murals, live music bars, neighborhood galleries, restaurants and shops with beautiful brick buildings and a creative, bohemian energy
  • Elmwood Village: think cozy cafes, farmer’s market, artisanal shops, public art, pubs and a tree-lined parkway in summer
  • University Heights: in the shadow of the University at Buffalo’s South Campus, think 1920s art deco ice cream parlor, and mom-and-pop stores
  • Parkside: designed by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, think pleasant, tree-lined streets, the Buffalos Zoo, cozy European-influenced pubs
  • Downtown Waterfront: this area has been transformed so historical landmarks are mixed with new restaurants, breweries, distilleries, shops and entertainment

How to Get Around in Buffalo

Buffalo has a reliable bus system but is mostly a car culture. The area has basic metro rail service, though it is somewhat limited given its fairly short range and few stations. Some of the neighborhoods are also very walkable. Elmwood Village, Allentown and Hertel Avenue are a few examples.

What Is the Average Temperature in Buffalo, NY?

Buffalo does see snowy winters with average temperatures in January ranging from 18 to 31F. Obscured by the fact that it may be freezing in winter, are Buffalo’s other seasonal forecasts. For instance, the southwest breeze off Lake Eerie provides a gentle respite to the heat of summer. The warmth somewhat carries over into September with a range of low 50s to low 70s.

Eat and Drink in Buffalo, NY

Buffalo is the birthplace of America’s favorite bar snack – Buffalo Wings. But did you know about the weck? An iconic sandwich, the good old weck is tender roast beef, fresh ground horseradish, served au jus, on a salt and caraway studded (kimmelweck) roll.

Other regional classics include haddock fish fries, thin crust and deep-dish pizza, char-grilled dogs (and yes, there is a hot dog crawl), pierogi and sponge candy.

Fast food aside, there is also another side to the dining scene. Look for farm-to-table restaurants, eateries and an abundance of ethnic cuisine. You could also get your foodie fix at the Taste of Buffalo – a very large two-day food festival in the U.S.

DID YOU KNOW?
Non-dairy whipped topping was invented in Buffalo in 1945 by Robert E. Rich, Sr.vi

Beer in Buffalo

Story has it that in 1919, on the eve of Prohibition, Buffalo was home to twenty-nine breweries and featured more than 8,000 drinking establishments. But it wasn’t until the end of the 20th century that brewing returned to the city.vii

Home to Canadian brewer, Labatt, beer and breweries are a thriving industry. Some now call Buffalo a ‘mecca’ for craft brewing. The area now has 26 craft breweries and six distilleries, and one of the popular ways to tour them is by bike!

Get a growler from Community Beer Works, or head to Resurgence Brewing Co to sit by the fire pit in the outdoor beer garden. Prefer a neighborhood pub? Try mango-infused beer at Gene McCarthy’s.viii

Explore the Nightlife in Buffalo, NY

Of course, if you are a night owl, there are plenty of old-school taverns, hopping bars, casinos, comedy clubs and live music to keep the Nickel City rocking from dusk to dawn. You could find nightspots all over town, from Allen Street, Elmwood Avenue, University Heights and Hertel Avenue to the Chippewa Entertainment District in the heart of downtown.

What Is There to See and Do in Buffalo?

Buffalo Sports: Buffalo locals love to cheer on their beloved Bills (football) and Sabres (hockey), though locals aren’t just enthusiastic spectators.

Buffalo Outdoors: Lace up your skates as early as November as Canalside opens the ice for the first skating of the winter season. Then join in the winter fun at a near-by ski resort or just take advantage of the cross-country ski trails.

Summer may take you to a close by beach, out on a kayak, bike or hot air balloon ride. There are also many hiking trails. Buffalo’s parks are great too. Legendary landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted, was brought into Buffalo in the 19th century to design its parks and parkways.

Buffalo Art & Architecture: In terms of cultural attractions, you could explore the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Darwin D. Martin House and the Albright-Knox Art Gallery. Plus, there are art festivals, exhibits and openings throughout the year,

Entertainment & Shopping: Nearby Niagara Falls also offers plenty in the way of entertainment, such as casinos and shopping.

Hertel Avenue is known for its vintage and antique finds, home décor stores and areas to eat, chill, drink and soak up the action. Downtown has a cool vibe and revived Main Street. Allentown is more of an off-the-beaten-track with its bars featuring live music, trendy restaurants, local art galleries, antique shops, bookstores and boutiques.

Graduate Schools in Buffalo, NY

There are several graduate schools in Buffalo, NY to choose from. The State University of New York (SUNY) operates three institutions within the city of Buffalo. The University at Buffalo (UB), a partner school, is the largest public university in New York and is the only university in Buffalo nationally ranked a tier 1 research university.

Other partner schools are:

Popular Graduate Programs in Buffalo, NY

There are a number of potential graduate programs in Buffalo, NY to choose from whether you hope to advance your skills and knowledge in business, research, education or health and medicine. Browse some choices from partner grad schools below. Then continue to scroll through options for graduate degrees in the subject that most appeals to you.

MBA Programs in Buffalo, NY

Ready to pursue an MBA in Buffalo?

You might consider a one-year MBA program at Canisius. The integrated 2-phase curriculum is planned around business decision-making processes.

The first phase is all about how decisions are formed. Students could learn how to identify business problems, recognize the key issues involved and develop solutions. Phase two is all about how to implement and introduce solutions into the organization as well as evaluate results.

Choose from four concentrations: (1) Financial Services, (2) General Business, (3) International and (4) Marketing. Students could also take advantage of a two-week study abroad and are typically assigned a professional mentor.

Canisius’ One-Year MBA usually enrolls a small cohort of 25 to 30 students who move through the program as a group. Students might therefore rely on a support network and may develop their ability to work on teams.

One-year MBA students attend classes full-time during the day for the fall, spring, and summer semesters, as the program starts in late August and ends in mid-August of the next year.

Part-Time MBA: Need a part-time or Evening MBA? Canisius also offers an Evening MBA which might suit at-work students and could be taken on a full or part-time format.

MBA in Professional Accounting: Students enrolled in an MBAPA program could study to earn an MBA as well as complete the 150 hours needed to take the NY state CPA exam for NYS CPA Licensure. Applicants to this program may need to meet some prerequisites.

Psychology Graduate Programs in Buffalo, NY

Ready to study human behavior through a Master of Arts in Psychology or Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in Buffalo, NY?

Medaille College offers a MA in Psychology with an optional concentration in sports psychology. The emphasis in Sport Psychology provides content that focuses on the principles of sport psychology, sport counseling and intervention, psychological factors in rehabilitation and coaching and performance.

The program also strengthens credentials for application to PhD programs or Medaille’s Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology (PsyD).

Students are required to complete 36 credits with or without the emphasis in sports psychology and could complete their program in one year full-time. At work students could choose the online format if this is more convenient.

Compare with Medaille’s MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. This 60-credit CACREP-accredited program could take full time students 2 years to complete and is offered on the weekends or online.

The Medaille Family Counseling Center serves as a potential internship facility for students enrolled in their Masters in Psychology or Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. This unique collaboration between BestSelf Behavioral Health and Medaille is a fully licensed BestSelf mental health outpatient treatment location which offers families and individuals evidence-based mental health therapy.

Biomedical Engineering Graduate Programs in Buffalo

Interested to advance your research experience through a MS in Biomedical Engineering in Buffalo, NY?

University at Buffalo offers a Master of Science (MS) in Biomedical Engineering where students typically work with an advisor to tailor their courses to align with interests. The program requires a minimum of 30 credit hours of coursework, and a choice of final projects: thesis, project or comprehensive exam.

Students might complete their program in as little as one full year, full time. However, many students choose to take extra time to allow for in-depth research for their thesis or project, or to take additional coursework.

Furthermore, the department allows students the opportunity to take part in hands-on laboratory research in their modern facilities. Some research topics could include the following.

  • Biomaterials
  • Biomechanics in Orthopedics
  • Cerebrovascular Hemodynamics and Biology
  • Mechanisms of intracranial aneurysm initiation and progression

Find a Graduate School in Buffalo, New York

Make sure to scout other graduate programs in Buffalo. Choose a degree level (Masters, Doctorate or Certificate). Set other filters for format (online, campus). Or use the links to go straight to the individual partner school pages. Find a few graduate schools in Buffalo New York to apply to? Great! Just fill out an on-page form to get started.


[i] ci.buffalo.ny.us |[ii] buffalobillion.ny.gov/about-buffalo-billion | [iii] census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/buffalocitynewyork/PST045216 | [iv] factfinder.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/community_facts.xhtml?src=bkmk[v] realestate.usnews.com/places/new-york/buffalo |[vi] soyinfocenter.com/pdf/170/Whip.pdf |[vii] visitbuffaloniagara.com/business-type/craft-beer/ |[viii] visitbuffaloniagara.com/itinerary/beer/

  • National University

  • Wake Forest University

  • The University of Arizona Global Campus

  • Grand Canyon University

  • Colorado State University Global

  • Western Governors University

  • University at Buffalo

  • D'youville College

  • Buffalo State College (S.U.N.Y.)

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