Canisius vs. Duquesne University

Should I go to Canisius College or Duquesne University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Canisius or Duquesne 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. Duquesne University comparison
Canisius College Duquesne University College 3 College 4
Canisius College Duquesne University
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Overview

Canisius Duquesne University
Location Buffalo, NY Pittsburgh, PA
Setting Large City Large City
Enrollment 2,545 8,137
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #389 #191
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website canisius.edu duq.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Canisius Duquesne University
Tuition (In State) $31,100 $47,146
Tuition (Out of State) $31,100 $47,146
Room & Board $13,160 $15,620
Avg Net Price $19,321 $35,125
Avg Grant Aid $22,779 $27,980
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Canisius Duquesne University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,147 14,112
Admitted 3,391 11,128
Acceptance Rate 81.8% 78.9%
Enrolled % 12.5% 13.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.8
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Challenging Very High
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 22/28 26/31
SAT Range 1050/1320 1160/1350
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 15, 2026

Academics

Canisius Duquesne University
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (25%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Business (31%)
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

Canisius Duquesne University
Graduation Rate 67% 73%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,900 $65,100
Making Student Loan Payments 71% 82%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,750 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $255 $279

Diversity

Canisius Duquesne University
% Men 12% 13%
% Women 17% 23%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 73% 81%
% Black 8% 5%
% Hispanic 6% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 3%
% International 4% 4%
% Unknown Race 4% 1%

Students

Canisius Duquesne University
% In-State 75% 70%
% Out-of-State 18% 27%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Duquesne University is larger than than Canisius based on total student enrollment (8,137 students vs. 2,545 students)

Canisius vs. Duquesne University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Canisius or Duquesne University?

  • Duquesne University is 51.6% more expensive to attend than Canisius for in-state tuition ($47,146.00 vs. $31,100.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 51.6% higher at Duquesne University than Canisius College ($47,146.00 vs. $31,100.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Canisius College than Duquesne University ($19,321 vs. $35,125)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Canisius College are 18.7% lower than costs at Duquesne University ($13,160 vs. $15,620)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Canisius College as Duquesne University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Duquesne University students is 22.8% larger than aid received Canisius College ($27,980 vs. $22,779)

Canisius vs. Duquesne University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Duquesne University (1138) is 60 points higher than at Canisius (1078)
  • Incoming Duquesne University students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Canisius (24)
  • Accepted freshman Duquesne University students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at Canisius (3.7)
  • Canisius has a higher acceptance rate (81.8%) than Duquesne University (78.9%)

Canisius vs. Duquesne University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Canisius or Duquesne 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 Duquesne University and Canisius.

  • The graduation rate at Duquesne University is higher than Canisius College (73% vs. 67%)
  • Graduates from Duquesne University earn on average $15,200 more per year than Canisius graduates after ten years. ($65,100 vs. $49,900)
  • Canisius College students graduate with a $2,250 lower median federal student loan debt than Duquesne University graduates. ($24,750 vs. $27,000)
  • Canisius graduates are paying $24 less per month on federal student loans than Duquesne University graduates. ($255 vs. $279)
  • More Duquesne University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Canisius students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 71%)

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