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Buffalo , NY
Canisius College is a private Jesuit college located in Buffalo, New York. Established in 1870, the college offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate programs and has gained a reputation for academic excellence. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 11:1, students benefit from small class sizes and personalized attention from professors.
The college is well-known for its strong emphasis on a liberal arts education, providing students with a solid foundation in critical thinking, creative problem-solving, and effective communication skills. Canisius College offers more than 100 majors, minors, and special programs, including business, education, health and human services, arts and sciences, and computer science. Students also have the opportunity to engage in research and internships in their areas of interest, gaining hands-on experience that enhances their academic learning.
Beyond academics, Canisius College offers a vibrant campus life with a range of student organizations and clubs, intramural sports, and community service projects. The college's strong commitment to service is evident in its Ignatian-inspired mission, which encourages students to become men and women for others and make a positive impact in their local and global communities. With a rich history, strong academics, and a commitment to service, Canisius College provides a nurturing environment for students to grow academically, personally, and professionally.
Located in Buffalo, NY and set in an urban environment, Canisius University is a private four-year college. This school uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 72%. The freshman retention rate at Canisius University is 73% and the six-year graduation rate is 66%.
Here are some latest information on important things to consider about Canisius University.
Quick Facts
1,724
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$33,330
Tuition
11:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
66%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you learn as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission, your chances of getting accepted will significantly improve. Check out some vital info about admission at Canisius University.
In 2025, the school accepted 3,016 new students. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.3. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into Canisius University.
Retention Rate
The percentage of first-year students at a college or university who stay on for their second year is known as the freshman retention rate. That information can tell you if the majority of new students liked their first year enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for Canisius University was 73% in 2025, demonstrating the exceptional quality of the educational experience at this institution.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This metric measures how efficiently students complete their degrees within a specific time period. The six-year graduation rate at this school is 66%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
It is always challenging to figure out which school is best for you. You can have a better understanding of the school's culture and way of life by finding out more about the student body.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at Canisius University in 2025 was 2,451.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 16% for that year. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 1,724, 105 of which were foreign students. 88 students enrolled as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 1,013 male and 1,066 female full-time students in 2025, which is indicative of the value gender equality has at this school.
Student Population Diversity
In order to enhance a sense of inclusion and belonging among its students, higher education is dedicated to increasing student diversity. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of Asian students was 59, while the number of Afro-American students was 233. 96 undergraduates at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 59 identified with more than one race. The school also had 1 student who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 9 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 52 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before sending an application to any college or university, the financial component should be taken into consideration. Here are some details you should know about the expenses at Canisius University that the majority of students face.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some facts that can be useful if you were curious about Canisius University estimated tuition fees.
Tuition in 2025 was $33,330 for full-time domestic students. Since Canisius University is a private institution, tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students came to a total of $2,200 in 2025.
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to think about the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The approximate expense of books and supplies for a full-time student of this school is $1,200.
Boarding
The cost of dorm rooms and meals in the school's cafeteria is for sure something to take into consideration. What do colleges and universities typically charge for room and board?
In 2025, the price of room and board at Canisius University was $15,240 per academic year. If you only needed a dormitory room, you had to pay $8,310 for the 2025 academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was $5,000.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 33,330 |
| Room and Board | $ 15,240 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,200 |
| Total Expense | $ 49,770 |
Financial Aid
Grants, loans, scholarships, work-study programs: these are all types of financial aid for students. Check out some recent data to get informed about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid you might get at Canisius University.
According to the most recent data, 294 freshmen were awarded financial aid. The average financial aid package awarded to students equaled $30,667.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
1,042 students secured some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Canisius University is available to international students. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was estimated to be 1,049. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution added up to $3,910,038, and state $2,003,875. The students of Canisius University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $16,935,948, and external in the amount of $255,110.
$16,579
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 491 students overall (including freshmen) at Canisius University in 2025. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 119 full-time freshman. Federal non-need-based scholarships and grants totaled $3,910,038 for students at this institution, while state aid came to $16,693. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $6,308,660. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $82,893 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Open Applications
Find open programs by choosing your preferred academic interest from the list below, and select your desired term start. Get started with your application process and find more information using the Apply button.
The Common Application for Transfer (Common App for transfer)
Majors
Faculty
11:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty or student-to-professor ratio is the number of students compared to the number of professors at a school.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Canisius University was 11:1: that means 11 students per one teacher, which is considered a good ratio. The faculty of this school consists of 254 members, according to the most recent data reported. This number included 140 male and 114 female faculty members.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at Canisius University is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Find out some information about social life at Canisius University.
Its campus spans 72 acres.
Student Organizations
Being a member of a student organization will make you connect better with your fellow students and enjoy your college years more.
According to the most recent information, there are 140 open-membership organizations at Canisius University. Sororities and fraternities are included in that number. At this school, 1% of male students are members of social organizations, while that percentage is 1 for female students. The student organization with the highest level of popularity is Pre-Health Professionals, followed by Residence Hall Association and Zoological Society. Other popular student organizations at this school are Afro-American Society and C-Block.
Those interested in music can join the Canisius University band or chorus. If drama is your thing, there is a club dedicated to acting that you can join. For individuals with an interest in media and communication, Canisius University publishes its own newspaper.
Student Services
Canisius University has a number of services needed for a comfortable and secure life on campus.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. There are electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a round-the-clock security patrol. The transport/escort service operates during late hours.
This school has a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs are available to the students of Canisius University.
All in all, campus life at Canisius University is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Canisius University.
Career Counselling
There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be a great asset for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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Canisius University is located in Buffalo, NY.
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Canisius University offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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The overall full-time tuition per academic year for Canisius University is 33,330 USD, based on the most recent data.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for Canisius University is 72%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Canisius University is 73%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
