Students clapping in a group

Congratulations!

Completing your advanced degree at SUNY Buffalo State will allow you to further your education and pursue your career goals—all at an exceptional value. Welcome to the Buffalo State community!

Your Next Steps

As a new student, you'll need to access several online systems to perform different tasks and get important information.

These systems are accessible from the MyBuffState page.

Review and activate accounts

Conditions of Acceptance

Graduate students must assume full responsibility for following university and department requirements, rules, and regulations concerning individual degree programs.  

  • Acceptance to the university requires that all application materials for your academic program are submitted.
  • Acceptance to the university is contingent upon receipt of proof of graduation from your undergraduate or graduate degree program.  
  • Forward your final official transcript with your degree posted to us. Recent graduates should arrange to have their final official transcripts sent as soon as their degree is confirmed.  

Failure to meet these conditions will rescind your acceptance to the university and prevent future registrations. For more information, review the Graduate Catalog.

Orientation

New, degree-seeking graduate students are strongly encouraged to complete the online orientation found in their application status portal checklist once they are admitted.

Orientation provides students an opportunity to learn about academic policies, requirements, and available student services.

In addition, a program information session is provided for students (in select programs) to meet with a faculty member in their major for program-specific information.

Post Baccalaureate Students

The following guidelines will assist you in attending SUNY Buffalo State as a post baccalaureate student.

Registration is restricted to graduate and/or undergraduate courses with open quotas (no reserved seats for majors, etc.) or those reserved for your post baccalaureate teacher certification major code.  

To enroll in other classes, you will need the instructor's permission.

To be considered for acceptance into a degree program, you must apply for graduate admission by the appropriate program admission deadline date and submit any required supplemental materials (varies by program).  If the desired program requires New York State Initial Teaching Certification, you must first complete the certification program requirements.

You will be billed at the appropriate level, i.e. undergraduate tuition for undergraduate courses and graduate tuition for graduate courses.

Rules governing financial aid change frequently. Please take the time to understand all the financial aid regulations as they relate to your situation, especially guidelines for Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).

Attendance as a post-baccalaureate teacher certification major will affect your financial aid eligibility.

Please contact the Financial Aid Office, Moot Hall 260, (716) 878-4902 immediately for more information.

Financial Aid Office

Pre-Major & Non-Degree Students

The following guidelines will assist you in attending SUNY Buffalo State as a pre-major or non-degree student.

  • Expect registration on a space-available basis only.
  • Registrations are restricted to graduate and/or undergraduate courses with open quotas (no reserved seats for majors, etc.). 
  • Registration for any other class requires instructor permission.
  • You will be billed at the appropriate level (i.e., undergraduate tuition for undergraduate courses and graduate tuition for graduate courses).
  • Up to six credit hours of coursework completed as a pre-major or non-degree student may be applicable to a master’s degree program. Students should confer with the department they wish to enter before taking more than six credit hours.
  • If you wish to be considered for degree program acceptance at a later date, you must apply for graduate admission by the appropriate program deadline date and submit any required supplemental materials (varies by program). 
  • Attendance in the pre-major or non-degree status will affect your financial aid eligibility.
  • Rules governing financial aid change frequently. Please take the time to understand all the financial aid regulations as they relate to your situation, especially guidelines for Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).
  • Please contact the Financial Aid Office, Moot Hall 260, (716) 878-4902 immediately for more information.

    Financial Aid Office