Key Performance Indicators - University of Waterloo 2019

as required by the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities

Employment Rates | Degree Completion Rates | COISL Default Rates

Employment Rates

Survey of Graduates of 2016 (Survey Year 2018)

Data updated January 2020

Program Category

uWaterloo 6 Months %

uWaterloo 2 Years % System* 6 Months % System* 2 Years %
Agriculture/Bio Science 81.0 92.2 83.8 94.6
Architecture/Landscape 100 83.3 90.5 94.1
Business & Commerce 90.3 98.7 91.0 96.6
Computer Science 93.0 97.8 85.2 97.0
Engineering 91.8 96.0 87.3 94.9
Fine & Applied Arts 86.7 100 86.5 93.8
Health Professions 83.3 96.6 83.6 93.2
Humanities 93.3 100 89.1 93.7
Kinesiology, Recreation & Phys Ed 89.3 90.6 92.1 94.4
Law 83.3 93.3 95.2 95.3
Mathematics 90.7 94.5 85.5 94.5
Optometry 97.1 97.1 97.1 97.1
Other Arts & Science 87.9 94.9 88.4 95.6
Pharmacy 95.3 95.6 91.2 97.7
Physical Science 89.3 89.3 86.3 91.2
Social Sciences 86.4 95.3 88.8 94.5
Theology 100 100 88.0 100
Overall Average 89.7 95.6 89.1 95.2

*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 2016 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 2010 Year-One Cohort 

Data updated January 2020

Program Category

University of Waterloo %

System* %
Agriculture/Bio Sciences 77.3 78.1
Architecture/Landscape 90.4 85.9
Business & Commerce 83.4 78.1
Computer Science 78.0 63.9
Engineering 82.8 77.9
Kinesiology, Recreation & Phys Ed 84.1 82.0
Mathematics 82.0 74.7
Optometry 98.9 98.9
Other Arts and Science 75.2 72.9
Other Health Professions 80.5 81.4
Physical Science 71.9 64.6
Social Sciences 78.3 67.6
Overall Average 80.6 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 2010 who received any University of Waterloo undergraduate degree by 2017. The program categories shown in the table are those from September 2010.

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

2018 (Published 2020)

System data by program not yet available

Program Category University of Waterloo % System* %
Agriculture/Bio Science X  
Architecture/Landscape 0.0  
Business & Commerce 0.2  
Computer Science 0.4  
Engineering 0.3  
Fine and Applied Arts x  
Humanities x  
Kinesiology, Recreation & Phys Ed 0.8  
Law x  
Mathematics 1.0  
Optometry 0.0  
Other Arts and Science 1.1  
Other Health Professions x  
Pharmacy 1.0  
Social Sciences 1.1  
Theology x  
Overall Average 0.7 2.8

*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.