Freshmen Scholarships

Merit Scholarships

Academic scholarships are based on a comprehensive evaluation of your application; freshman through junior year.  Academic scholarships range from $7,000 to $23,000 per year and are renewable for four years. If you qualify for an academic scholarship, you will be notified with your admissions decision letter. 

To get a sense of how large of a scholarship you’ll receive at Canisius, simply match your current GPA to the amount below:

GPAScholarship NameAmount
98-100Ignatian Scholarship$23,000
96-97Trustee's Scholarship$22,000
93-95Peter Canisius Scholarship$21,000
90-92Magis Scholarship$19,000
87-89Dean's Scholarship$15,000
85-86Benefactor Scholarship$12,000
83-84Academic Scholarship$8,000
AllVisit and Apply Scholarship$1,000
AllSpecialized Scholarships*from $1,500 up to full tuition

Visit and Apply Grant

Fall 2025 first-year applicants are eligible to receive $1,000 per year for up to four years if they visit and apply by December 1, 2024. 


Specialized Scholarships

In addition to the merit scholarships offered to prospective freshmen, Canisius University has continued its commitment to affordable education with scholarship awards for students with special interests:

Scholarship NameDetailsDeadlineApplication/More Info
Alumni Grant$1,000 per year for four years of full-time undergraduate study. Applicant must be the child of a Canisius University alumnus and accepted for admission. No separate application is required.  
Army ROTC​Canisius participates in the Army ROTC program which offers scholarships to college-bound students interested in military service. Learn More
Buffalo Promise ScholarshipCovers 100% of undergraduate tuition after aid for eligible admitted students from Buffalo3/21/2025Learn More
Endowed ScholarshipsCanisius is extremely grateful for the generosity of our donors who continue to provide financial assistance to students through the endowed scholarship program. Highly competitive and awarded on an individual basis, named scholarships1/20/2025 
Fine Arts ScholarshipsThe Fine Arts Department awards $1,500 to outstanding musicians and studio artists. Recipients must maintain a 2.5 GPA to remain eligible.1/20/2025Learn More
Hassett Creative Writing ScholarshipThe Hassett Family Creative Writing Scholarship is renewable for four years of undergraduate study at Canisius University provided that the recipient remains a declared creative writing major and maintains a minimum GPA of 3.0.1/20/2025Learn More
Lee Foundation Scholarship FundThe Lee Foundation Scholarship Fund supports freshmen and upperclassmen pursuing degrees in the fields of study Finance, Data Science, Computer Science, and Math.1/20/2025Learn More
Canisius Out-of-State Achievement Scholarship$3,000 per year for four years of full-time undergraduate study for students who reside outside of New York State.  
MLK ScholarshipAs one of the 27 Jesuit universities across the country, social justice is an integral part of Canisius University. We are grounded in the Jesuit philosophy of "men and women for others." Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was at the forefront of social justice in America and we honor him with our Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship.1/20/2025Learn More
Music ScholarshipThe Fine Arts Department at Canisius University offers scholarships for students entering Canisius in the Fall 2025 semester. $1,500 scholarships are available to incoming freshmen and transfer students. The scholarships are in addition to merit awards and are renewable for four years.1/20/2025Learn More
Say Yes ProgramThe Say Yes Scholarship at Canisius University is a mission-based initiative that will help connect our core values as a Jesuit, service-based institution and strengthen our connection to the surrounding Buffalo community.1/20/2025Learn More
Urban Leadership Learning Community (ULLC) ScholarshipThe program aims to create the next generation of leaders by focusing on students from populations that historically have been denied access to positions of influence and power in the community.1/20/2025Learn More
Visit and Apply GrantFall 2025 first-year applicants are eligible to receive $1,000 per year for up to four years if they visit and apply by December 1, 2024. 12/1/2024Learn More