Students from 120 countries choose Waterloo each year because of our reputation as one of North America's top universities. Many of our undergraduate programs (for high school and transfer students) and our graduate programs rank among the best in the world.
2ndin Canada for most innovative universityMaclean's 2024 university rankings
3rdfor best overall university in the countryMaclean's 2024 university rankings
4thin Canada (tie)Times Higher Education World University Reputation Rankings 2024
#2 in Canada for connecting students with employersMeet employers and explore careers before you graduate through co-op work terms, career fairs, job search workshops, and one-on-one support.QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022
#1in Canada for environmental science and engineeringAcademic Ranking of World Universities 2023
#1in Canada for physicsAcademic Ranking of World Universities 2023
#1in Canada for hospitality and tourism managementAcademic Ranking of World Universities 2023
#1in Canada for computer science and engineeringAcademic Ranking of World Universities 2022
#1in Canada for remote sensingAcademic Ranking of World Universities 2023
#1in Canada for mechanical engineeringAcademic Ranking of World Universities 2023
#1 in Canada for graduate employment rateQS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022
Canada's #1 comprehensive research university for the past 14 yearsResearch InfoSource 2022
#1 in Canadafor hands-on experiential learningMaclean's Student Voices Survey 2022
Nobel Prize in Physics
Physics and Astronomy professor Donna Strickland earned a Nobel Prize in Physics for her breakthrough work on chirped pulse amplification in lasers which helped develop technology such as eye surgery, laser printers, and scanners used in retail stores.
Dr. Strickland became only the third woman in history to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics.
44th in the world for engineeringUS News Global University Rankings 2022-23
51st in the world for computer scienceUS News Global University Rankings 2022-23
3rdin Canada for computer scienceQS World University Rankings 2023
2ndin Canada for electrical engineeringQS World University Rankings 2023
4thin Canada for environmental sciencesQS World University Rankings 2023
4thin Canada for physics and astronomyQS World University Rankings 2023
4thin Canada for geographyQS World University Rankings 2023
Top 10 in the worldfor research on ending poverty and hungerTimes Higher Education’s University Impact Rankings 2023
Top 50 in the worldfor sustainable cities and communitiesTimes Higher Education’s University Impact Rankings 2023
Waterloo... has long been one of our top 3 recruiting universities for Google as a whole, worldwide.
7th overall in Canada QS World University Rankings 2023
4th in Canadafor highest quality Maclean's 2024 university rankings
A community focused on education
With more than 50,000 university and college students, one of the youngest populations in Canada, and internationally-recognized think tanks, Waterloo Region is a great place to study and live.
Top 10 in the worldfor research on ending poverty and hungerTimes Higher Education’s University Impact Rankings 2023
Top 50 in the worldfor sustainable cities and communitiesTimes Higher Education’s University Impact Rankings 2023
