Let's take it one part at a time.
What Kind of University It Is and Where It Is Located
D'Youville University is a private, nonprofit, four-year-or-more institution. It is in Buffalo, New York, within Erie County, in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga metropolitan area. Its census code places it in a principal city with a population of 250,000 or more. That does not tell you how to get to campus from your home or what there is nearby for daily life—if your child plans to live at home, drive the route on a weekday at the time of their classes. The actual travel time is almost never what the map says.
The Carnegie system, which organizes the nation's universities by what they do, places it among doctoral and professional-degree institutions and also describes it as a small, primarily residential four-year school. Separately, its most recent undergraduate profile places it among institutions that enroll many transfer students. If your child plans to come here after studying at another school, ask in writing which courses will count and which will not. The "high transfer-in" label does not say how many credits students bring with them or how many they lose in the transition.
IPEDS, the federal higher education data system, records the doctoral degree as the highest level the institution reports offering and classifies it as a school that primarily awards bachelor's degrees or higher. That is general institutional information: it does not identify whether the specific program your child is interested in exists or whether it connects undergraduate and graduate study. That detail must be confirmed program by program.
One point worth clarifying right away: D'Youville is not recorded as a historically Black college or university, a tribal college or university, or a land-grant institution. Those are three different designations with different histories—of the 3,012 universities in this national directory, 138 have at least one of the three. D'Youville's absence from that list says nothing about which students it serves or how your child will feel there. Ask directly what cultural centers and student organizations exist today.
A Midsize Community, with More Women and Few Latino Students
D'Youville had 2,544 students enrolled in the most recent official fall count. That is midsize—neither among the large schools nor the small ones—compared with similar private schools. But that large number includes graduate students: the total is divided between 1,299 undergraduate students and 1,245 graduate students. If your child is entering an undergraduate program, the number that matters is 1,299, not the total.
Among undergraduates, women are a clear majority: 74 out of every 100 students. Hispanic or Latino students are a small minority—7 out of every 100—placing the university below the midpoint of a group of nearly one thousand similar selective private universities. That neither removes the school from the list nor puts it on the list. But if your child will be one of the few, it is worth asking during the visit what exists for Latino students: a student group, a cultural center, or someone in the office who speaks Spanish. Also speak with a student who is already there. The number describes the school as a whole; your child's program may look different.
How the Academic Year Works
The year is organized into semesters: two long terms of about 15 weeks each. The school stated that it accepts credit from AP exams, as well as what IPEDS calls "credit for life experiences"—learning acquired through independent study, work, a portfolio, prior licenses, or military opportunities. It also reports enrolling high school students in college courses for credit through a formal dual-enrollment program and accepting credit for military training.
Here is the hard truth I cannot soften: the school's declaration that these pathways exist does not mean it will recognize the specific credit your child brings. It does not say what AP scores are required, how many credits are awarded, or whether those credits count toward the exact program your child chose. Ask for the equivalency evaluation in writing before enrolling. Do not budget for the savings until you have it in hand.
The Direction of the Academic Offerings
In a recent year, D'Youville awarded 337 bachelor's degrees. Of those, 267—79 out of every 100, nearly eight out of ten—were in health professions. That is a very high concentration: compared with 942 other selective private schools, D'Youville falls in the quarter with the least variety among the academic fields represented in its bachelor's-degree data.
The fact that one field accounts for nearly everything does not say whether it is the best option for your child or anything about the specific program that interests your child if it is not in health. Ask about the exact program: request the curriculum, how many students graduated from it last year, and how easy it is to get the classes your child needs.
Regarding instructional staff, the official ratio is 11 full-time-equivalent students per full-time-equivalent instructional staff member. That is a low ratio, below the midpoint for similar schools. But be careful—this is an aggregate figure and does not indicate the actual size of first-year classes or the method used to calculate it. Do not turn it into a promise of small classes.
The institution also reports structured opportunities: study abroad and a complete program that can be taken only during evenings or weekends.
Getting In: The Policy, Selectivity, and Who Ultimately Enrolls
This is where it helps to go slowly, because these are several distinct pieces that should not be mixed together.
The stated policy. D'Youville does not have open admission—it reviews application materials before saying yes. Of nine possible considerations, it marks four as required: the high school record, high school GPA, completion of the college-preparatory coursework the university requires, and an English-proficiency exam for applicants. Other items are not required but are considered if submitted: class rank, a personal essay, letters of recommendation, a portfolio or competency test, work experience, and whether a family member attended the university. Regarding that last item: if it does not apply to you, do not spend energy on it. Spend it on what is within your child's control. The published undergraduate application fee is $0.
Observed selectivity. Of 2,295 first-time applicants in the most recent cycle, 1,890 were offered a place—82 out of every 100. That is an accessible admission rate, slightly above the midpoint compared with similar schools. Seven or eight out of ten receive a yes. That does not make admission automatic, nor is it a fixed rule: it comes from a single cycle. When it is your child's turn to apply, check the number again for the relevant year.
Who actually enrolls. Here comes the most surprising figure. Of every 100 admitted students, only 13 ultimately enrolled. Put another way: of every 8 young people who receive a yes from this school, roughly one ultimately enrolls. That is a low rate compared with similar schools. Do not read it as a stain on the school—the fact that most admitted students did not enroll does not mean the school is bad. The record does not explain why each person chose what they chose. What others decided also does not tell you what the school will offer you. Wait for your letter showing the net price, which is what the year will actually cost you. With that number in hand, decide whether this school stays on the list.
Standardized tests. The SAT and ACT are not required. If your child submits them, they are considered; if not, the application remains equally valid. Among those who enrolled, only 18 out of every 100 submitted SAT scores, and among them, the middle half scored between 445 and 595 in reading and writing and between 440 and 595 in mathematics. Those numbers describe students who enrolled and submitted scores—not all applicants—and they do not prove that a score was used to admit anyone. That 445 is not a minimum, nor is that 595 a guarantee.
And if your child transfers. Of the bachelor's-degree-seeking class that entered in 2017, 20 out of every 100 transferred without completing here and enrolled at another school. Transferring is not failing. But it is helpful for your child to know in advance how to request the paperwork needed to leave if necessary. And if your child transfers in from another school, this measure counts how many entered that way, not how many courses were recognized. Ask for the list of equivalencies in writing before your child makes the move.
The Published Cost: One Number, Many Pieces
For the most recently reported academic year, the cost of attendance for a first-time, full-time student living on campus is $49,560. That amount is the same whether the student is from New York or from out of state.
It breaks down as follows:
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees | $33,560 |
| On-campus housing and food | $11,800 |
| Books and supplies | $1,200 |
| Other estimated expenses | (remainder, up to the total) |
Compared with schools of the same type, this total falls below the group midpoint. But—and this matters more than its position in the table—this number is the list price, before any aid. It is not the bill your family will receive. Complete the FAFSA and request the financial aid letter in writing. Until you have it in hand, you do not know what this school will cost your family.
Net Price: This Is Where Everything Changes
At D'Youville University, among 29 first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid and whose EFC records showed family income below $30,000, the average net price was $12,286. Among 22 students in the same population whose EFC family income was from $48,001 to $75,000, it was $21,460; among 50 students in the same population whose EFC family income was above $110,000, it was $26,150. For dependent students, the band combines their parents' income with their own.
There is a difference of $13,864 between the average for the lowest-income band (29 students) and the average for the highest-income band (50 students). These are group averages, not a prediction of your family's price. Among first-year students who received any scholarship, the average was $20,268.
Among the 937 schools of the same type and control included in this census that reported this measure with the same period coverage, D'Youville falls in the least expensive quarter for lower-income families after scholarships are subtracted. That does not mean it will be inexpensive for your family. It is a factor to weigh when building the list of schools to which your child will apply.
Because the price varies so much from one income band to another, correctly identifying yours comes first. The income bands in this profile describe first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid; at public institutions, they use the in-state or in-district rate. The overall average with scholarship aid, when shown, describes first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal, state, local, or institutional scholarships or grants. The financial aid letter sent to you is what controls.
Aid and Loans
93 out of every 100 degree-seeking students receive some scholarship or grant aid that does not have to be repaid. Receiving something is common here, not the exception. Among those who receive it, the annual average was $18,266. And 36 out of every 100 students receive Pell Grants, the federal aid for families with demonstrated financial need.
Do not read that high number as a promise. It is what happened to other students in a specific year, not your probability or your amount. Ask in writing which applications must be completed, the deadlines, and what happens to the scholarship if your child's grades fall.
Regarding loans, 62 out of every 100 undergraduate students take out a federal loan. Those who do borrow an average of $9,539 in a single academic year. If your child borrowed a similar amount each year during the four years in the plan, the total would be around $38,156, not counting interest. That number is decided before the first signature, not at the end. And take note: that average includes only federal loans in the student's name—it does not include PLUS loans that parents sometimes sign for, bank debt, or credit-card debt. Nor is it the total debt with which someone graduates.
The institution also reports an installment tuition-payment plan and participation in a Promise program as additional mechanisms for organizing payment.
Campus Life, Athletics, and Support
D'Youville does have institution-controlled housing, with a reported capacity of 433 students, either on or off campus. Living there is not required for all students—that rules out a universal requirement but does not mean that no program has one. It also offers meal plans, with a fixed number of meals per week under the largest plan. The existence of housing does not guarantee an available bed: ask in writing for the rate, the application deadline, and whether you are guaranteed a place or placed on a waiting list.
ROTC is available, and the only branch confirmed in writing is the Army. If your child is interested in the Navy or Air Force, those boxes are not checked in the report—not confirmed does not mean impossible; it means you need to ask directly.
The university competes in intercollegiate athletics and is affiliated with the NCAA, with membership reported in basketball, baseball, and cross-country or track and field. The membership belongs to the school, not your child: write directly to the coach of the sport that interests your child, ask whether there is a place available, which division the team competes in, and whether it provides athletic scholarships.
It offers distance education at the undergraduate and graduate levels, although only 4 out of every 100 undergraduate students take all their classes that way—the other 96 take at least one class in person. The library has paid staff, and its annual spending exceeds the $100,000 threshold recorded by the government; it has physical and digital materials and participates in interlibrary lending. Reported support services include combined academic and career counseling, employment services, participation in the Yellow Ribbon program for veterans, a dedicated point of contact for military service members and their families, and a web address for services for students with disabilities.
What Happens to Students Who Have Already Enrolled
This may be the section most worth reading carefully, because it shows the entire path.
Retention. Of the full-time, bachelor's-degree-seeking class that entered in 2022, 72 out of every 100 were still enrolled here or had already graduated one year later. That is slightly below the midpoint for similar schools. The rest do not have a known destination in this measure—transferring to another school and continuing to study is counted differently from leaving education entirely, and the source does not separate those two stories.
Graduation. From a cohort of 277 bachelor's-degree-seeking students who entered in 2017, 157 graduated here within six years: 57 out of every 100. But within four years—the timeframe most families include in their budget—the figure is only 36 out of every 100. There is a difference of 21 points between four years and six. That gap does not say how many semesters each person attended or how much that additional time cost. Before signing, ask directly how long your child's program typically takes, how required courses are scheduled, and how the total cost changes if it takes longer.
From that same cohort of 277: 0 completed a shorter program here, 56 transferred without completing and continued at another school, 14 remained enrolled without completing, and 50 fell into the federal "no longer enrolled" category—which does not state the reason and may include people who graduated after the measured period.
At eight years. Expanding the window to a larger annual cohort (582 students who entered between 2015 and 2016), 68 out of every 100 had earned a degree or certificate from this school as of August 2023. Among students with Pell Grants, the figure falls to 62 out of every 100—ten points lower than for those who did not receive Pell Grants. That comparison describes a specific historical cohort; whether your family qualifies for Pell today does not determine your child's outcome. What you can do is ask the school exactly what is available for those students: an assigned counselor, emergency assistance, and whether the institutional scholarship is renewed every year. Get the answers in writing.
How to Combine This with Your Own Decision
None of this tells you whether this is the right school for your child. That depends on two other pieces this article cannot know: what your child wants to study and what they have built so far, and what your family can and is willing to pay. Combine this piece with those other two. A plan grows from that combination—not from a single article or a single figure, but from all three pieces together and the questions you now know to ask in writing.
Note on sources: The information in this article comes from IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) and reports from the United States Department of Education, covering the most recent cycles and periods available at the time of consultation. Best College Aid does not represent D'Youville University or the United States government; this article does not constitute personalized admissions advice.