I agree that there may not be that big a difference in what you need to do to move forward into the major you want, at these two schools. Both are going to have GPA thresholds for the various majors. I don’t see thresholds of 2.5-2.8 as something that should be a deterrent. Why would you spend thousands of dollars on a college education if you don’t plan to achieve a C+/B- average or (ideally) better? You’ll need better than that to get good co-ops or internships.
A lot of people go to RIT because they love the nerdy vibe and feel that they have finally found their tribe. Clearly, it isn’t your tribe. Why spend more money to go there when you feel that you would fit in at Buffalo?
Set yourself up for success. Get tutors and study groups for your core engineering classes from day one, instead of being one of the majority who wait until they’ve gotten behind or tanked an exam before they put those supports in place. Aim for grades that are comfortably above those minimum thresholds. Have fun (tailgates and etc.) but put solid, non-negotiable time into your academics. There’s no reason you can’t do fine at Buffalo as long as you commit to the effort. You’re more likely to do well in a setting where you are happy, as long as you’re not happy instead of studying!