as required by the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities
Employment Rates | Degree Completion Rates | COISL Default Rates
Employment Rates
Survey of Graduates of 2021 (Survey year 2023)
Data Updated November 2024
| Program Category |
Waterloo 6 Months % |
Waterloo 2 Years % | System* 6 Months % | System* 2 Years % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture/Bio Science | 94.9% | 94.0% | 87.1% | 92.0% |
| Architecture/Landscape | 92.9% | X | 92.1% | 91.2% |
| Business & Commerce | 94.8% | 92.1% | 93.5% | 94.7% |
| Computer Science | 96.1% | 96.9% | 86.4% | 90.9% |
| Engineering | 95.7% | 96.1% | 88.7% | 93.6% |
| Fine & Applied Arts | X | X | 82.7% | 89.4% |
| Health Professions | 93.0% | 96.0% | 90.1% | 93.3% |
| Humanities | 92.9% | 90.2% | 89.7% | 92.9% |
| Kinesiology, Recreation & Phys Ed | 93.7% | 93.3% | 91.6% | 95.4% |
| Law | 95.0% | 95.0% | 95.9% | 95.5% |
| Mathematics | 90.4% | 97.6% | 87.6% | 91.9% |
| Optometry | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Other Arts & Science | 84.8% | 95.5% | 88.7% | 94.1% |
| Pharmacy | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 99.3% |
| Physical Science | 91.2% | 94.9% | 87.3% | 94.3% |
| Social Sciences | 91.4% | 94.3% | 88.6% | 93.5% |
| Theology | X | X | 95.7% | 92.6% |
| Overall Average | 93.6% | 94.9% | 90.6% | 94.1% |
*System (Ontario universities) overall averages include program categories that are not offered at the University of Waterloo.
Cell counts less-than or equal -to 10 are displayed as "x".
The employment rate is the number of employed persons expressed as a percentage of those persons who were employed, or unemployed but looking for work.
Ontario universities surveyed the 2021 graduates of undergraduate degree programs. Graduates were asked about their employment situation six months and two years after graduation.
For more information about career opportunities for University of Waterloo. graduates, visit Career Services.
Degree Completion Rates
For the 2015 Year-One Cohort
Data updated November 2024
| Program Category |
Waterloo % |
System* % |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture/Bio Sciences | 85.4% | 79.7% |
| Architecture/Landscape | 85.1% | 83.9% |
| Business & Commerce | 86.7% | 80.8% |
| Computer Science | 91.3% | 66.9% |
| Engineering | 90.4% | 82.0% |
| Kinesiology, Recreation & Phys Ed | 83.8% | 81.6% |
| Mathematics | 85.5% | 79.3% |
| Optometry | 97.8% | 97.8% |
| Other Arts and Science | 80.1% | 75.7% |
| Other Health Professions | 84.9% | 82.1% |
| Pharmacy | 99.2% | 96.9% |
| Physical Science | 77.2% | 68.9% |
| Social Sciences | 81.3% | 68.6% |
| Overall Average | 86.4% | 78.2% |
*System (Ontario universities) overall average includes program categories that are not offered at the University of Waterloo.
This table shows the percent of first-year students in September 2015 who received any University of Waterloo undergraduate degree by 2022. The program categories shown in the table are those from September 2015.
The degree completion rates shown are somewhat understated for the University of Waterloo. Students who study for one or two years at the University of Waterloo then transfer to a program at another university, for example medicine which the University of Waterloo does not offer, are computed as not receiving a degree at the University of Waterloo.
The Ministry of Colleges and Universities has calculated the degree completion rates shown in this table.
COISL Default Rates
2023 (Published June 2025)
System data by program not available
| Program Category | Waterloo % | System* % |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture/Bio Science | X | |
| Architecture/Landscape | 0.0% | |
| Business & Commerce | 0.2% | |
| Computer Science | 0.3% | |
| Engineering | 0.7% | |
| Fine and Applied Arts | X | |
| Humanities | X | |
| Kinesiology, Recreation & Phys Ed | X | |
| Law | X | |
| Mathematics | 0.0% | |
| Optometry | 0.0% | |
| Other Arts and Science | 1.4% | |
| Other Health Professions | X | |
| Pharmacy | 0.0% | |
| Social Sciences | 1.1% | |
| Theology | X | |
| Overall Average | 0.9% | 1.9% |
Canada-Ontario Integrated Student Loan Default Rate (COISL) includes those who defaulted on Canada Student Loans and Ontario Student Loans. The 2023 OSAP loan repayment measures reflect the repayment status of students who:
- were issued COISLs in the 2019-20 academic year, and
- completed or left their studies by 2020-21.
The default status of these loans was assessed as of July 2023, about two years after the 2019-20 academic year.
*System (Ontario universities) overall average includes program categories that are not offered at the University of Waterloo.
Loan recipient counts less-than or equal -to 10 are displayed as "x".
Waterloo provides information to students about financial aid through the Student Awards Office.
The work experience students receive as part of our co-operative education programs provide them with funding while studying and good jobs with good incomes after graduation. For more information about our co-op programs, visit the Co-op Education and Career Services website.
The Ministry of Colleges and Universities has calculated the OSAP (Ontario Student Assistance Program) default rates shown in this table.
RAP Usage Rates
The Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) provides help to borrowers having difficulty repaying their government student loans. If their RAP application is approved, either no payment is required, or the borrower qualifies for a reduced payment for six months.
The borrower’s family income (borrower, and spouse if applicable), family size and amount of student loan debt are used to determine eligibility.
2023 (Published June 2025)
| Program Category | Waterloo % | System* % |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture/Bio Science | X | |
| Architecture/Landscape | 8.0% | |
| Business & Commerce | 5.8% | |
| Computer Science | 1.9% | |
| Engineering | 4.3% | |
| Fine and Applied Arts | X | |
| Humanities | X | |
| Kinesiology, Recreation & Phys Ed | X | |
| Law | X | |
| Mathematics | 5.8% | |
| Optometry | 18.6% | |
| Other Arts and Science | 12.5% | |
| Other Health Professions | X | |
| Pharmacy | 6.8% | |
| Social Sciences | 26.6% | |
| Theology | X | |
| Overall Rate | 9.2% | 13.4% |
RAP Usage Rates - Ontario institutions
|
Ontario Institution |
2023 RAP Usage Rate |
|---|---|
| University of Waterloo | 9.2% |
| Queen's University | 8.5% |
| McMaster University | 9.2% |
| Nipissing University | 14.8% |
| University of Ottawa | 11.7% |
| University of Guelph | 11.7% |
| Western University | 11.8% |
| Brock University | 12.3% |
| Lakehead University | 13.9% |
| Wilfrid Laurier University | 14.5% |
| Laurentian University | 16.1% |
| Carleton University | 15.6% |
| University of Toronto | 12.6% |
| Trent University | 17.2% |
| University of Windsor | 17.4% |
| Ontario Tech University | 17.5% |
| York University | 16.8% |
| Toronto Metropolitan University | 14.4% |
| Ontario College of Art and Design | 21.2% |
*System (Ontario universities) overall average includes program categories that are not offered at the University of Waterloo.
Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) Usage Rates: the number of borrowers who used RAP for one or more terms expressed as a percentage of the number of loan recipients.
RAP usage counts less-than or equal -to 10 are displayed as "x".
Waterloo provides information to students about financial aid through the Student Awards Office.
The work experience students receive as part of our co-operative education programs provide them with funding while studying and good jobs with good incomes after graduation. For more information about our co-op programs, visit the Co-op Education and Career Services website.
The Ministry of Colleges and Universities has calculated the RAP rates.