CollegeLister
For counselors

Canisius University

Canisius University is a private nonprofit university in a large city in the Buffalo, NY metro with 1,798 students and a 72% acceptance rate.

Buffalo, New York · Private nonprofit · City, large · 1,798 students

NCAA Division I · Metro Atlantic Athletic ConferenceEarly action Dec 1

Admission rate

72%

of applicants admitted

Average net price

$17,940

per year, after grants

Graduation rate

66%

within 6 years

Freshman retention

80%

return for sophomore year

Median earnings

$60,681

10 years after entry

Students

1,798

total enrollment

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS) · data snapshot October 2, 2026 · Updated October 2, 2026

First-year deadlines, 2026–27

PlanDeadline
Early action
Apply early, hear early, not binding.		December 1, 2026

Plans are listed in calendar order. What the plans mean

Source: canisius.edu · checked September 30, 2026

What families actually pay

Average yearly net price after grants, all students, by family income

$0–30,000$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

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education, College Scorecard · data snapshot October 2, 2026

AP credit

Most-taken exams, lowest score that earns credit
ExamMin scoreCanisius University courseCredits
Physics 13Free Elective 3
United States History3Free Elective 3
Macroeconomics3Free Elective 3
Microeconomics3Free Elective 3
World History: Modern3Free Elective 3
Physics 23Free Elective 3
European History3Free Elective 3
Art History3Free Elective 3
Show all 26 exams and every score level
ExamMin scoreCourseCredits
Physics 13Free Elective 3
Physics 14PHY 201 and 201 lab4 credits
United States History3Free Elective 3
United States History4HIS 1233 credits
United States History5HIS 123 and HIS 1246 credits
Macroeconomics3Free Elective 3
Macroeconomics4ECO 1013 credits
Microeconomics3Free Elective 3
Microeconomics4ECO 1023 credits
World History: Modern3Free Elective 3
World History: Modern41 Field 4 Course3 credits
World History: Modern4GEO 3253 credits
World History: Modern51 Field 4 Course and 1 Free Elective6 credits
Physics 23Free Elective 3
Physics 24PHY 202 and 202 lab4 credits
European History3Free Elective 3
European History4HIS 1073 credits
European History5HIS 107 and HIS 1086 credits
Art History3Free Elective 3
Art History4FAH 101 and FAH 1026 credits
Music Theory3Free Elective 3
Music Theory4
FAM 230 and FAM 230L (If subscore is 1 or 2 FAM…FAM 230 and FAM 230L (If subscore is 1 or 2 FAM 230L is still required.) 3 or 4
A Test3Free Elective 3
A Test4CSC 1113 credits
A Test5CSC 1113 credits
AB Test3Free Elective 3
AB Test4MAT 1114 credits
BC Test4MAT 111 and MAT 1128 credits
German, Chinese and Italian4103 & 1046 credits
German, Chinese and Italian5104 & 2156 credits
Govt. and Politics: Comp3Free Elective 3
Govt. and Politics: Comp4
ECO 255 (WSB majors) or PSY 201 (PSY majors) or…ECO 255 (WSB majors) or PSY 201 (PSY majors) or MAT 141 (everyone else) 4
Govt. and Politics: Comp4PSC 1503 credits
Govt. and Politics: Comp4PSY 1013 credits
Govt. and Politics: US3Free Elective 3
Govt. and Politics: US4PSC 1043 credits
Language and Composition3Free Elective 3
Language and Composition42 Free Electives6 credits
Literature and Composition3Free Elective 3
Literature and Composition4ENG 101 and one free elective6 credits
Physics B:3Free Elective 3
Physics B:4PHY 201-202 with labs8 credits
Physics C Elect. and Mag3Free Elective 3
Physics C Elect. and Mag4
Field 6 or PHY 224 and 224 lab dependent on…Field 6 or PHY 224 and 224 lab dependent on outcome of consultation with chair 4
Physics C Elect. and Mag5PHY 224 and 224 lab4 credits
Principles3Free Elective 3
Principles41 Field 7 Course3 credits
Principles51 Field 7 Course3 credits
Research3Free Elective 3
Seminar3Free Elective 3
Spanish Literature and Culture4
Free Elective - Majors & Minors should consult…Free Elective - Majors & Minors should consult with dept. chair
Spanish, French,3103 in tested language3 credits
Studio Drawing3Free Elective 3
Studio Drawing4FAS 1203 credits
Studio General3Free Elective 3
Studio General4FAS 1103 credits

Source: canisius.edu · checked September 24, 2026

Biggest majors

MajorGraduates
Research and Experimental Psychology, Other38
Animal Behavior and Ethology37
Finance30
Biology/Biological Sciences29
Sport and Fitness Administration/Management21
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness, Other18
Accounting17
Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia17
Show the other 34 majors
Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration16
Marketing/Marketing Management14
Special Education and Teaching, Other13
Exercise Science and Kinesiology11
Business Administration and Management10
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness10
Journalism10
Political Science and Government9
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication9
Economics8
Secondary Education and Teaching7
Computer Science6
English Language and Literature6
History6
Business/Commerce4
Communication Management and Strategic Communications4
Mathematics and Statistics3
Environmental Science2
Communication2
Teacher Education, Multiple Levels2
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies2
Philosophy2
Chemistry2
Economics, Other2
Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies1
Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical Technology/Technologist1
Sociology1
Physics1
Data Science1
Biochemistry1
Creative Writing1
Physical Education Teaching and Coaching1
Data Processing and Data Processing Technology/Technician1
Environmental Studies1

Bachelor’s graduates, first major, most recent year · Source: U.S. Dept. of Education, IPEDS · data snapshot October 2, 2026

Scholarships

Amounts and eligibility change; check the college’s page for current details.

Sports and campus life

Men’s varsity · NCAA Division I, Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference

Baseball, Basketball, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Swimming and Diving (combined), Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)

Women’s varsity · NCAA Division I, Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference

Basketball, Lacrosse, Rowing, Soccer, Softball, Swimming and Diving (combined), Track and Field and Cross Country (combined), Volleyball

ROTC

Army

Faith groups

Hillel, Newman Connection

Also

Study abroad

Greek life

1% of men in fraternities · 1% of women in sororities · 1% of undergraduates overall (Common Data Set 2024–25)

Sources: U.S. Dept. of Education athletics data (EADA), Common Data Set (Greek life), hillel.org · checked September 4, 2026 · data snapshot October 2, 2026

The place

Setting

City, large

Federal locale classification

Metro area

Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY

1,160,172 people

Big-city metro (1 million+)

Yes

More about the place

Nearest airport

Buffalo Niagara International (BUF)

Nearest hub airport

Buffalo Niagara International (BUF)

Walkability

EPA walkability index 15.0 of 20

Elevation

637 ft

Time zone

Eastern

January low

19°F

July high

80°F

Annual snowfall

95.4 in

Days at 90°F or higher

3 per year

One-bedroom fair market rent

$1,100 per month

Sources: U.S. Dept. of Education (IPEDS locale), U.S. Census metro estimates, NOAA climate normals, HUD fair market rents, EPA walkability · data snapshot October 2, 2026

Colleges nearby

Straight-line distance between campuses

Similar colleges

Private nonprofit, city campus, NCAA Division I, similar size