When it comes to helping students reach the finish line, Niagara University stands out among Western New York’s private colleges and universities.
According to data featured in Business First’s 2026 College Guide, Niagara has a 75% overall graduation rate, the highest among the region’s private four-year institutions profiled in the guide and tied for the highest rate among all 19 Western New York colleges and universities included.
Niagara also reports a 67% four-year graduation rate, giving the university the highest four-year graduation rate highlighted in the guide.
The figures provide an important measure of Niagara’s ability to help students not only begin their college careers, but successfully complete them.
For comparison, Niagara’s 75% overall graduation rate is higher than every other private four-year institution included in the guide. St. Bonaventure University and D’Youville University follow at 67%, while Canisius University reports a 66% graduation rate. Daemen University reports 59%, Alfred University 57%, Houghton University 56%, and Hilbert College 56%.
Niagara’s four-year graduation rate is particularly notable. Sixty-seven percent of Niagara students graduate within four years, compared with 60% at the University at Buffalo. Among the private four-year institutions profiled, Niagara has the highest four-year rate.
Graduating on time can make a significant difference for students and families, helping students enter the workforce or pursue graduate education sooner while potentially reducing the additional costs associated with extending a college education beyond four years.
The graduation numbers are part of a broader picture of student success at Niagara. The university reports an 80% first-year retention rate, meaning the vast majority of students who begin their Niagara education return for their second year.
Niagara combines those outcomes with a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio, providing students with the opportunity for individualized attention from faculty and academic support throughout their college experience.
The university also offers strong value among Western New York’s private colleges. Business First reports an average net price of $16,613 for Niagara, based on the average cost for aided, full-time students in 2023-24. That is lower than the reported net price at St. Bonaventure ($27,373), Alfred University ($26,470), D’Youville ($20,690), Canisius ($19,666), and Daemen ($19,102).
Together, the figures highlight a distinctive combination for Niagara students: a private university education with strong graduation outcomes, a high rate of students completing their degrees within four years, personalized attention and competitive value.
For prospective students and their families, the numbers offer a clear indication of Niagara’s commitment to student success: getting students to Niagara is only the beginning. The university is focused on helping them persist, graduate and take the next step toward their futures.
Business First’s 2026 College Guide profiles 19 Western New York colleges and universities using federal data from the National Center for Education Statistics, with most of the information reflecting the 2024-25 academic year. The guide does not rank the institutions.
