AU vs. Canisius

Should I go to American University or Canisius College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if AU or Canisius is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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American University vs. Canisius College comparison
American University Canisius College College 3 College 4
American University Canisius College
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Overview

AU Canisius
Location Washington, DC Buffalo, NY
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 13,885 2,492
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #93 #376
Religious Affiliation United Methodist Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website american.edu canisius.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

AU Canisius
Tuition (In State) $53,070 $30,180
Tuition (Out of State) $53,070 $30,180
Room & Board $15,706 $12,158
Avg Net Price $41,369 $19,635
Avg Grant Aid $27,138 $21,215
% Receiving Grant Aid 66% 100%

Admission

AU Canisius
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 19,510 4,131
Admitted 7,926 3,211
Acceptance Rate 40.6% 77.7%
Enrolled % 22.2% 14.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.7
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 29/32 22/28
SAT Range 1290/1430 1050/1320
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2025

Academics

AU Canisius
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (43%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Psychology (3%)
  • Business (25%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Education (9%)

Outcomes

AU Canisius
Graduation Rate 77% 67%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $64,800 $49,900
Making Student Loan Payments 80% 71%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,250 $24,750
Median Loan Payment $250 $255

Diversity

AU Canisius
% Men 37% 47%
% Women 63% 53%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 58% 73%
% Black 7% 8%
% Hispanic 12% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 1%
% International 7% 4%
% Unknown Race 4% 4%

Students

AU Canisius
% In-State 2% 79%
% Out-of-State 94% 15%

Campus

AU Canisius
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • American University is larger than than Canisius based on total student enrollment (13,885 students vs. 2,492 students)

AU vs. Canisius Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or Canisius?

  • American University is 75.8% more expensive to attend than Canisius for in-state tuition ($53,070.00 vs. $30,180.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 75.8% higher at AU than Canisius College ($53,070.00 vs. $30,180.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Canisius College than AU ($19,635 vs. $41,369)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Canisius College are 29.2% lower than costs at American University ($12,158 vs. $15,706)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Canisius College than American University (100% vs. 66%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 27.9% larger than aid received Canisius College ($27,138 vs. $21,215)

AU vs. Canisius Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or Canisius? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Canisius or AU .

  • The average SAT score at American University (1252) is 174 points higher than at Canisius (1078)
  • Incoming AU students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at Canisius (24)
  • Accepted freshman AU students have at the same average high school GPA (3.7) as students at Canisius (3.7)
  • Canisius has a higher acceptance rate (77.7%) than AU (40.6%)

AU vs. Canisius Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, AU or Canisius? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Canisius and AU.

  • The graduation rate at AU is higher than Canisius College (77% vs. 67%)
  • Graduates from American University earn on average $14,900 more per year than Canisius graduates after ten years. ($64,800 vs. $49,900)
  • American University students graduate with a $500 lower median federal student loan debt than Canisius graduates. ($24,250 vs. $24,750)
  • AU graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than Canisius graduates. ($250 vs. $255)
  • More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Canisius students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 71%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/