The best universities in Canada have reputations for academic excellence, especially among international students. They also have a wide range of opportunities both for undergraduate and postgraduate students. So, if you want to pursue a dream program at a Canadian school ranked highly, this article can help. Keep reading to see our compiled list of the best schools in Canada.
What Attracts Students to Universities in Canada?
Canadian universities offer an attractive mix of linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Students get to broaden their horizons with world-class education and exposure to different personalities. Top universities like McGill University and McMaster University are also well-known for their competitive and comprehensive programs in engineering and medicine.
Canada Schools Ranked: An Overview
| Canada Rank | World Rank on Times Higher Education | World Rank on US News | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18 | 16 | University of Toronto |
| 2 | 37 | 35 | University of British Columbia |
| 3 | 44 | 51 | McGill University |
| 4 | 80 | 133 | McMaster University |
| 5 | 88 | 151 | University of Montreal |
| 6 | 125 | 135 | University of Alberta |
| 7 | 162 | 199 | University of Ottawa |
| 8 | 201-250 | 169 | University of Calgary |
| 9 | 201-250 | 199 | University of Waterloo |
| 10 | 201-250 | 294 | Western University |
The Best Universities in Canada, Explained
To help you with your university search in Canada, we provide an overview of each university in our list of the best Canadian schools below. Their comprehensive university programs, education requirements, and other information were primarily sourced from the universities’ official websites.
University of Toronto
- Campus Location(s): Toronto, Ontario
- Acceptance Rate: 43%
- Graduation Rate: 79%
- US News Country Rank: #16
University of Toronto is famous for discovering insulin in 1921-1922. Since then, it has become the dream school for many because of its excellent global and local college rankings. Students are free to choose from a range of academic programs, be they undergraduate and postgraduate programs or even coding bootcamps. To be accepted into the university, students must have a minimum SAT score of 1330 and a minimum ACT score of 29.
University of British Columbia
- Campus Location(s): Vancouver, British Columbia
- Acceptance Rate: 46%
- Graduation Rate: 76%
- US News Country Rank: #35
University of British Columbia (UBC) has over 60,000 students enrolled in its programs. It is well-known for its competitive research projects, where 235 companies spun off from UBC’s research. To be enrolled in UBC’s online and on-campus degree programs, it is best to have a minimum SAT score of 1600.
McGill University
- Campus Location(s): Montreal, Quebec
- Acceptance Rate: 47%
- Graduation Rate: 85%
- US News Country Rank: #51
Over a century of excellence in art and educational history has elevated the culture at McGill University, propelling this school to set up a Heritage Advisory Committee in 2002. Studying here not only offers a good college experience but also great career planning service support. To be enrolled in any of its academic programs, students must have a minimum SAT score of 730 and a minimum ACT score of 33.
McMaster University
- Campus Location(s): Hamilton, Ontario
- Acceptance Rate: 59%
- Graduation Rate: 79%
- US News Country Rank: #133
Your college search will most likely lead you to McMaster University if your dream is to study in a research-intensive academic program. This school is one of the leading Ontario tech universities, with an academic environment that also provides accessibility to people with disabilities. A minimum SAT score of 1200 is required to study here.
University of Montreal
- Campus Location(s): Montreal, Quebec
- Acceptance Rate: 50%
- Graduation Rate: 81%
- US News Country Rank: #151
University of Montreal, also known as Université de Montréal, is a popular French-speaking institute for research in Canada. Its part of different university ranking lists, from being the second-largest university in Canada in terms of graduates and 37th worldwide in terms of graduate employability. The minimum requirement for SAT score here is 1400.
University of Alberta
- Campus Location(s): Edmonton, Alberta
- Acceptance Rate: 58%
- Graduation Rate: 79%
- US News Country Ranking: #135
Established in 1908, University of Alberta is one of the highest-ranked schools known for research and discovery. This university offers high-quality undergraduate and graduate programs. It’s also known for excellence in its arts and sciences, engineering, and business schools. The University of Alberta requires a minimum SAT score of 1200 and a minimum ACT score of 26 for admission.
University of Ottawa
- Campus Location(s): Ottawa, Ontario
- Acceptance Rate: 42%
- Graduation Rate: 77%
- US News Country Rank: #199
University of Ottawa is one of Canada’s esteemed research institutions and medical schools for applied sciences. Its graduates are mostly scientific community leaders in various medical practices, such as cardiovascular and mental health. This school accepts a minimum SAT score of 900 and a minimum ACT score of 18 in its college admissions process.
University of Calgary
- Campus Location(s): Calgary, Alberta
- Acceptance Rate: 15%
- Graduation Rate: 78%
- US News Country Rank: #169
The prestigious University of Calgary is a public research university founded in 1966. It has five campuses and 14 faculties that offer over 250 undergraduate and postgraduate programs for students. This university has a high graduate employment rate at 94 percent, with 80 percent of employed graduates working in fields related to their discipline of studies. It requires a minimum SAT score of 1190.
University of Waterloo
- Campus Location(s): Waterloo, Ontario
- Acceptance Rate: 53%
- Graduation Rate: 79.6%
- US News Country Rank: #199
University of Waterloo, founded in 1957, admits a good number of international and Canadian students for its programs from the undergraduate to the doctoral level. Its engineering and water research efforts have been recognized in various university rankings. This university accepts a minimum SAT score of 1230 for admissions.
Western University
- Campus Location(s): London, Ontario
- Acceptance Rate: 58%
- Graduation Rate: 87%
- US News Country Rank: #294
Western University is a public research university established in 1878 known for its contributions not only to research but also to education and healthcare. It has over 270,000 graduates serving different roles such as university faculty, scientist, and executive in 160 countries. This university has a reasonable admission rate and accepts a minimum SAT score of 1200.
How We Created Our List of the Best Schools in Canada
In order to create our list, we followed the Times Higher Education 2022 World University Rankings. This ranking was created by evaluating teaching, research, citations, international outlook, and industry outcomes of over 1,600 institutions from around the world. Complementary information was retrieved from the US News Best National University Rankings.
Is a Top University in Canada Right for You?
Yes, a top university in Canada is right for you. The top universities in Canada have a flexible study environment in different fields, apart from their research-intensive degree programs. They have affordable tuition rates, and the average cost of living in Canada is also reasonable for students.
Students in Canada can also work to support their educational studies. Additionally, universities in Canada provide a veterans bursary program for eligible applicants to reduce study expenses. After completing their studies, graduates also have a high probability of employment based on these top universities’ statistics.
Best Universities in Canada FAQ
The general requirements for Canadian university applications are English language proficiency and qualified SAT scores. However, Universities in Canada have different policies regarding college admission requirements for any university faculty. You can get more information about the requirements regarding your program from the official website of the school you wish to apply to.
Yes, there are different online programs for international students. All you need to do is check your desired college or university’s website and browse their available online programs.
Yes, public and private universities in Canada are different. The government’s educational body monitors Canadian public universities. In contrast, their private counterparts are independent of the province’s educational body.
According to the US News & World Report rankings, the best University in Canada is the University of Toronto. However, there are other universities in the list above from which you can choose based on your field of interest, budget, and other study preferences.
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