Best Universities in Ontario (2026): How to Get In

Ontario is home to the most competitive admissions race in Canada. A record 168,919 applicants submitted more than 800,000 applications to Ontario universities for fall 2026 entry, according to the Ontario Universities' Application Centre. That works out to nearly five applications per student.

Why so many? Because the province has an unusual concentration of Canada's strongest schools.

This guide ranks Ontario's best universities for 2026, shows you the entering averages you're up against, and walks you through how to earn a spot at your top choice.

Where These Rankings Come From

Most university rankings are built on reputation surveys. This one isn't.

In The Maple List, AdmissionPrep's Canadian school finder, every school is scored on verified, publicly sourced outcomes: first-year retention, graduation rates, and graduate employment. Each figure is cited to an official source, and estimates are labelled as estimates.

You can read the full scoring model on the methodology page. No school paid to appear, and no number is invented.

Here's what that data says about Ontario in 2026.

The 10 Best Universities in Ontario (2026)

Data via The Maple List, June 2026. Averages marked with ~ are Maple List estimates because the school does not publish a single admitted average. Ranges reflect variation by program.

A ranking only tells you so much, though. What matters is the fit between your goals and each school's strengths. Here's a closer look at the top five.

1. University of Toronto

Canada's highest-ranked university, and the hardest one to generalize about. UofT admits by faculty and college, so requirements vary widely between Rotman Commerce, Engineering Science, and the Faculty of Arts and Science.

The typical entering average sits around 91 percent, and competitive programs expect more. UofT received over 111,000 undergraduate applications in 2023, which tells you everything about the level of competition.

Want the full breakdown? Read the complete UofT admissions guide, then check UofT's report card on The Maple List for its verified outcomes.

2. Queen's University

Queen's pairs strong academics with the tightest alumni network in the country. Its entering averages run 82 to 91 percent depending on the program, with Commerce and Health Sciences at the top of that band.

Queen's received over 59,000 undergraduate applications for 2025-26, the largest volume in its history. For the programs that require it, the Supplementary Application is where admitted students separate themselves.

Be precise here, because it varies by program. Only Commerce, Health Sciences, and Nursing require it, and each asks for one written response and one video response. For every other program, the Personal Statement of Experience is optional but recommended, and Queen's reads it when an applicant falls in a critical range.

Here's where to start: the Queen's admissions guide covers the full application, and Queen's report card shows the outcome data behind its rank.

3. Western University

Western earns its spot with a documented 91 percent entering average and standout graduate outcomes. It's also home to the Ivey AEO pathway, which lets top Grade 12 students secure conditional pre-admission to one of Canada's premier business schools. Weighing business routes? See how Canada's best business programs compare.

Thinking about Western? The Western admissions guide breaks down the application, and Western's report card has the sourced numbers.

4. University of Waterloo

Waterloo is Canada's engineering and computer science powerhouse, built around the largest co-op program in the world. Its typical entering average is around 90 percent, but for flagship programs like computer science the competitive range runs well above that.

Waterloo's Admission Information Form (AIF) is the make-or-break piece most applicants underestimate. The Waterloo AIF guide shows you exactly how to approach it, and Waterloo's report card covers the school's verified outcomes.

5. McMaster University

McMaster is best known for Health Sciences, one of the most selective undergraduate programs in Canada. Entering averages range from 86 to 96 percent across the university, with Health Sciences at the higher end.

The McMaster admissions guide covers every program tier, and McMaster's report card shows how its outcomes compare.

Curious how these schools stack up outside Ontario? Browse the full Canadian rankings or compare every university by entering grade.

If you're building a shortlist right now and want expert eyes on it, AdmissionPrep's advisors work with families on exactly this. Spots fill through the school year, so join the program waitlist early.

What Average Do You Actually Need?

Here's the uncomfortable truth: the published minimum and the real competitive average are two different numbers.

An Ontario university might list a low-80s minimum for a program whose admitted students average 90 or higher. The table above shows typical entering averages, but competitive programs at UofT, Waterloo, and McMaster routinely admit in the mid-90s.

So what does that mean for you? Two things.

First, know your target band. Look up your specific program, not just the university. The Maple List's entering-grade comparison lets you see every Canadian university side by side, and this breakdown of what average you need for university in Canada explains how to read those numbers.

Second, understand that grades are the entry ticket, not the whole application. Once you clear the academic bar, supplementary applications decide who gets in.

How to Stand Out Beyond Grades

Ontario's top programs use supplementary applications precisely because so many applicants have identical marks. Every one of these requirements is program-specific. Waterloo has the AIF for all Engineering programs, all programs in the Faculty of Mathematics, and select professional or specialized programs. Queen's runs a Supplementary Application for Commerce, Health Sciences, and Nursing. Western has the Ivey AEO application. UofT has supplemental applications for programs like Rotman Commerce and Computer Science.

They all ask the same underlying question: who are you beyond your transcript?

Here's how to answer it well.

1. Build depth, not breadth. Three activities with real responsibility and growth beat ten memberships. Admissions readers can spot padding instantly.

2. Use the STAR method. Structure each experience as Situation, Task, Action, Result. It forces you to show impact instead of listing duties.

3. Write like yourself. Supplementary readers go through thousands of responses. The ones that land sound like a real student, not a thesaurus.

4. Start earlier than feels necessary. The students with the strongest applications built their profiles over years, as early as Grade 9. Grade 11 is the critical planning year: course selection, extracurricular leadership, and early essay drafts all happen there.

Want a deeper dive on essays? The guide to writing a standout university essay walks through the techniques.

Pro Tip: Universities can see your Grade 11 marks on your OUAC application, and early offers often lean on them. If your Grade 11 year was rocky, read our guide on how far back universities look at your grades and start repairing now.

A Note for Parents

Watching your child navigate this process is stressful, especially when every school seems to want something different.

The most useful thing you can do is help them start early. The families who feel calm in Grade 12 are the ones who mapped course requirements in Grade 10 and 11, visited campuses before deadlines loomed, and treated the supplementary applications as a summer project rather than a December scramble.

If you'd like a professional read on where your child stands, AdmissionPrep's advisors do this every day. Our program operates on a capped intake because every scholar works 1-on-1 with an Educator, so the waitlist is worth joining sooner rather than later.

FAQ: Ontario Universities

What is the best university in Ontario?

The University of Toronto ranks first in Ontario on The Maple List's 2026 outcome-based rankings, followed by Queen's, Western, Waterloo, and McMaster. The best school for you depends on your program: Waterloo leads for engineering and computer science co-op, while McMaster's Health Sciences is Canada's most selective pre-med pathway.

What average do you need for Ontario universities?

Typical entering averages at Ontario's top five universities range from the low 80s to the mid 90s depending on the program. Competitive programs like Waterloo Engineering, McMaster Health Sciences, and UofT's direct-entry faculties routinely admit students in the 90s.

How many universities are in Ontario?

Ontario has more than 20 publicly funded universities. The Maple List ranks the ten most prominent research universities, from the University of Toronto to Carleton University.

Do Ontario universities look at Grade 11 marks?

Yes. Grade 11 finals appear on your OUAC application, and universities use them for early offers before final Grade 12 marks arrive. Strong Grade 11 marks can secure an early acceptance.

Is it harder to get into university in Ontario now?

Application volume hit an all-time high for fall 2026 entry: 168,919 applicants submitted over 800,000 applications, per OUAC. More applicants for roughly the same seats means supplementary applications and essays matter more than ever.

Which Ontario university is easiest to get into?

Entering averages at Carleton, York, and Guelph start lower (in the 70s for some programs) than at UofT or Waterloo. But "easiest" varies by program: a competitive program at York can demand more than a less competitive one at Queen's.

Your Move

Ontario's top universities received more than 800,000 applications for fall 2026 entry. Eight-hundred-thousand. Every one of those applicants believes they belong at UofT, Queen's, Western, Waterloo, or McMaster.

The students who get in are the ones who treat admissions like the competition it is: right courses, right average, and a supplementary application that actually says something.

AdmissionPrep works with ambitious scholars who want to increase their odds at exactly these schools. If that sounds like you, start with our Program Assessment to see where you stand. And because our Educators take on a limited number of scholars each year, apply to the program waitlist to secure your place in line.

Ontario built these universities to find students with drive, curiosity, and something real to say. Show them yours, and maybe we'll see you on campus next fall.