Urban and Public Policy Studies BA at University at Buffalo

Programme overview

Do you want to help reduce the number of people living in poverty? Are you interested in how city governments make decisions that affect millions of people? Would you like to create policies that improve public transportation, housing and other issues?

Faculty: College of Arts and Sciences | Department: Social Sciences Interdisciplinary | Study mode: full-time | Location: Buffalo, NY, United States

What you will study

As an urban and public policy studies major, you’ll focus on topics that help you understand how cities work—including environmental design, geography, sociology, political science and sustainability. This is a flexible program, where you can choose to study policies related to race, housing, transportation, health and other topics that shape our cities.

Career pathways

With thousands of cities around the world, there are plenty of opportunities to put your talent and skill to work. A degree in urban and public policy is designed to prepare you for a career in many different types of organizations, including government agencies, urban planning and development consultants, nonprofit and community groups, and real estate developers.

Official programme page

Application information

Domestic applicants: USD 7,070 a year (2026-27). Undergraduate tuition for New York State residents, 2026-27 estimate, as listed for undergraduates generally; excludes fees (listed separately at $3,966), housing and related expenses. Rate applies to the undergraduate career, not a programme-specific fee Source

International applicants: USD 29,070 a year (2026-27). Undergraduate tuition for F-1/J-1 international students (same figure listed for out-of-state students), 2026-27 estimate, as listed for undergraduates generally; excludes fees ($6,466 for F-1/J-1 including International Student Fee and SUNY health insura Source

Fall entry (classes begin in August) and spring entry (classes begin in January) for first-year and transfer students.

Fall entry, domestic first-year: application opens August 1; Early Action (non-binding) deadline November 1; Honors College priority consideration December 15; Regular Decision deadline February 1; enrollment deposit due May 1 or 10 days after acceptance, whichever is later. Applications may continue to be submitted until capacity is reached.

Fall entry, domestic transfer: application opens August 1; priority scholarship consideration March 15; Regular Decision deadline May 1.

Fall entry, international first-year and transfer: Early Action November 1; Honors College priority consideration December 15; Regular Decision deadline February 1.

Spring entry: recommended application date is October 1 for first-year and international applicants and December 1 for domestic transfer applicants (priority scholarship consideration November 1 for transfer).

The application fee is $50 (non-refundable); applicants submit one of the Common Application, Coalition Application or ApplySUNY. SAT and ACT scores are not required for admission and scholarship consideration and may be submitted optionally. Fee waivers are accepted from SUNY, Common App, Coalition, College Board and NACAC.

Law (JD) application fee is $85; applicants submit the LSAT or GRE.

MD: AMCAS application accepted June 1 to November 15; supplemental application and materials due December 1; supplemental fee $100; Early Decision AMCAS due August 1 and supplemental due August 31.

Apply through the official page: https://www.buffalo.edu/admissions.html

Explore more study programmes

Engineering