Combined Undergraduate/Graduate Degree Programs

The University at Buffalo offers more than 30 combined degree programs, from Accounting to Engineering to Social Work. If you are a motivated and academically talented student, consider one of UB's combined degree programs and earn an integrated bachelor's/ master's degree in as little as five years.

When you complete the combined degree program, you will receive a single and simultaneous conferral of the combined undergraduate and graduate degree you have earned. You'll be ready to hit the job market or continue your education by applying for a doctorate.

View the comprehensive list of combined degree programs.

Why Consider a Combined Degree?
  • Save time. Students who qualify-generally those with undergraduate grade point averages above 3.0 and in some cases competitive scores on entrance exams such as GRE or GMAT-can get an undergraduate and a graduate degree in less time than by doing each separately.
  • Save money. The program reduces the cost of both degrees, so there will be a meaningful tuition savings. Plus, due to the shortened time to degree, students are able to enter the job market sooner, further capitalizing on the savings.
  • Increase your employment marketability. A combined degree, as compared with a stand-alone bachelor's, enhances students' employment marketability. The labor market has experienced a rapidly growing demand for graduates with research skills and knowledge that is more advanced than that gained through a bachelor's degree. Students with advanced degrees enjoy greater career advancement and higher salaries throughout their working lives.
  • Move on to a PhD more quickly. Students can more easily decide whether to pursue further graduate or professional education. If you think later PhD study might be right for you, and many PhD programs require a master's for admission, you may have taken the shortest path right from the start!
  • Combine two interests into one program. For those who are interested in more than one field, many combined degree programs afford the possibility of concentrating in two areas and therefore provide a cross-disciplinary perspective.
How Do you Apply to a Combined Degree Program?

Students should normally apply to the graduate portion of the combined degree program in their junior year. Meet with an academic advisor in your sophomore year to be sure you are on the right track, then read Applying for Admission to learn more about the graduate application process. For some combined degree programs applicants are required to take standardized tests such as the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT); in other programs, these tests are waived for combined degree applicants. Please review the requirements for each program carefully to make sure you meet the deadlines!

How Does Tuition and Financial Aid work?

Students will be charged graduate tuition and fees for the percentage of the combined degree program that is composed of graduate credit hours. For example, let's consider a combined program that requires a student to complete 90 undergraduate credits and 60 graduate credits. This program will take ten semesters to finish, assuming a full-time course load of 15 credits per semester. Under this scenario, the student would be assessed undergraduate tuition and fees for 6 semesters and graduate tuition and fees for 4.

As a graduate student, you will be eligible for consideration for assistantships (which provide a stipend in exchange for administrative work, teaching, or research) and full or partial tuition scholarships that are not offered to undergraduates. Speak with the graduate program director in your area of interest to find out more about these opportunities. Federal and State financial aid that is available to students shifts when a student's status changes from undergraduate to graduate. This change is primarily a transition away from grants (such as Federal Pell Grants and the New York State TAP) toward student loans. Please consult a financial aid advisor to learn more about how your financial aid package will change when you become a graduate student.