Top 10 Universities in Canada For 2025: If you’re aiming to pursue higher education in Canada, staying informed about university rankings is key.

Maclean’s 2025 university rankings highlight the top institutions in three categories:

• Comprehensive Universities,
• Primarily Undergraduate Universities, and
• Medical Doctoral Universities.

Whether you’re looking for a comprehensive, undergraduate-focused, or research-intensive university, these rankings can guide your academic journey.

Here’s a detailed look at the top 10 universities in each category for 2025.

Top 10 Medical Doctoral Universities for 2025

These universities offer a wide range of PhD programs and have medical schools, with a strong emphasis on research.

1. McGill University, Montreal Quebec: Internationally recognized in Global ranking at 56th position and third top Canadian university tops the ranking on Macleans new list. McGill excels in medicine, law, and science.
2. University of Toronto: Ranked at number 17th on global rankings, Macleans ranks U of T at #2. It is known for groundbreaking research, U of T remains a global leader in academia.
3. University of British Columbia (UBC): Globally ranked at 39th, UBC ends at #3 on Maclean’s rankings. UBC’s excellence spans multiple fields, especially environmental sciences and medicine.
4. McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario: Ranked at #4 best Canadian university, McMaster is celebrated for its problem-based learning in health sciences and medicine.
5. University of Ottawa: The University of Ottawa is the largest bilingual (English-French) university in the world, offering programs in both languages.
6. University of Alberta: Prominent in research across agriculture, energy, and health sciences.
   • 7. Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario: Ranking ties with Dalhousie University. Queen’s offer strong programs in engineering and business, with an active alumni network.Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia: Known for its ocean sciences and law programs is home to 56 Canada Research Chairs.
7. Université de Montréal: A top choice for Francophone students, it offers strong programs in medicine and the arts.
8. University of Calgary: A leader in business innovation and energy-related research.
9. Western University, London, Ontario: Western excels in business and health sciences, especially in neuroscience.

Top 10 Comprehensive Universities in Canada 2025

Comprehensive universities are known for their wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs, with a significant focus on research.

Below is a quick look at the top 10 comprehensive universities for 2025:

1. Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC: Noted for its interdisciplinary approach, SFU excels in research innovation and co-op education programs.
2. University of Victoria, B.C.: Strong in climate research, UVic offers leading programs in ocean science and social sciences.
3. University of Waterloo, Ontario: Famed for engineering and co-op placements, Waterloo maintains its excellence in tech-related fields.
4. Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario: Known for journalism and public affairs, Carleton ranks high in research funding in the social sciences.
5. York University, Toronto, Ontario: offers diverse programs and a vibrant campus life in Toronto, focusing on liberal arts and business.
6. University of Guelph, Ontario: exceptional in veterinary sciences and environmental studies, Guelph is student-centred.
7. Memorial University of Newfoundland offers more than 300 diploma, certificate, degree, and graduate programs.
8. University of New Brunswick: A leader in business and innovation, UNB fosters entrepreneurship through its programming.
9. Toronto Metropolitan University, formerly Ryerson University, offers graduate and undergraduate degree programs in more than 125 disciplines.
10. Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec: Popular for arts and design, Concordia supports hands-on learning with community connections.

Top 10 Primarily Undergraduate Universities in Canada 2025

These universities prioritize undergraduate teaching and provide fewer graduate programs and graduate students.

1. Mount Allison University, Sackville, New Brunswick: Known for its intimate learning environment, it continues to top the undergraduate rankings.
2. UNBC (University of Northern British Columbia): Located in Prince George, B.C., offers innovative programs focused on sustainability and community development.
3. Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, Nova Scotia: It has a strong international community, with almost 1/3rd of its students hailing from more than 110 countries.
4. Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia: Strong in research for a smaller institution, particularly in sciences and business.
5. Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario: Focuses on research in health sciences and social innovation.
6. Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario: exceptional in environmental studies and liberal arts education.
   • 7. The University of Prince Edward Island: located in the capital city of Charlottetown, has nine faculties, including veterinary medicine, business, nursing, and the faculty of Indigenous knowledge, education, research, and applied studies.Ontario Tech University, Oshawa, Ontario: offers advancement in technology with more than 80 specialized research facilities and laboratories.
7. Bishop’s University, Lennoxville (Sherbrooke), Quebec: A small liberal arts institution focused on personalized education.
8. St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia: excelled in community service learning and student satisfaction.
9. University of Lethbridge, Alberta: The institution has specialist disciplines in Lethbridge and downtown Calgary, and classrooms are small enough for undergrads to participate in instructors’ research.

Each of these institutions stands out for its unique strengths, from research excellence to community engagement and student experience.

These top 10 universities reflect the strength and diversity of Canada’s education system in 2025.

With a mix of innovation, research excellence, and student support systems, each university offers unique advantages for prospective students.

The rankings underscore the growing competitiveness among institutions across different categories, including those focused on undergraduate education and research-intensive doctoral programs.