Canisius vs. DeSales University

Should I go to Canisius College or DeSales University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Canisius or DeSales University 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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Canisius College vs. DeSales University comparison
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Canisius College DeSales University
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Overview

Canisius DeSales University
Location Buffalo, NY Center Valley, PA
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 2,545 2,919
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #389 #295
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website canisius.edu desales.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Canisius DeSales University
Tuition (In State) $31,100 $43,000
Tuition (Out of State) $31,100 $43,000
Room & Board $13,160 $13,800
Avg Net Price $19,321 $30,524
Avg Grant Aid $22,779 $28,789
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Canisius DeSales University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,147 3,636
Admitted 3,391 2,857
Acceptance Rate 81.8% 78.6%
Enrolled % 12.5% 15.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.39
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 22/28 24/28
SAT Range 1050/1320 1090/1290
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2026

Academics

Canisius DeSales University
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (25%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Business (29%)
  • Health Professions (19%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • Biology (5%)
  • Communication (5%)

Outcomes

Canisius DeSales University
Graduation Rate 67% 69%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,900 $51,100
Making Student Loan Payments 71% 71%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,750 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $255 $268

Diversity

Canisius DeSales University
% Men 12% 8%
% Women 17% 18%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 73% 75%
% Black 8% 4%
% Hispanic 6% 12%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 2%
% International 4% 0%
% Unknown Race 4% 6%

Students

Canisius DeSales University
% In-State 75% 66%
% Out-of-State 18% 34%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • DeSales University is larger than than Canisius based on total student enrollment (2,919 students vs. 2,545 students)

Canisius vs. DeSales University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Canisius or DeSales University?

  • DeSales University is 38.3% more expensive to attend than Canisius for in-state tuition ($43,000.00 vs. $31,100.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 38.3% higher at DeSales University than Canisius College ($43,000.00 vs. $31,100.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Canisius College than DeSales University ($19,321 vs. $30,524)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Canisius College are 4.9% lower than costs at DeSales University ($13,160 vs. $13,800)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Canisius College as DeSales University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by DeSales University students is 26.4% larger than aid received Canisius College ($28,789 vs. $22,779)

Canisius vs. DeSales University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Canisius College (1078) is 24 points higher than at DeSales University (1054)
  • Incoming DeSales University students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Canisius (24)
  • Accepted freshman Canisius students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at DeSales University (3.39)
  • Canisius has a higher acceptance rate (81.8%) than DeSales University (78.6%)

Canisius vs. DeSales University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Canisius or DeSales University? 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 DeSales University and Canisius.

  • The graduation rate at DeSales University is higher than Canisius College (69% vs. 67%)
  • Graduates from DeSales University earn on average $1,200 more per year than Canisius graduates after ten years. ($51,100 vs. $49,900)
  • Canisius College students graduate with a $1,250 lower median federal student loan debt than DeSales University graduates. ($24,750 vs. $26,000)
  • Canisius graduates are paying $13 less per month on federal student loans than DeSales University graduates. ($255 vs. $268)
  • More Canisius graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former DeSales University students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 71%)

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