Canisius has its roots in the Jesuit community that arose from disputed ownership of St. Louis Church in Buffalo in 1851.

[10] In July 2020, President John Hurley and the board of trustees laid off 96 employees, including 25 faculty positions, most of them tenured.

[11][12] In response, the college's faculty senate issued votes of no confidence in the president and board of trustees.

[13][14][15] In June 2021, the college was sanctioned by the American Association of University Professors "for infringement of governance standards".

[20] On April 27, 2023, Canisius announced that it had successfully petitioned the New York State Education Department Board of Regents for university designation.

[24][25] On June 27, 2022, a judge allowed the lawsuit launched by former Canisius athletes’ to proceed, describing the college’s delayed response to sexual assault allegations as “inexplicable.” [26] [27] In a separate federal lawsuit filed in 2022, five former female students alleged that Canisius College ignored sexual misconduct complaints against Professor Michael Noonan and allowed him to retire in 2019 rather than pursuing Title IX complaints against him.

[28][29] Christ the King Chapel, designed by Buffalo architect Duane Lyman,[30] is centrally located to "symbolize its importance".

[47] Canisius earned the 21st spot in the top tier of U.S. News & World Report's 2022 rankings of America's Best Regional Universities – North.

[49] Canisius earned the eighth spot among 49 regional universities in the North in U.S. News' Best Colleges for Veterans Ranking, as well as #4 in Best Value Schools and #26 in Top Performers on Social Mobility, for 2022.

[48] Canisius College alumni ranked first (1st), overall, in New York State on the 2014 CPA exam cycle, with a 75 percent pass rate, in the category of medium programs.

The college adopted the Griffin as a mascot in 1932, after Charles A. Brady ('33) wrote a story in a Canisius publication honoring Buffalo's centennial year as a city.

Brady wrote about Jesuit-educated explorer Rene-Robert LaSalle's Le Griffon, which was built in Buffalo.

It represents values such as courage, boldness, intelligence, and strength befitting students and athletes alike.

Around 1917 Buffalo manager Barney Lepper signed a lease for the team to play their home games at Canisius College.

Public-access television cable TV broadcasts to Canisius College from its fourth floor studio at Lyons Hall.

Canisius has approximately 40,000 living alumni worldwide who are working in the fields of business, journalism, government, law, medicine, and sports.