Honors Admissions Criteria & Application Process

Students from the top 10 percent of Canisius applicants are invited to participate in Honors based on a review of their academic record by the program director. Criteria vary from year to year, but generally students in the program will have attained at least two of the following academic credentials:

Top 10 percent high school rank
At least a 94% or 3.8 high school average
An SAT-I combined score of 1300 (or 700 verbal) or 28 composite score on the ACT exam
Rigor of student's curriculum and extracurricular involvement in leadership and community service

Application Process

Students who meet the criteria listed above will automatically qualify for admission into the program, and submitting an application is not necessary. If you meet these entrance requirements and do not receive a letter of invitation by May 1 of your senior year, please contact the Honors director or the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

On occasion, Honors welcomes students with unusual talents and experiences who do not meet the above benchmarks. To petition the department for admission into All-College Honors, please contact

Dr. Bruce Dierenfield, Director
All-College Honors Program
Canisius University
2001 Main Street
Buffalo, NY 14208-1098
Phone: 716-888-2683
Email: @email 

An invitation to enter the Honors program is extended only for a student's first semester at Canisius, usually the fall semester of freshman year. The student may enter no later than second semester at the college, after having achieved a 3.75 GPA or greater in the first semester. Students who have completed their first year at Canisius may not apply for admission to Honors. Transfer students may be admitted on a case-by-case basis and should contact the director.