Key Performance Indicators - University of Waterloo 2018

as required by the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities (MCU)

Employment Rates | Degree Completion Rates | COISL Default Rates

Employment Rates

Survey of Graduates of 2015 (Survey Year 2017)

Data updated January 2020

Program Category

uWaterloo 6 Months %

uWaterloo 2 Years % System* 6 Months % System* 2 Years %
Agriculture/Bio Science 74.3 94.3 83.8 92.4
Architecture/Landscape 100 100 88.2 96.8
Business & Commerce 93.1 97.0 90.6 95.8
Computer Science 94.4 98.2 89.0 95.6
Engineering 90.2 95.1 85.0 93.6
Fine & Applied Arts 95.2 95.2 87.1 94.0
Health Professions 75.0 96.6 85.2 92.8
Humanities 95.1 97.8 88.4 94.2
Kinesiology, Recreation & Phys Ed 90.6 93.5 91.4 93.9
Law 92.6 86.7 92.1 93.7
Mathematics 84.4 95.7 86.2 95.5
Optometry 100 100 100 100
Other Arts & Science 87.4 93.6 85.6 92.5
Pharmacy 95.6 100 97.0 99.4
Physical Science 100 93.1 89.1 92.1
Social Sciences 88.4 93.4 86.9 93.8
Theology 100 100 90.6 94.4
Overall Average 89.6 95.2 88.3 94.6

*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 2015 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 2009 Year-One Cohort 

Data updated January 2020

Program Category

University of Waterloo %

System* %
Agriculture/Bio Sciences 79.9 76.8
Architecture/Landscape 86.1 85.3
Business & Commerce 81.9 79.2
Computer Science 75.9 61.6
Engineering 82.0 77.8
Kinesiology, Recreation & Phys Ed 80.9 81.0
Mathematics 80.8 76.1
Optometry 100 100
Other Arts and Science 76.3 72.3
Other Health Professions 85.3 82.7
Physical Science 74.2 67.4
Social Sciences 84.3 68.8
Overall Average 80.8 77.1

*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 2009 who received any University of Waterloo undergraduate degree by 2016. The program categories shown in the table are those from September 2009.

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

2017 Defulat Rates

System data by program not yet available

Program Category University of Waterloo % System* %
Agriculture/Bio Science    
Architecture/Landscape 2.0  
Business & Commerce 0.0  
Computer Science 1.0  
Engineering 0.0  
Fine and Applied Arts    
Humanities    
Kinesiology, Recreation & Phys Ed 2.0  
Law    
Mathematics 0.0  
Optometry 0.0  
Other Arts and Science 2.0  
Other Health Professions 0.0  
Pharmacy 0.0  
Physical Science    
Social Sciences 0.0  
Theology x  
Overall Average 1.3 3.0

*System (Ontario universities) overall average includes program categories that are not offered at the University of Waterloo.

Cell counts less-than or equal -to 10 are displayed as "x".

COISL - Canada-Ontario Integrated Student Loan Default Rate includes those who defaulted on Canada Student Loans and Ontario Student Loans.

uWaterloo 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.