Private Nonprofit Graduate Strong 74/100

Canisius University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Buffalo, New York

About Canisius University

Canisius University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Buffalo, New York. It enrolls 1,685 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Acceptance
72.4%
Graduation
70.6%
Net Price
$17,940
Median Earnings (10yr)
$60,681
Enrollment
1,685
Student : Faculty
11:1

Accreditor Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Strong
74/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes 59
Value 72
Affordability 55
Selectivity 68

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 72.4%, Canisius University is moderately selective.

Acceptance Rate
72.4%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported
Test Policy Test Optional Applicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Canisius University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Stable 0.9 pts since 2019
82.7%201976%202081.5%202177.7%202281.8%2023

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Canisius University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $17,940 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.

Average Net Price
$17,940
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
32%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
53%
Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees
$34,500
Room & Board (on-campus)
$13,560
Room & Board (off-campus)
$8,000
Books & Supplies
$1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$1,570
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$1,570
Total Cost of Attendance
$44,322

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

  • Under $30,000
    $12,781
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $12,404
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $16,151
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $21,341
  • Over $110,000
    $24,170

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$4,415
10% percentile
$9,550
25% percentile
$24,250
Median percentile
$27,000
75% percentile
$30,500
90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $19,500 ↓ $4,750
No Pell $18,438 ↓ $5,812
Dependent students $19,000 ↓ $5,250
Independent students $22,000 ↓ $2,250
Female students $19,500 ↓ $4,750
Male students $18,500 ↓ $5,750
Pell recipients: 16.7% (4,044 students)No Pell: 15.8% (3,824 students)Dependent students: 16.2% (3,940 students)Independent students: 18.8% (4,562 students)Female students: 16.7% (4,044 students)Male students: 15.8% (3,836 students)Overall Median$24,250
Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,500, less than completers ($24,250), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

71% of full-time students who enrolled at Canisius University graduate within six years, and 77% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate
71%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
77%
Returning for their second year

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Canisius University earn a median of $60,681 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$60,681
Earning > $25K
87%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$44,000$49,000$53,000$58,000$63,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates
$47,500

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates
$55,900

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.


By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)
$45,700

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)
$47,800

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)
$54,300

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $8,400, about 15% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt 13.7 pts across 6 years
73.3%1yr77.9%3yr84.6%5yr86.9%7yr
What this signals: Excellent. 87% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Canisius University is home to 1,685 students, a mid-sized community.

Total Enrolled
1,685
Part-Time
2%
First-Generation
23%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
White 63.6% 1,071
Black 13.8% 233
International 6.2% 105
Hispanic 5.7% 96
Other 4.1% 69
Asian 3.5% 59
White: 63.6% (1,071 students)Black: 13.8% (233 students)International: 6.2% (105 students)Hispanic: 5.7% (96 students)Other: 4.1% (69 students)Asian: 3.5% (59 students)Total1,685

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Canisius University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Large City Buffalo, New York
Housing
Mostly residential 1,046 beds on campus
Adult Learners
3% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated

What You Can Study

Canisius University offers an extensive catalog of programs: 60 distinct programs across 22 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

9 Programs
2 Programs
4 Programs
5 Programs
4 Programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Canisius University is 11:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty
11:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$210M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$77,735
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

126 instructional faculty across 4 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank Faculty Count Share Avg Salary
Full Professors 44 35% $87,135
Associate Professors 47 37% $71,901
Assistant Professors 29 23% $78,257
Instructors 6 5% $51,985

Pros & Cons of Canisius University

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Canisius University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS
  • Below-average net price
  • Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
  • Above-average graduation rate
  • Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
  • Modest first-year retention

Frequently Asked Questions about Canisius University

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Canisius University.

Is Canisius University hard to get into?
Admissions at Canisius University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 72.4%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Canisius University?
Canisius University has an acceptance rate of 72.4%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Canisius University cost?
The average net price after aid at Canisius University is $17,940 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Canisius University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $60,681 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $17,940 per year. That's roughly 3.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Canisius University known for?
Canisius University is best known for its programs in Kinesiology, Finance, Kinesiology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Canisius University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Canisius University are $60,681, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Canisius University accredited?
Yes. Canisius University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Canisius University?
Canisius University enrolls 1,685 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Canisius University?
Canisius University graduates 71% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Canisius University a public or private college?
Canisius University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Canisius University located?
Canisius University is located in Buffalo, New York.
What programs does Canisius University offer?
Canisius University offers 60 distinct programs. The most popular include Kinesiology, Finance, Kinesiology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Canisius University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Canisius University is 11:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

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