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George Washington Georgetown Fordham Syracuse Mason UB Lafayette College DU Drexel William & Mary Elon University of Richmond| American University | Canisius College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
AU | Canisius | ||
| Location | Washington, DC | Buffalo, NY | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 13,019 | 2,545 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #84 | #389 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | United Methodist | Roman Catholic | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | american.edu | canisius.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
AU | Canisius | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $55,724 | $31,100 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $55,724 | $31,100 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,012 | $13,160 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $40,189 | $19,321 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $31,402 | $22,779 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 62% | 100% |
Admission |
AU | Canisius | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 17,786 | 4,147 | ||
| Admitted | 8,427 | 3,391 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 47.4% | 81.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22% | 12.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.7 | 3.7 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 29/33 | 22/28 | ||
| SAT Range | 1300/1450 | 1050/1320 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
AU | Canisius | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 11:1 | ||
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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 | 15% | 12% | ||
| % Women | 25% | 17% | ||
| 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% | 75% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 94% | 18% | ||
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 (13,019 students vs. 2,545 students)
AU vs. Canisius Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, AU or Canisius?
- American University is 79.2% more expensive to attend than Canisius for in-state tuition ($55,724.00 vs. $31,100.00)
- Out of state tuition is 79.2% higher at AU than Canisius College ($55,724.00 vs. $31,100.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Canisius College than AU ($19,321 vs. $40,189)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Canisius College are 29.3% lower than costs at American University ($13,160 vs. $17,012)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Canisius College than American University (100% vs. 62%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 37.9% larger than aid received Canisius College ($31,402 vs. $22,779)
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 (81.8%) than AU (47.4%)
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/