Applying for Admission
Admission and Profile
Housing
Tuition, Fees and Other Costs
AP, IB and College Credits
Q: How do I apply for admission to Canisius?
A: To apply for admission to Canisius, you should complete either the paper or on-line version of the application for admission. If you complete the paper version, submit the completed application to your high school counselor so your official transcript and SAT or ACT scores may be attached and sent to Canisius. If you complete the online version, download the counselor recommendation form and submit it to your high school counselor. Click here to download form. (link to downloadable forms) All documents should be sent to:
Canisius College
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
2001 Main Street
Buffalo, NY 14208
Q: Is there an application deadline?
A: Canisius adheres to a rolling admission policy that allows you to apply at any time until the class is full. Canisius offers a priority consideration deadline of November 15. If you apply by this time, you will receive your admissions decision and scholarship notification by December 15. If you choose this option, you will still have until May 1, the national Candidates’ Reply Date Agreement, to make your college decision. All high school seniors are encouraged to apply by March 1 of your senior year for full and equal consideration.
Q: Are letters of recommendation required to apply for admission?
A: You are encouraged to submit one to three letters of recommendation with your application. At least one of these should be from your school counselor.
Q: Is an essay required to apply for admission?
A: You are encouraged to submit an essay or personal statement with your application. An essay is an opportunity for you to tell the Admissions Committee more detailed information about a significant event or person in your life or about your achievements, goals or interests.
Q: How long should my essay be?
A: Your essay should be between one to two pages typed and double spaced.
Q: Do you have an Honors Program?
A: Students are automatically evaluated for admission to the Honors Program based on the application for admission to Canisius College. A separate application is not required. Invitations to the honors program are made in early February.
Q: What GPA and SAT/ACT scores do I need to be admitted to Canisius?
A: Canisius reviews each applicant for his/her individual merits. A strong college preparatory curriculum, including a minimum of 16 units in the academic subject areas of English, foreign language, math, science and social studies, is required. Senior year courses and performance are important factors in the admissions decision. Students admitted to Canisius generally have a B average or better in high school with at least 1000 on the SAT or 22 on the ACT. (SAT combined score is based on critical reading and math sections only.)
Q: What are the mean high school average and SAT/ACT scores for students admitted to Canisius?
A: As of January 2008, of the students accepted for admission to Canisius for Fall 2008, the middle 50% had a high school average of 87.5 - 94.2, SAT combined score (math and critical reading) of 1020-1220 and a mean ACT score of 22-27.
Scholarships & Financial Aid
Q: Does Canisius offer academic merit scholarships? How can I apply for a scholarship?
A: Canisius offers generous merit scholarships to reward students for their academic achievement in high school. Scholarships range in value from $6,000 to $24,500 and are based on the rigor of your high school coursework, your three-year cumulative high school average (freshman through junior year) and your best combined SAT score or ACT composite score. (SAT combined score is based on critical reading and math sections only.) Scholarships are renewable for four years.
You are automatically considered for a scholarship when you apply for admission to Canisius. If you are being awarded an academic scholarship, you will be notified of the amount of your scholarship when you receive your admissions decision.
Q: How do I apply for financial aid?
A: All students are encouraged to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for all need-based forms of aid, including Canisius College grants, federal grants, loans and work study and New York State TAP grants for residents of New York State. It is highly recommended that you submit your application by February 15.
Canisius recommends that you file the FAFSA online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov for faster processing of your application.
Q: When will I receive my financial aid package?
A: If you are receiving a merit scholarship from Canisius, you will receive the amount of your scholarship when you receive your admissions decision.
If you have submitted your completed FAFSA by early February, you can expect to receive your complete financial aid package by early to mid-March. If you submit your FAFSA after that time, you will likely receive your financial aid package within four to six weeks of completing your FAFSA.
Q: Is housing guaranteed to freshmen?
A: Yes, on-campus housing is guaranteed to Canisius freshmen. Canisius encourages students who wish to live on campus to pay their tuition deposit on or before May 1, as housing preference is determined by date of deposit.
Q: How many of your students live on campus?
A: Approximately 70.7 percent of the Canisius Class of 2010 live in campus housing.
Q: Is housing guaranteed for four years?
A: Yes, Canisius is able to accommodate students who wish to remain in campus housing throughout their four years as an undergraduate student. There is a wide variety of housing for sophomores, juniors and seniors, including suites, apartments and townhouses. George Martin Honors Hall and the Intercultural Living Center are forms of specialty housing that are available as well.
Q: What kind of housing is available to freshmen?
A: First year students at Canisius live in one of three residence halls – Bosch Hall, Frisch Hall or Dugan Hall. Double rooms are available in both Bosch and Frisch and four person suites are available in Bosch, Frisch and Dugan.
Q: What is the tuition at Canisius?
A: 2008-2009 Cost of Attendance
Tuition & Fees -- $28,157
Room & Board -- $10,150
Q: What is the application fee?
A: The application fee is $40.
Q: Is the application fee refundable?
A: The application fee is not refundable.
Q: Can my application fee be waived?
A: There is no application fee for students who apply for admission online. Students using the paper application should speak to their school counselor or contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions regarding an application fee waiver for special circumstances.
Q: How much is the tuition (and housing) deposit?
A: The tuition deposit is $200 and the housing deposit is $200.
Q: Are the tuition and housing deposits refundable?
A: The tuition and housing deposits are refundable up to May 1, the National Candidates’ Reply Date Agreement. After May 1 your deposit is non-refundable.
Q: Are there any other costs I should know about?
A: You should budget an additional $700 per year (approximately) for books and supplies. You should also take into consideration your own transportation and entertainment expenses.
Q: Will I get credit for AP courses/exams?
A: Students who earn a score of 4 or 5 on an Advanced Placement exam will be awarded credit in the college’s core curriculum or their academic major. Students who earn a score of three will be considered for free elective credit, and in some cases, specific course credit. For more information about specific exam scores and credit earned, click here.
Q: Will I get credit for an International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma or for IB courses or exams?
A: Canisius does award credit to students with an IB diploma and to students who have taken higher level IB exams. For details regarding credits awarded, please click here.
Q: I have taken college courses while in high school. Will Canisius accept these courses for credit?
A: Students may receive either free elective or core credit for accredited college courses taken in high school. A minimum grade of C is required for consideration and an official college transcript must be submitted to the Office of Student Advisement.