Key Performance Indicators - University of Waterloo 2017

as required by the Ontario Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development

Employment Rates | Degree Completion Rates | COISL Default Rates

Employment Rates

Survey of Graduates of 2014 (Survey Year 2016)

Data updated October, 2017

Program Category

uWaterloo 6 Months %

uWaterloo 2 Years % System* 6 Months % System* 2 Years %
Agriculture/Bio Science 68.8 86.6 82.0 89.9
Architecture/Landscape 95.2 100.0 86.0 98.0
Business & Commerce 89.5 99.4 89.6 94.9
Computer Science 96.1 99.2 90.4 95.2
Engineering 86.2 97.4 84.4 94.1
Fine & Applied Arts 90.9 92.6 87.8 94.3
Health Professions 73.3 91.9 84.8 93.7
Humanities 88.6 97.2 89.4 93.0
Kinesiology, Recreation & Phys Ed 93.0 97.1 90.8 95.0
Law 80.0 93.1 93.8 93.3
Mathematics 87.4 96.6 86.8 93.9
Optometry 100.0 97.8 100.0 97.8
Other Arts & Science 81.7 93.6 84.5 91.3
Pharmacy 91.3 100.0 93.1 98.4
Physical Science 66.7 81.8 81.7 92.9
Social Sciences 84.8 94.5 86.0 92.4
Theology   x   x 95.7 92.6
Overall Average 86.4 95.9 88.0 94.0

*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 2014 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 2008 Year-One Cohort (Published 2017)

Data updated October 2017

Program Category

University of Waterloo %

System* %
Agriculture/Bio Sciences 79.4 76.8
Architecture/Landscape 86.1 85.4
Business & Commerce 83.3 78.7
Computer Science 69.4 62.8
Engineering 84.7 77.7
Kinesiology, Recreation & Phys Ed 81.1 81
Mathematics 83.0 76.1
Optometry 100.0 100
Other Arts and Science 75.2 73.1
Other Health Professions 82.9 81.1
Physical Science 74.4 64.9
Social Sciences 83.5 69.2
Overall Average 81.1 77.2

*System (Ontario universities) overall average includes program categories that are not offered at the University of Waterloo. System data for the 2008 Cohort is not yet available.

This table shows the percent of first-year students in September 2008 who received any University of Waterloo undergraduate degree by 2015. The program categories shown in the table are those from September 2008.

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, say medicine, which the University of Waterloo does not offer, are computed as not receiving a degree at the University of Waterloo.

The Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development has calculated the degree completion rates shown in this table.

COISL Default Rates

2016 (Published 2018)

Data not yet available

Program Category University of Waterloo % System* %
Agriculture/Bio Science  x 2.5
Architecture/Landscape 0.0 1.4
Business & Commerce 0.7 1.9
Computer Science 0.0 2.8
Engineering 0.8 1.6
Fine and Applied Arts  x 4.6
Humanities  x 4.8
Kinesiology, Recreation & Phys Ed 2.4 2.4
Law  x 0.7
Mathematics 0.4 0.6
Optometry 0.0 0
Other Arts and Science 2.1 4.9
Other Health Professions 0.0 1.7
Physical Science  x 2.8
Social Sciences 0.0 4.5
Theology  x 6.5
Overall Average 1.3 3.3

*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 Advanced Education and Skills Development has calculated the OSAP (Ontario Student Assistance Program) default rates shown in this table.