Canisius University

Canisius University logo
#9062 / #2400
Global Influence / U.S. Influence
#377
Most Desirable School
University in New York, United States

Canisius University at a Glance

U.S. influence rank
#2400
Acceptance rate (fall 2024)
72%
Tuition and fees (2025–26)
$35,880
Graduation rate
61%
Undergraduates (fall 2024)
1,685

Reviewed by , Vice President and Academic Editor. Influence ranks come from our InfluenceRanking™ methodology; other figures come from federal data, with the year shown under each section. Report an error

Canisius University Featured Rankings

About Canisius University

According to Wikipedia, Canisius University is a private Jesuit university in Buffalo, New York. It was founded in 1870 by Jesuits from Germany and is named after St. Peter Canisius. Canisius offers more than 100 undergraduate majors and minors, and around 34 master's and certificate programs.

Canisius University Admissions, Retention, and Graduation Information

Annual ApplicationsAcceptanceRetention RateGraduation Rate
4,14772%73%61%

Source: U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and NCES); acceptance rate for fall 2024; test scores for fall 2024; applications and enrollment for fall 2023; retention for students who started in fall 2023; graduation rate within six years for students who started in 2019.

How Much Does Canisius University Cost To Attend?

Tuition and fees (in-state)
$35,880
Average Net Price by Family Income (2024–25)
IncomeAverage Net Cost
0 - 30K$11,897
30K - 48K$15,328
48K - 75K$18,400
75K - 110K$21,380
110K+$23,327

Source: U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and NCES); tuition and fees for 2025–26; net price for 2024–25, for first-time, full-time students receiving financial aid.

How Much Do Canisius University Graduates Make?

Ten years after starting college, former Canisius University students who received federal financial aid earn a median of $63,820 a year, and 95% of those not still in school are working.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard; students who started college in 2011–12 or 2012–13, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars.

Canisius University's Demographics

Students enrolled at any time during the 2023–24 school year, including part-time and online students.

Student BodyUnder-GradsGraduates
2,9191,933986

Source: National Center for Education Statistics; 12-month enrollment for 2023–24.

Where is Canisius University?

Canisius University is located at 2001 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14208-1098.

How Safe is Canisius University?

Canisius University reported 1.2 violent and property offenses on campus per 1,000 students in 2024, fewer than most small residential campuses. Its figures can also be looked up in the U.S. Department of Education’s Campus Safety and Security database.

Relative to its enrollment, Canisius University has a violent crime rate of less than 0.01% and a property crime rate of 0.12%. Buffalo has a violent crime rate of 0.77% and a property (including theft) crime rate of 4.00%. Sources: campus: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety and Security data, on-campus offenses in 2024 (violent: murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault; property: burglary, motor vehicle theft and arson, which excludes ordinary theft); city: FBI Crime Data Explorer, offenses reported to the city police in 2024.

What Is Canisius University Known For?

Canisius University is known for its academic work in the following disciplines:

Canisius University's Top Areas of Influence With Degrees Offered

Each rank compares how much Canisius University's faculty and alumni have shaped a field with other schools, using Wikipedia, Wikidata and scholarly citation databases such as Crossref and Semantic Scholar. World and U.S. ranks reflect modern influence; the historical rank counts influence across all time. How we rank influence

Philosophy
#3041
World Rank
#3083
Historical Rank
#913
USA Rank

Canisius University ranks #913 in the U.S. and #3041 worldwide for influence in Philosophy.

philosophy Degrees
Physics
#3931
World Rank
#3954
Historical Rank
#947
USA Rank

Canisius University ranks #947 in the U.S. and #3931 worldwide for influence in Physics.

physics Degrees
Sociology
#4035
World Rank
#4038
Historical Rank
#1254
USA Rank

Canisius University ranks #1254 in the U.S. and #4035 worldwide for influence in Sociology.

sociology Degrees
Social Work
#5347
World Rank
#5347
Historical Rank
#2007
USA Rank

Canisius University ranks #2007 in the U.S. and #5347 worldwide for influence in Social Work.

social-work Degrees
Chemistry
#7543
World Rank
#7549
Historical Rank
#2161
USA Rank

Canisius University ranks #2161 in the U.S. and #7543 worldwide for influence in Chemistry.

chemistry Degrees
Biology
#9362
World Rank
#9378
Historical Rank
#2349
USA Rank

Canisius University ranks #2349 in the U.S. and #9362 worldwide for influence in Biology.

biology Degrees
Computer Science
#9105
World Rank
#9112
Historical Rank
#2374
USA Rank

Canisius University ranks #2374 in the U.S. and #9105 worldwide for influence in Computer Science.

computer-science Degrees
Criminal Justice
#5042
World Rank
#5044
Historical Rank
#2442
USA Rank

Canisius University ranks #2442 in the U.S. and #5042 worldwide for influence in Criminal Justice.

criminal-justice Degrees
History
#8119
World Rank
#8128
Historical Rank
#2466
USA Rank

Canisius University ranks #2466 in the U.S. and #8119 worldwide for influence in History.

history Degrees
Economics
#9939
World Rank
#9941
Historical Rank
#2535
USA Rank

Canisius University ranks #2535 in the U.S. and #9939 worldwide for influence in Economics.

economics Degrees
Psychology
#6819
World Rank
#6826
Historical Rank
#2537
USA Rank

Canisius University ranks #2537 in the U.S. and #6819 worldwide for influence in Psychology.

psychology Degrees
Communications
#9511
World Rank
#9526
Historical Rank
#2605
USA Rank

Canisius University ranks #2605 in the U.S. and #9511 worldwide for influence in Communications.

communications Degrees
Religious Studies
#11817
World Rank
#11836
Historical Rank
#2736
USA Rank

Canisius University ranks #2736 in the U.S. and #11817 worldwide for influence in Religious Studies.

religious-studies-hub Degrees
Political Science
#13421
World Rank
#13423
Historical Rank
#3314
USA Rank

Canisius University ranks #3314 in the U.S. and #13421 worldwide for influence in Political Science.

political-science Degrees
Mathematics
#11284
World Rank
#11296
Historical Rank
#3363
USA Rank

Canisius University ranks #3363 in the U.S. and #11284 worldwide for influence in Mathematics.

math Degrees
Engineering
#14100
World Rank
#14105
Historical Rank
#3581
USA Rank

Canisius University ranks #3581 in the U.S. and #14100 worldwide for influence in Engineering.

engineering Degrees
Literature
#12448
World Rank
#12408
Historical Rank
#3622
USA Rank

Canisius University ranks #3622 in the U.S. and #12448 worldwide for influence in Literature.

literature Degrees
Medical
#13473
World Rank
#13474
Historical Rank
#3754
USA Rank

Canisius University ranks #3754 in the U.S. and #13473 worldwide for influence in Medical.

medicine Degrees
Business
#14743
World Rank
#14743
Historical Rank
#3985
USA Rank

Canisius University ranks #3985 in the U.S. and #14743 worldwide for influence in Business.

business Degrees
Education
#16564
World Rank
#16571
Historical Rank
#4278
USA Rank

Canisius University ranks #4278 in the U.S. and #16564 worldwide for influence in Education.

education Degrees

Who Are Canisius University's Most Influential Alumni?

Canisius University's most influential alumni include professors and professionals in the fields of Philosophy, Physics, and Sociology. Here are some of Canisius University's most famous alumni:

Beth Phoenix
Beth Phoenix
An American professional wrestler.
Gerard A. Hauser
A .
Frank Lazarus
Frank Lazarus
A Former provost and vice president for academic affairs at Assumption College and former president of the University of Dallas.
Joseph Woelfel
An American sociologist.
Liz MacDonald
Liz MacDonald
A Space weather scientist.
James Demske
An American Jesuit priest, academic, academic administrator and, expert on existentialism.
Michael Uschold
An American computer scientist.
David W. Rohde
A US political scientist.
John F. Marszalek
An American historian.
John Rowe
An American physician.
Louis Burgio
An American gerontologist.
Matt Vinc
A Lacrosse player.