BUFFALO, NY – For the second time in a year, Canisius University has earned national recognition for providing students with a high-quality, affordable education that delivers strong outcomes after graduation. The latest honor comes from Money magazine, which named Canisius to its 2025 list of Best Colleges in America.
Money evaluated more than 2,400 four-year colleges and universities nationwide. Of those, only about 720 institutions - roughly 30% - met the publication’s rigorous criteria, which considered acceptance rates, graduation rates, net price after aid, and early career earnings. Canisius University stood out for its combination of strong academics and financial accessibility.
“Being named one of the best and most affordable colleges in the country is not just a recognition - it’s a reflection of our mission in action,” says President Steve Stoute. “As a Jesuit university, we are committed to providing a transformative education shaped by academic excellence and service to others – values that benefit all students, no matter their background. This recognition by Money magazine affirms the dedication of our faculty and staff who make that mission a reality every day.”
In Money’s evaluation, Canisius excelled across several key academic quality measures. The university demonstrated particularly strong performance in graduation rates and value-added outcomes, which measure student completion rates and whether the university exceeds expectations for student success based on incoming student profiles.
Canisius also earned high marks for instructor accessibility, a reflection of the university’s low student-to-faculty ratio, which enables the close mentoring relationships that are hallmarks of a Canisius education.
In addition to academic quality, Canisius distinguished itself in the affordability measures that Money evaluated. The rankings show that the university’s estimated net price for the 2025-26 academic year is among the lowest of private institutions in the region due to a combination of merit scholarships, need-based grants and individualized financial aid counseling. Money also highlighted Canisius for its strong early career earnings, which show that graduates are entering the workforce well-prepared and earning salaries that reflect the value of their education.
Canisius’ inclusion on Money’s 2025 list of Best Colleges in America comes amid growing national recognition for the university’s value and impact. In fall 2024, U.S. News & World Report ranked Canisius among the top 40 Best Colleges in the North. The ranking assesses academic quality and measures such factors as first-year retention rates, graduation rates and post-graduate outcomes.
U.S. News also ranked Canisius at No. 4 among Best Value Schools, a category that considers academic quality, the net cost of attendance for students who receive the average level of need-based financial aid, and the proportion of students who receive grants or scholarships. It also factors in the average discount from the school’s total sticker price for full-time undergraduates.
Canisius was founded in 1870 in Buffalo, NY, and is one of 27 Jesuit colleges and universities in the U.S. Consistently ranked among the top institutions in the Northeast, Canisius offers undergraduate, graduate and pre-professional programs distinguished by close student-faculty collaboration, mentoring and an emphasis on ethical, purpose-driven leadership.
