Key Performance Indicators - University of Waterloo 2022

as required by the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities

Employment Rates | Degree Completion Rates | COISL Default Rates

Employment Rates

Survey of Graduates of 2019 (Survey year 2022)

Data Updated March 2023

Program Category

uWaterloo 6 Months %

uWaterloo 2 Years % System* 6 Months % System* 2 Years %
Agriculture/Bio Science 86.0% 96.8% 85.9% 92.3%
Architecture/Landscape 100.0% 100.0% 90.4% 88.9%
Business & Commerce 95.4% 98.1% 92.8% 95.7%
Computer Science 91.4% 98.5% 88.3% 95.6%
Engineering 89.9% 94.8% 86.6% 94.2%
Fine & Applied Arts 75.0% 87.5% 86.5% 90.2%
Health Professions 92.5% 98.1% 88.5% 95.4%
Humanities 86.8% 97.5% 89.7% 92.4%
Kinesiology, Recreation & Phys Ed 98.6% 97.1% 94.7% 95.6%
Law 85.7% 93.8% 94.7% 94.8%
Mathematics 89.9% 95.3% 90.2% 91.9%
Optometry 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
Other Arts & Science 87.5% 88.0% 88.1% 91.5%
Pharmacy 98.2% 100.0% 98.9% 99.4%
Physical Science 75.0% 100.0% 85.7% 96.6%
Social Sciences 90.5% 90.9% 88.9% 92.8%
Theology 100.0% 100.0% 88.9% 92.9%
Overall Average 91.3% 95.5% 90.4% 94.3%

*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 2019 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 2013 Year-One Cohort 

Data updated March 2023

Program Category

University of Waterloo %

System* %
Agriculture/Bio Sciences 79.9% 77.6%
Architecture/Landscape 94.6% 87.9%
Business & Commerce 84.1% 79.8%
Computer Science 86.5% 63.8%
Engineering 90.3% 79.1%
Kinesiology, Recreation & Phys Ed 78.8% 78.7%
Mathematics 82.1% 76.2%
Optometry 96.7% 96.7%
Other Arts and Science 75.7% 74.6%
Other Health Professions 85.0% 82.6%
Pharmacy 98.3% 97.1%
Physical Science 75.1% 66.6%
Social Sciences 80.5% 68.1%
Overall Average 83.8% 77.5%

*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 2013 who received any University of Waterloo undergraduate degree by 2020. The program categories shown in the table are those from September 2013.

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

2021 (July 4, 2023)

System data by program not available

Program Category University of Waterloo% System* %
Agriculture/Bio Science X  
Architecture/Landscape 0.0%  
Business & Commerce 0.2%  
Computer Science 0.3%  
Engineering 0.1%  
Fine and Applied Arts 0.0%  
Humanities X  
Kinesiology, Recreation & Phys Ed X  
Law X  
Mathematics 0.0%  
Optometry 0.0%  
Other Arts and Science 1.1%  
Other Health Professions X  
Pharmacy 0.0%  
Social Sciences 0.0%  
Theology X  
Overall Average 0.6% 1.8%

*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".

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.