Canisius University is a supportive community of people from all walks of life, engaged in conscientious academic, personal and spiritual inquiry. Griffs learn how to think more deeply, create more boldly, dare more courageously and live more compassionately, developing the skills and confidence to take the lead in their chosen field, career and community.
As a Jesuit institution of higher education, Canisius is proud to inherit a tradition of educational innovation, academic excellence and purpose-driven inquiry that stretches back nearly 500 years.
The Jesuits are members of the Society of Jesus, an order of Roman Catholic priests founded in 1540 in Paris, France, by Ignatius of Loyola and six companions. From the beginning, the Jesuits were notable as educators. Ignatius and his companions met while students at the University of Paris, which was considered one of the world’s premier universities of its day.
Our namesake is Peter Canisius, who joined the Society of Jesus in 1543 and founded the first Jesuit school in Messina, Italy. He later supervised the creation of Jesuit universities throughout Germany. Peter Canisius was a widely respected teacher, preacher and scholar.
Jesuits established schools and universities throughout Europe, soon becoming known as the “Schoolmasters of Europe.” Jesuits also became deeply involved in scholarship in their own right and were respected throughout the world.
Canisius is an important part of this legacy as one of 27 Jesuit universities in the United States and 189 universities worldwide. The college was founded in 1870 by the Jesuits of the German Province at the invitation of Buffalo Bishop Stephen Ryan and was named after St. Peter Canisius. Thirty-five students enrolled in that first class.