Key Performance Indicators - University of Waterloo 2020

as required by the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities

Employment Rates | Degree Completion Rates | COISL Default Rates

Employment Rates

Survey of Graduates of 2017 (Survey year 2020)

Data Updated September 2021

Program Category

uWaterloo 6 Months %

uWaterloo 2 Years % System* 6 Months % System* 2 Years %
Agriculture/Bio Science 84.4% 91.9% 86.8% 93.3%
Architecture/Landscape 100% 100% 94.1% 95.5%
Business & Commerce 95.8% 99.3% 93.1% 97.1%
Computer Science 94.7% 97.3% 89.3% 95.2%
Engineering 94.3% 95.9% 87.6% 94.4%
Fine & Applied Arts 100% 100% 87.1% 93.1%
Health Professions 86.8% 95.1% 87.5% 94.2%
Humanities 93.6% 94.3% 89.9% 94.7%
Kinesiology, Recreation & Phys Ed 92.5% 95.7% 93.0% 96.0%
Law 88.2% 87.5% 96.3% 95.3%
Mathematics 90.6% 96.9% 88.4% 95.3%
Optometry 100% 100% 100% 100%
Other Arts & Science 90.2% 98.0% 89.0% 94.8%
Pharmacy 98.0% 100% 97.6% 99.4%
Physical Science 86.2% 92.9% 88.9% 92.9%
Social Sciences 95.1% 98.4% 89.5% 95.0%
Theology x x 92.9% 100%
Overall Average 93.3% 96.9% 90.8% 95.5%

*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 2017 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 2011 Year-One Cohort 

Data updated January 2020

Program Category

University of Waterloo %

System* %
Agriculture/Bio Sciences 82.1 76.9
Architecture/Landscape 90.5 88.3
Business & Commerce 84.8 78.7
Computer Science 78.7 63.3
Engineering 81.9 77.3
Kinesiology, Recreation & Phys Ed 81.0 81.2
Mathematics 81.0 73.6
Optometry 97.8 97.8
Other Arts and Science 74.0 73.1
Other Health Professions 86.3 82.3
Physical Science 76.9 68
Social Sciences 80.9 67.7
Overall Average 81.1 76.9

*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 2011 who received any University of Waterloo undergraduate degree by 2018. The program categories shown in the table are those from September 2011.

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

2019 (Published date: November 2020)

System data by program not available

Program Category University of Waterloo% System* %
Agriculture/Bio Science X  
Architecture/Landscape 0.0  
Business & Commerce 0.8  
Computer Science 0.0  
Engineering 0.0  
Fine and Applied Arts x  
Humanities x  
Kinesiology, Recreation & Phys Ed x  
Law x  
Mathematics 2.1  
Optometry 2.2  
Other Arts and Science 2.3  
Other Health Professions X  
Pharmacy 0.0  
Social Sciences 3.2  
Theology x  
Overall Average 1.4 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.