Canisius University launches new Buffalo Promise Scholarship

Canisius University President Steve Stoute announced the launch of an innovative new initiative aimed at expanding educational affordability and opportunity to the best and brightest local students. The Canisius Buffalo Promise Scholarship effectively covers 100 percent of tuition for up to four years of undergraduate study at the university to eligible admitted students.

Canisius anticipates that approximately 800 admitted students will qualify as Buffalo Promise scholars in the fall 2025 pilot year of the program, with a potential savings for students and families of more than $25 million in the first year alone. Building on this strong start, Canisius projects approximately 4,000 students to qualify for the Buffalo Promise over the next five years, making it the most generous, most ambitious and most comprehensive combined aid program in the university’s history.

“We know that a Canisius education is transformative, opening doors to opportunities and experiences that set students up for long-term success and a lifetime of meaning,” Stoute stated. “Our vision is to make the Canisius experience available to all qualified students by breaking down the barriers of cost and building up student outcomes, and the Buffalo Promise Scholarship is a significant step in that direction.”

To be eligible for the scholarship, students must apply to Canisius and be admitted through

the regular decision process, reside in Buffalo or any adjacent town with a ZIP code beginning with 142, and live in a household with an adjusted gross income of $125,000 or less. Undergraduate freshman enrolling for fall 2025 need to submit valid applications for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and the New York Tuition Assistance Program by March 1, 2025.

“The new Canisius scholarship is a sign of the university’s continued commitment to Buffalo and Western New York,” stated New York State Sen. Sean M. Ryan at the community unveiling of the scholarship. “We appreciate the institution’s dedication to making higher education accessible to Buffalonians who would otherwise not have the opportunity.”

The Buffalo Promise Scholarship goes beyond covering undergraduate tuition costs.

“It combines the promise of zero tuition for eligible students with our Golden Griffin Guarantee, which guarantees graduation in four years, and our commitment to student success with the building of a state-of-the-art Student Success Center to provide wrap-around services to our students,” Stoute added.

The scholarship program also engages students in experiences designed to strengthen their connection to the Buffalo community and prepare them to contribute to the region’s economic and social success. Additionally, scholars will receive support from personalized student success teams, be paired with mentors and Buffalo-based Canisius alumni for professional guidance and participate in high-impact learning experiences in Buffalo and the surrounding areas via internships and immersions.

“Canisius University’s new scholarship initiative will open doors for Western New York students to harness their talent and tenacity to follow their dreams,” said U.S. Rep. Tim Kennedy (NY-26th District). “It will help our young people focus on pursuing higher education who might not have otherwise been able to, unlocking opportunities and having a positive impact on the entire region. The new Buffalo Promise Scholarship will also help to address generational disparities, creating future leaders, and contributing to a stronger Buffalo-Niagara region.”

The Buffalo Promise Scholarship only covers undergraduate tuition at Canisius. To continue receiving the award, students must remain in good academic standing and complete the FAFSA and TAP applications annually.

For more information, visit canisius.edu/promise.