The University of Waterloo’s acceptance rate is approximately 53%. However, the acceptance rate for various programs a student is looking to apply to will vary greatly as described on Waterloo’s own website. This post covers a full breakdown of why the acceptance rates for Canadian universities are so high, programs with notably low acceptance rates, and comparisons with various other universities in North America.
Comparing University of Waterloo Acceptance Rates to Canadian Schools:
The University of Waterloo has a relatively average acceptance rate compared to other universities in Canada. This data is fairly consistent among all Canadian institutions, with the average Canadian University acceptance rate being 45-55%.
Chart of Biggest Canadian Universities and Their Acceptance Rates
Full List of Canadian Universities and Their Acceptance Rates
American Ivy League University Acceptance Rates:
| UNIVERSITY NAME | ACCEPTANCE RATE |
|---|---|
| Brown University | 9.00% |
| Columbia University | 6.00% |
| Cornell University | 14.10% |
| Dartmouth College | 10.50% |
| Harvard University | 5.20% |
| Princeton University | 6.50% |
| University of Pennsylvania | 9.40% |
| Yale University | 6.30% |
The difference in the acceptance rates between Canadian universities and American schools is huge. The average rate for top-tier universities across Canada is approximately 5x higher than their counterparts down south!
Why is the University of Waterloo’s Acceptance Rate so High?
We believe there are two main reasons why the University of Waterloo’s Acceptance rate is so high compared to its American counterparts.
Firstly, applicants are usually able to determine if they will be accepted to the Canadian University before they apply. Most programs in Canada only have two requirements, prerequisites courses and minimum grade requirements. Usually, supplementary applications are not required, which means applicants are usually able to determine if they will be accepted to the undergraduate program before they apply. Applicants who do not meet these requirements will likely not apply.
Secondly, American Universities tend to place high prestige on the institutions themselves. In Canada, emphasis is placed more so on the program that one applies to within each respective University. There are some extremely hard undergraduate programs to get into in Canada. For example, engineering programs at the University of Waterloo, the health science program at McMaster, and the Ivey HBA business program at Western are known for having extremely low acceptance rates, which are comparable to Ivy League Universities.
In general, in Canada, a University degree is a University degree, regardless of which Canadian institution you get it from. Employers typically treat all degrees equally among all accredited Canadian Universities. For example, if you obtain an undergraduate life science degree, it doesn’t particularly matter from which Canadian institution you received it from as long as it is accredited. However, there are some extremely difficult undergraduate programs to get into Canada that many students strive to be accepted into.