Buffalo, NY – Canisius University climbed nine spots in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings for online graduate education, landing at No. 76 nationally and solidifying its position as a leading educator in the field. The university now ranks No. 4 overall in New York State, No. 2 among private institutions and No. 1 in Western New York for online graduate education programs.
“Our programs are designed with working professionals in mind,” said Nancy Wallace, PhD, dean of the Division of Arts, Education and Sciences. “We’ve created flexible pathways that don’t compromise on quality. Students receive the same personalized attention and rigorous academic experience that define a Canisius education, just delivered in a format that fits their lives.”
The university offers fully online graduate education programs spanning educational leadership and supervision, instructional technologies and curriculum design, literacy education, physical education, special education and TESOL (teaching English to speakers of other languages). Canisius continues to expand its advanced certificate offerings in areas such as health education, coaching and bilingual education to meet evolving workforce needs.
Canisius’ online graduate business programs also earned strong national recognition. The university’s master’s in business programs ranked No. 76 nationally, No. 3 in New York State and No. 1 in Western New York. The online MBA ranked No. 11 in New York State and No. 1 in Western New York.
The Wehle Business School offers three fully online master’s programs: MBA, sport administration and sport product development. The school ranks among the top 25% of AACSB-accredited business schools nationwide and reports a 95% employment rate for graduates within three months of graduation.
“The business landscape demands leaders who can navigate complexity with both competence and conscience,” said Shawn O’Rourke, PhD, dean of the Division of Business, Communications and Health Studies. “Our students don’t just learn theory; they engage directly with the Western New York business community through immersive experiences that prepare them to lead with integrity from day one.”
U.S. News & World Report evaluates online graduate programs through a comprehensive methodology that examines student engagement, faculty credentials and training, peer assessment, services and technology, and student excellence. The rankings measure both program quality and the support structures that help students thrive in fully online environments.
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.
