How Hard Is It to Get Into Ontario Universities? Easiest to Most Competitive

Ontario is home to some of Canada's most esteemed universities, each with its unique characteristics and varying levels of competitiveness for prospective students. Today, we will explore ten popular universities in Ontario, ranging from the most competitive to the relatively easier options in terms of admissions.

Measuring University Competitiveness: Essential Factors to Consider

We consider these to be the three most important metrics in understanding how competitive a certain university is. Just like we will do shortly, we’ve ranked each of these metrics in order of prevalence. 

• Acceptance Rate: This is the percentage of applicants who receive admission offers. A lower acceptance rate typically indicates higher competitiveness. A university with a low acceptance rate is more selective in choosing its students.
• Program Popularity: Some programs are more in-demand than others. A specific program or set of programs will often drive a university's competitiveness, especially those with limited slots that attract applicants globally. For example, the University of Toronto is widely recognized for its medicine programs, led by some of the best professors in the country. Aspiring physicians across the world apply to UofT's medicine program each year, but only a few spots are available. This program drastically impacts UofT’s overall acceptance rate. 
• Reputation: A university's prestige, often measured by its faculty, research output, and alumni success, significantly influences its selectivity. Institutions with strong reputations tend to draw applications from top-tier candidates worldwide, making it more and more competitive. 

10 Ontario Universities Ranked By Competitiveness and Acceptance Rates

Carleton University

• Location: Ottawa, Ontario
• Acceptance Rate: 21%
• Most Competitive Programs:
  • Engineering: For every student that applies to Carleton’s Engineering program, approximately 30 out of 100 are accepted. Its popularity is driven by a history of highly successful Engineering graduates. One of Carleton’s most notable Engineering alumni is Trevor Blackwell, who is currently making strides in revolutionary humanoid robotics. 
  • Journalism: Notable Journalism alumni include Arthur Kent, a Veteran Broadcast Journalist and Documentary Filmmaker, and Rosemary Barton, a Chief Political Correspondent at CBC. 
  • Architecture: With renowned faculty at the helm, Carleton’s architecture program is highly-sought after, known to provide the hands-on training students need to succeed straight into the workforce. 

University of Ottawa

• Location: Ottawa, Ontario
• Acceptance Rate: 40%
• Top Programs:
  • Computer Science: UofOttawa boasts a job placement rate of 100% post-graduation for students of their computer science program. Their computer science program is highly competitive with a required grade average of 90%+.
  • Health Sciences: With an approximately $500 million investment in their health and sciences programs, University of Ottawa is a leader in innovation and research for health sciences.
  • Engineering: From biomedical and chemical to civil and software engineering, University of Ottawa possesses some of Canada’s top-tier engineering faculty and programs. 

University of Toronto

• Location: Toronto, Ontario
• Acceptance Rate: 43%
• Top Programs:
  • Endocrinology and Metabolism: UofT ranks #3 in best universities for this specific program, only behind Harvard University and University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas. This division is ranked first in research productivity and impact, and boasts the largest subspecialty training program in the country.
  • Engineering: With an expected admission average between low to high 90s, the engineering program in UofT has a high cutoff average that attests to the competitiveness of the program. As one of the top engineering schools in Canada, it is well known for its broad range of programs and research areas.
  • Nursing: With an acceptance rate of 16%, this program under UofT is as competitive as it gets. With graduates highly sought after by employers, UofT’s program is promising for any aspiring nurse.

McMaster University

• Location: Hamilton, Ontario
• Acceptance Rate: 44%
• Top Programs: 
  • Health Science: The Health Science program in McMaster University is considered to be the most competitive in all of Canada. Their admission rate is between 5-10%, even if you meet the 90% admission requirement. That’s 1:10 even after the 90% average!
  • Computer Science: With a co-op program that partners with many big name companies, McMaster University is one of the top universities for this program. It boasts a 98% employment rate with their co-op course and promotes hands-on learning with their project-based design courses.
  • Business: With an acceptance rate of 65%, this program under McMaster University is evergreen in terms of popularity. Their most notable alumnus is Myron Scholes, a Nobel Prize laureate for his work in Economic Sciences.

University of Waterloo

• Location: Waterloo, Ontario
• Acceptance Rate: 53%
• Top Programs:
  • Engineering: As Canada’s largest engineering school, all programs under it are relatively competitive. With its distinctive co-op program, 86% of engineering graduates find employment as soon as 6 months after graduation. Its challenging courses and hands-on learning method create well rounded and highly competent engineers. Most of their programs place high in university rankings.
  • Computer Science: As 2nd best Canadian university for this computer science, the University of Waterloo stands among one of the highly rated and fiercely competitive schools for this program. 
  • Physics: As one of Canada’s largest and most innovative departments, their paid co-op program to any hard hitting institutions can give you leverage over other graduates. With a highly competent faculty (Nobel Prize winner Donna Strickland and Astrophysicist Avery Broderick) ready to support any of your needs, this program can provide many opportunities post-graduation.

Western University

• Location: London, Ontario
• Acceptance Rate: 58%
• Top Programs:
  • Engineering: As one of the consistently high-ranked programs in all of Canada and internationally, Western University offers high quality education that prepares students for success. 
  • Business: Dubbed as one of the best business schools in the country, their case-method learning process introduces real-world cases that expands outside of traditional lectures and notetaking.
  • Medical Science: With graduates that are highly sought after, this competitive program sets students up for success in Western University. One of the most popular features of this program is the research project where you work with a faculty member. This opportunity helps open more doors for your career after graduation.

University of Guelph

• Location: Guelph, Ontario
• Acceptance Rate: 66%
• Top Programs:
  • Agriculture: Guelph is known for its leading programs in agriculture, which leverage the city’s strong agricultural background to provide practical and research opportunities.
  • Food Science: This program integrates food chemistry, engineering, and nutrition, preparing students for careers in one of the largest industries in Canada.
  • Veterinary Medicine: Guelph offers one of the top veterinary programs in North America, renowned for its exceptional training and high employment rates for graduates.
  • Environmental Science: With increasing global focus on sustainability, this program prepares students to tackle pressing environmental issues through a multidisciplinary approach.

Nipissing University

• Location: North Bay, Ontario
• Acceptance Rate: 70%
• Top Programs:
  • Education: Known for its strong focus on teacher education, Nipissing offers various specialized programs that prepare graduates for a fulfilling career in teaching.
  • Criminal Justice: This program equips students with critical knowledge and skills regarding the criminal justice system, making it a competitive choice for aspiring legal professionals.
  • Social Work: Nipissing’s social work program is respected for its comprehensive curriculum and emphasis on practical experience.

Toronto Metropolitan University

• Location: Toronto, Ontario
• Acceptance Rate: 80%
• Top Programs:
  • Public Health: With an emphasis on community health and social determinants of health, this program prepares students for diverse careers in public health sectors.
  • Communication and Media Studies: This program focuses on media theory, media production, and communication skills, making it a popular choice for aspiring media professionals.
  • Journalism: Training students in various aspects of journalism, including investigative reporting and digital media, TMU’s program is designed to produce versatile journalists prepared for the evolving industry.

Lakehead University

• Location: Toronto, Ontario
• Acceptance Rate: 83%
• Top Programs:
  • Education: Lakehead offers various programs in education, focusing on innovative teaching methods and community engagement.
  • Engineering: The engineering program at Lakehead is tailored toward hands-on learning, preparing students for careers in various engineering disciplines.
  • Nursing: The nursing program is highly regarded for its clinical experiences and commitment to producing competent and compassionate healthcare providers.