Best Online Healthcare Programs in Buffalo, NY (2026)

Buffalo, New York has a population of about 276,397. The city’s median household income is $48,050 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 30.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited healthcare programs within 100 miles of Buffalo, with tuition ranging from $6,100 to $42,512 per year. In the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area, the top-earning healthcare-related role is Epidemiologist at a median $130,620 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).


Closest Healthcare Schools to Buffalo

The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer healthcare programs. Distances are calculated from Buffalo city center.

SchoolCityDistanceTuitionOnline
University at BuffaloBuffalo, NY1.1 miContact school for pricing
Canisius UniversityBuffalo, NY1.6 miContact school for pricing
Bryant & Stratton College-BuffaloBuffalo, NY1.8 miContact school for pricing
Erie Community CollegeBuffalo, NY1.8 mi$6,100 - $12,475
D’Youville UniversityBuffalo, NY2.1 mi$33,560 - $42,512

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all New York schools on the New York healthcare page.


Healthcare Wages Near Buffalo

Buffalo is part of the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area (BLS area code 15380). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to New York statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Medical and Health Services Manager$128,330Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY$133,956
Health Information Technologist or Medical Registrar$92,110Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY$96,148
Medical Records Specialist$55,640Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY$58,079
Medical Secretary or Administrative Assistant$45,600Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY$47,599
Healthcare Social Worker$60,410Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY$63,058
Epidemiologist$130,620Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY$136,347

Source: BLS, May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.


Buffalo at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population276,397Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$48,050Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+30.3%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)95.8 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024
Healthcare-related employment in Erie County68,872 workers, 2,500 establishmentsBLS QCEW 2024 annual

Other Buffalo-Area Cities With Healthcare Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited healthcare programs are near Buffalo, NY?

Our directory lists 5 healthcare programs within 100 miles of Buffalo. The closest is University at Buffalo in Buffalo, NY (1.1 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is D’Youville University (2.1 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.

What are the highest-paying healthcare roles near Buffalo?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying healthcare-related roles near Buffalo are: Epidemiologist ($130,620), Medical and Health Services Manager ($128,330), Health Information Technologist or Medical Registrar ($92,110). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with New York statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in North Tonawanda instead of Buffalo?

North Tonawanda, NY is 10.0 miles from Buffalo and has its own set of local healthcare programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Buffalo an affordable place to study healthcare?

Buffalo’s median household income of $48,050 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Buffalo while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and New York public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.