Humber is the biggest college in Canada, delivering over 200 programs to more than 33,000 full-time, 23,000 part-time and 1,800 apprenticeship students. 

The Toronto college offers degree, diploma, certificate, apprenticeship and continuing education programs in wide range of studies spanning applied technology and engineering, business, children and youth services, creative arts, emergency services, fashion and beauty, health, hospitality, IT, marketing, media, performing arts and skilled trades, among others. 

Humber checks in near the provincial average in 2020 for student employment, with more than 81.6 per cent of graduates finding work within six months, and 93.3 per cent of employers reporting satisfaction with their Humber hires.

Conestoga College makes an indelible mark in the Kitchener-Waterloo region; according to college statistics, 55 per cent of local adults have participated in some training at Conestoga, and over 5,000 local business are owned by graduates.

With over 300 programs across nine campus locations, Conestoga delivers a vast array of certificate, diploma, degree and apprenticeship possibilities in fields including applied computer science and IT, business, community services, creative arts, engineering, food processing, health, hospitality, workforce development and trades. It has more degree programs than any other college outside of the Greater Toronto Area, including Ontario’s only college-based accredited engineering degrees.

The college recently unveiled a 250,000 sq. ft. skilled trades facility to house all its trade programs, such as construction, carpentry, welding, electrical and automotive, among many others. More than 4,000 apprentices hone their skills at Conestoga every year.

More than 86 per cent of Conestoga students find work within six months of graduation, and 93 per cent of employers are satisfied with their graduates. Conestoga’s graduation rate is 72 per cent, above average in Ontario, and nearly 80 per cent of students are satisfied with their experience.

Named for the region’s historical ties to the Indigenous Mohawk people, Mohawk College is one of the largest colleges in Ontario with over 30,000 full-time, part-time and apprenticeship students.

Mohawk offers over 180 degree, diploma, certificate and apprenticeship programs in fields including health, biotechnology, business, engineering, arts, skilled trades and professional services. Programs also include a robust collaborative degree scheme in partnership with McMaster University.

A hotbed for apprenticeships, Mohawk trains around 3,000 apprenticeship students each year across 22 different specialties, and was the first college in Ontario to provide a provincially recognized post-secondary credential in addition to its apprenticeship certificates.

Mohawk boasts a track record of graduate success: 85 per cent of students find employment in their chosen field within six months of graduation, and the college consistently ranks in the upper echelons of graduate employment and employer satisfaction.

Algonquin College is one of Ontario’s largest, training over 19,900 full-time students on its three campuses in Ottawa and nearby Perth and Pembroke.

Algonquin’s course catalogue features a dizzying array of 357 programs to choose from, including 52 co-op programs, 10 BAs and a number of collaborative degrees offered in partnership with Carleton University and the University of Ottawa. Fields of study include the faculties of advanced technology, business, construction, health, hospitality, media and design, and public safety. In the technology field, Algonquin’s “We Saved You A Seat” initiative aims to narrow the gender gap in the STEM fields by actively recruiting women to select programs and reserving up to 30 per cent of classroom seats for qualified female candidates.

A one-year certificate program called Pathways to Indigenous Empowerment develops common career skills like math, communication and computer sciences alongside courses on traditional Indigenous knowledge and individualized career coaching for First Nations, Métis and Inuit students.

Nearly 85 per cent of Algonquin graduates find work in their chosen field within six months of graduation, and employers report a 100 per cent satisfaction rate, up from  92.3 per cent in 2019 and 85 per cent in 2017.

Niagara College touts itself as a leader in applied education, and the numbers don’t lie: each year, more than 7,000 students take part in co-ops, internships, field placements and other applied opportunities.

The college, based in the tourist hostpot Niagara region and just west of the Canada-U.S. border, delivers over 130 certificate, diploma, degree and apprenticeship programs in arts, business, engineering technology, culinary arts, health, technology and trades.

Its location in the heart of Ontario wine country lends itself to unique campus facilities and opportunities; the college was the first in Canada to create a teaching winery, brewery and distillery where students can earn their credentials as winery technicians, brewmasters and artisanal distillers. Another unique offering is the commercial cannabis production program, the first such postsecondary program in Canada.

Nearly 87 per cent of NC graduates find work within six months of graduation and 100 per cent of employers are satisfied with their hires. The college also reports a graduation rate of 67 percent, and 76 per cent of students report they’re satisfied with their educational experience.

Open since 1995, Sudbury-based College Boréal is Ontario’s youngest college of applied arts and technology and one of just two publicly funded Francophone colleges in the entire province.

Boréal students can pursue post-secondary education entirely in French, and also learn the specialized vocabulary of their chosen fields in English, preparing students to become fully bilingual professionals.

Boréal regularly ranks as one of the province’s top schools when it comes to graduation rates, graduate satisfaction and employer satisfaction. At 75 per cent, the college’s graduation rate is well above the provincial average, and also the top rate in Ontario for the 20^th time in the past 20 years. Boreal receives literal top marks in employer satisfaction at 100 per cent.  

Nearly 91 per cent of graduates find work within six months of graduation. The college also offers the “Garantie Boréal,” which promises a second full-time training program at no cost if a graduate doesn’t find work in their chosen field within a year following graduation.

With over 200 programs catering to 40,000 students, London’s Fanshawe College is one of the largest in the province.

The London-based college provides degree, diploma, certificate and apprenticeship programs in a variety of disciplines including applied arts, agriculture, business, communication and languages, health care, human services, hospitality, media, technology, transportation and logistics, and skilled trades. Fanshawe’s partnership with the University of Western Ontario allows students to pursue collaborative degrees in nursing, finance and music recording arts.

More than 40 Fanshawe programs specialize in skilled trades and apprenticeships, and the college offers more than 60 co-op programs, the most of any college in Canada. Fanshawe also maintains relationships with over 15,000 employer partners to connect students to job opportunities. Nearly 87 per cent of Fanshawe students find work within six months of graduation, and 100 per cent of employers are satisfied with their candidates. 

George Brown has a distinct Toronto flavour at its heart, named for a prominent local politician, abolitionist and newspaperman, and the only college located in the downtown core of Ontario’s capital city.

More than 34,000 full- and part-time students are enrolled in the college’s 170-plus programs in arts, business, hospitality and culinary arts, construction and engineering, community services and early childhood, preparatory studies and health sciences. 

George Brown emphasizes experiential learning through apprenticeships, co-ops, field placements and similar situations at either real or simulated workspaces. Fully 100 per cent of career-focused programs include at least one experiential learning opportunity. Hospitality and culinary arts students hone their craft at the school’s student-run restaurant and event space The Chef’s House, and health studies take in the healthcare simulation centre, which features a mockup operating room and practice labs.

Eighty-one per cent of George Brown’s students find employment within six months of graduating. George Brown students enjoy success in the workplace, with an 83.3 per cent employer satisfaction rate. 

North Bay’s Canadore College is among the smaller colleges in the province, with approximately 5,600 students each year. Nevertheless, it delivers a diverse range of over 80 full-time programs and apprenticeships. Canadore’s 12 schools of study cover art and design, aviation, community justice, culinary arts, environmental studies, health, sports and trades.

Indigenous students make up about 15 per cent of Canadore’s student body, and the college prides itself on its Indigenous studies program, including unique offerings on Indigenous pre-health, Indigenous wellness and addictions prevention and the First Peoples’ Aviation Technology program. 

The college delivers programs in three North Bay campus locations, as well as recently opened facilities in Parry Sound where students train in practical nursing, personal support work, early childhood education and photography programs, among others.

There’s also a “general interest” field of study, with individual courses on a wide range of topics, including AI, astronomy, corporate law, critical thinking, motorcycle training and the history of chocolate.

Canadore ranks above the provincial average for postgraduate employment, with 89 per cent of students finding work in their field within six months. One hundred per cent of employers report satisfaction with their hires.

Georgian College is a leader in hands-on education delivered through its vast co-op program. The Barrie-based college has the highest percentage of students enrolled in co-op placements of any college in Ontario, as over 5,000 students train with one of the school’s 6,200 co-op partners. 

Georgian offers more than 130 programs to 13,000 students across its seven campuses, providing career-focused degree, certificate and diploma programs in fields including business, health, engineering, design and visual arts, computer studies, hospitality and tourism, community safety, marine studies and skilled trades. Most programs offer formal work opportunities, ranging from paid co-ops to field placements and internships.

The emphasis on hands-on learning seems to pay off for Georgian students, as more than 88 per cent of graduates find work within six months of graduation. Employer confidence dropped this year, however, with a 73 per cent satisfaction rate with Georgian grads compared to 100 per cent the previous year. The graduate satisfaction rate is 74 per cent.

La Cité was Ontario’s first French-language college and its focus on experiential learning aims to fill the province’s need for skilled French-speaking workers.

In that spirit, the Ottawa-based college runs 140 career-oriented programs in 19 fields of study, including business, agribusiness, education, engineering, arts, construction, hospitality, computer science, media, health, legal and more. Courses are primarily in French, although students are also typically taught the specialized terminology of their chosen field in English.

To achieve its goal of hands-on learning, the primary Ottawa campus alone houses 100 labs and practical learning facilities, such as the 911 Institute, an emergency training facility housing a police station, fire station and other simulated security and emergency environments. In nearby Orleans, the 57,000 sq. ft. Skilled Trades Institute provides a comprehensive training ground for instruction in welding, masonry, plumbing, electrical, and other specialties.

La Cité graduates find success in the job market, as 85 percent find work within six months of their graduation. Employer satisfaction comes in at a whopping 100 per cent, placing it in a 13-way tie across Ontario colleges for employer satisfaction.

St. Lawrence College’s recently expanded and modernized campus sits on the banks of the St. Lawrence river in historic Kingston, on 23 hectares of former farmland purchased from the Ontario government for one dollar.

Students can choose from over 100 full-time programs across three campuses, ranging from one-year certificates to four-year degree programs, and apprenticeship training. Students with previous diplomas can also pick form a variety of one-year “fast-track” programs in fields such as business administration, police foundations, human resources and environmental technology, among others.

St. Lawrence checks in well above the provincial average in graduate employment, with more than 91 per cent of students finding work in their field within six months, with the College’s employer satisfaction score at 100 per cent. St. Lawrence reports slightly above-average student satisfaction as well, at 79 per cent.

With more than 4,100 full-time students and 80-plus full-time programs across three campuses, Sudbury-based Cambrian College is the largest in northern Ontario.

With an average 22:1 student-to-faculty ratio, Cambrian delivers relatively intimate learning environments for its certificate, diploma, degree and apprenticeships in health, engineering, creative arts, community services, law and justice, business and IT, safety and environmental studies, general arts and sciences, and skilled trades. Some programs, including social work and general arts and science are also provided with an Indigenous specialization.

Cambrian has developed a reputation for punching well above its weight in skill development. Cambrian students regularly dominate at the annual Skills Ontario competition, including two gold, two silver and two bronze medals at the most recent event.

On top of those accolades, Cambrian tops Ontario colleges in graduate employment, with nearly 89 per cent of students finding work within six months, one of just seven colleges topping the 87 per cent mark. Graduates report a 79 per cent satisfaction rate and employer satisfaction comes in at nearly 86 per cent.

Loyalist College hosts a relatively small population of under 4,000 students on a sprawling 81-hectare campus in Belleville, Ontario. The college offers more than 70 full-time diploma, certificate and apprenticeship programs in fields such as health and human studies, business, media, justice, technology and skilled trades.

Notable programs aim to train students for new opportunities created by recent and significant changes in the business and scientific sectors. A newly created course in financial technology introduces students to the rapid digital upheaval in the financial services industry, and a new one-year postgraduate program in cannabis applied sciences provides hands-on education in cannabis biology, cultivation, regulatory issues and product development 

Loyalist’s motto is “we put you to work,” and recent statistics seem to bear that out; nearly 93 per cent of students find employment in their field within six months of graduation, and the college reports a 100 per cent employer satisfaction rate. The student satisfaction rate is just under 82 per cent.

With 30,000 full-time students across 10 campus locations, Seneca is among the biggest colleges in Canada. The Toronto-based college offers more than 300 full-time, part-time and continuing education programs in aviation, business, creative arts, education and social services, engineering, fashion and esthetics, health, hospitality, media, science and more.

Campus locations are concentrated in the Greater Toronto Area, except for locations in King City and Peterborough, home of the aviation campus and fleet of 22 aircraft.

In 2019, Seneca unveiled the $85 million Centre for Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship, a high-tech hub for applied sciences and engineering technology such as robotics and mechatronics as well as a data analytics research centre and entrepreneurial incubator initiative, HELIX. 

Seneca’s highly diverse student body counts 7,000 international students representing more than 150 countries.

More than 76 per cent of Seneca students find a job in their field within six months of graduating. Employer satisfaction is 75 per cent, which putsit below the provincial average.

Lambton College was the second college in Ontario’s public system, opening its doors in 1966 with just 54 students. The Sarnia-based school has grown enormously, now training over 10,000 students — 3,500 enrolled in full-time courses and 6,500 studying part-time across multiple campuses, including two locations in China.

The college’s course catalogue offers more than 70 full-time degree, diploma and certificate programs, as well as micro-credentials, four-week units designed to teach specific competencies required in a career field. Programs include business, community services, education, emergency services, healthcare, hospitality, IT, technology and trades. 

Lambton is recognized as a leader in applied innovation in research; it recently ranked in first in Ontario and second nationwide in an annual survey of Canada’s top 50 research colleges.

Lambton grads tend to succeed in the job hunt, with over 82 per cent finding work within six months of graduation. Employers report a 100 per cent satisfaction rate with their Lambton hires.

Fleming College is named for Sir Sandford Fleming, the influential Scottish-Canadian inventor and engineer who designed Canada’s first postage stamp, helped engineer the Canadian Pacific Railway and first proposed worldwide time zones.

The Peterborough college carries on his legacy of versatility and creativity, offering more than 50 programs ranging from glassblowing and museum management to biotechnology and business administration. Fleming’s diploma, certificate, apprenticeship, post-graduate and continuing education programs cover 11 schools, including art and design, business and IT, environmental sciences, justice and development, health, and trades and technology across four campus locations. The college also offers collaborative degree programs in partnership with Trent University, where students can earn their BSc in nursing or ecological restoration.

Fully 87 per cent of Fleming students are employed in their field within six months of graduation, and employers report a satisfaction rate of 100 per cent.

Windsor-based St. Clair College continues to grow exponentially, with enrolments jumping from 8,500 to more than14,000 full-time students in the past five years. 

St. Clair currently offers 135 certificate, diploma and degree programs across its six campus locations in Windsor and nearby Chatham on the shores of Lake St. Clair. Areas of study include business, IT, community studies, engineering, health sciences, media and design, and skilled trades. The college also runs a standalone school of nursing, separate from its health sciences program. Both faculties use the state-of-the-art Centre for Applied Health Sciences, a sprawling facility with a simulated hospital environment, full dental clinic and specialized labs for ultrasounds, cardiovascular technology and respiratory therapy.

Eighty-three percent of St. Clair graduates find work in their field within six months of graduation, and fully 100 per cent of employers are satisfied with their St. Clair grads.

Northern offers more than 75 full-time, part-time, certificate, diploma, and apprenticeship programs across campus locations in Timmins, Kirkland Lake, Moosonee and Haileybury. Its full-time programs cover business, community services, engineering, health sciences, veterinary sciences, welding and trades. Apprenticeships include automotive service, construction and maintenance electrician and industrial millwright mechanics.

Students in the emergency services program get hands-on training in Northern’s unique Integrated Emergency Services Complex, a facility complete with mock courtroom, holding cell, fingerprint and various simulation labs. It also features an advanced disaster management simulator which simulates real-time disaster scenarios, the first simulator of its kind in Canada.

Northern also uses virtual reality technology to create immersive environments and experiences for its trade programs, as well its health, mining and Indigenous studies classrooms.

Almost 82 per cent of Northern students find work within six months of graduation, and those graduates report nearly 87.2 per cent satisfaction with their experience, above the provincial average. In 2017, Northern enjoyed a 100 per cent employer satisfaction score. 

Confederation College’s main campus is in Thunder Bay, the sunniest city in Eastern Canada – averaging 2,121 hours of sunshine per year – and the largest city on the shores of the largest freshwater lake in the world, Lake Superior.

From Thunder Bay and its seven regional campuses across northwest Ontario, Confederation delivers 56 full-time programs across 11 areas of study, including aviation, business, engineering, health, hospitality, media, natural resources, protective services and skilled trades. The college is regarded as a leader in Indigenous education, establishing its focused Negahneewin (Ojibwe for “leading the way”) Student Services Department to accommodate the unique needs of Indigenous learners.

Confederation graduates tend to flourish, as nearly 91.1 per cent find work in their field within six months, while employers reported 66.7 per cent satisfaction with their hired graduates (down from 100 per cent in 2017 but up from 62.5 in 2019). Almost 84 per cent of graduates are satisfied with their Confederation experience.

Durham College runs over 140 full-time programs in the fields of hospitality, business, IT, health, justice, media and design, science and engineering, among others. The Faculty of Skilled Trades & Apprenticeship (STA) delivers training in 15 trades such as automotive technology, carpentry, construction, electrical engineering, HVAC, millwright, elevating and welding, complete with numerous co-op and apprenticeship opportunities.

Programs are delivered on campuses in Whitby and Oshawa, where Durham shares a campus with Ontario Tech University. The two schools also share a collaborative diploma-to-degree program in multiple fields, including business, HR, marketing and IT.

Among Durham’s unique program offerings are a new graduate certificate in clinical biometrics and a certificate program in esport business management. Complementing that program is Esports Gaming Arena on the Oshawa campus that offers recreational and competitive esports.

Nearly 86 per cent of Durham graduates are employed in their chosen field within six months of graduation, and employer satisfaction rose from 80 per cent to 100 per cent over the previous year.

Sheridan College is one of Ontario’s largest and is widely recognized as one of the top animation schools in the world. The college has produced multiple Academy Award-winning animators, and  graduates regularly find work in powerhouse animation studios such as Pixar and Dreamworks.

More than 22,000 full-time students attend Sheridan, earning certificates, diplomas, degrees and micro-credentials in five faculties: animation and design, health and community services, applied science and technology, humanities and business. The college delivers classes in Mississauga, Oakville and Brampton.

Sheridan offers nine trades programs, as well as a Technology Fundamentals program for students who may be unsure which trade is the right fit. The program introduces students to the basics of chemistry, engineering, architecture, IT and trades.

Nearly 76 per cent of Sheridan graduates find work in their field within six months of graduation, with employer satisfaction falling from 86 per cent to 66.7 per cent in 2020. Sheridan also has an above-average graduation rate in Ontario at 70 per cent.

Centennial College was Ontario’s first public college, opening in 1966 (one year ahead of Canada’s centennial in 1967). It may also be one of the most recognizable colleges, having been a shooting location for multiple big- and small-screen productions, including Robocop (2014), Man of the Year and Degrassi High.

Centennial’s five campuses in Toronto deliver 160 programs to 26,000 full-time and 19,000 part-time students. Schools of study include advanced manufacturing, advertising and marketing, animation and design, automotive, business, food, health, IT, media, and sustainable design and renewable energy. Most programs include co-op and placement opportunities, allowing students to graduate with as much as a year of practical work experience in their field.

The college’s renowned aerospace program is housed at the 138,000 sq.ft. Bombardier Centre for Aerospace and Aviation, a space large enough to accommodate commercial airliners.

Centennial is proud of its diverse makeup, noting its student body represents approximately 100 ethno-cultural groups speaking 80 different languages.

More than 75 per cent of Centennial students find work in their arena within six months of graduation — an improvement from 66 per cent in 2019. The college scores below the provincial average in employer satisfaction at 75 per cent (down from 88.2 per cent in 2019).

Sault (“Soo”) College is centrally located in Sault Ste. Marie near the shores of Lake Superior and a stone’s throw from the Canada-U.S. border. Delivering over 70 programs available to some 4,500 students, the college boasts small class sizes and intimate learning settings with a student-to-faculty ratio below the provincial average.

Students at Sault pursue certificates, diplomas and upgrading programs in health, culinary arts, community services, business, engineering, general arts and science, media and design, information technology, engineering and aviation. Apprenticeships span a dozen specialties, ranging from ironwork to hairstyling. 

Sault graduates have an employment success rate of 79.5 per cent working in their field within six months of graduation. Employers report a 100 per cent satisfaction rate and 76.8 per cent of graduates are satisfied with their experience.