Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning is the biggest college in Canada, delivering over 200 programs to more than 26,000 students. It’s also a highly competitive one, receiving over 120,000 applications each year.

Humber offers degree, diploma, certificate, apprenticeship and continuing education programs in wide range of studies across six faculties: applied sciences and technology, business, health sciences, liberal arts and innovative learning, media and creative arts, and social and community services. In 2021, the college opened its International Graduate School providing specialized business and tech-focused training for international learners.

A Humber education provides a strong footing in the job market, as 83.6 percent of graduates find work within six months, and 96.6 percent of employers are happy with their Humber hires.

George Brown College is a major presence in downtown Toronto, with three sizeable campus locations and over 30,000 full- and part-time students earning degrees in its 175 programs.

Looking for hands-on experience? George Brown makes it a focal point of your education, with apprenticeships, co-ops, field placements and more at either real or simulated workspaces. All of GBC’s career-focused programs include at least one experiential learning opportunity, such as honing culinary skills at the college’s student-run restaurant or treading the boards at the Young Centre for the performing arts in Toronto’s trendy Distillery district. Students at the WAVE (wellness, applied research and visionary education) centre deliver dental and hearing assessments in a state-of-the-art clinical setting.

At George Brown, 83.6 percent of students land a job within six months of graduating, and 89.3 percent of employers express satisfaction with their GBC hires.

With almost 40,000 full-time students across five main campus locations, Seneca is among the biggest colleges in Canada. The college offers more than 300 full-time, part-time and continuing education programs in aviation, business, creative arts, education and social services, engineering, IT, fashion and esthetics, health, hospitality, law, media, science and more.

Seneca campuses are dotted throughout the Greater Toronto Area, except for the Peterborough campus which is home to the college’s strong aviation program and fleet of 22 aircraft. In 2022, Seneca christened Seneca Downtown, its hub for executive and professional-level training and microcredential programs just steps from Toronto’s Financial District.

More than 79 percent of Seneca students find a job in their field within six months of graduating, and employers report an 89 percent satisfaction rate with Seneca alumni.

Centennial College was Ontario’s first public college, opening in 1966. Centennial delivers more than 200 diploma, certificate and degree programs across its five Toronto-area campuses, and the course catalogue covers a wide range of disciplines, including advertising and marketing, aerospace and aviation, arts, automotive, business, hospitality, media and IT, as well as unique and highly specialized programs in advance manufacturing and systems automation, and sustainable design and renewable energy.

Centennial puts a heavy emphasis in experiential education, with most programs including lengthy co-op components to earn you valuable real-world experience. And in some cases, we mean lengthy; the automotive service technician program, in partnership with MVRO and FCA, includes a “modified apprenticeship” option where students can work as long as eight months, getting paid and earning practical experience.

Centennial is a major destination for international students. In its 57 years, the College has trained more than 50,000 learners from abroad and regularly boasts the largest international student body among Ontario colleges.

More than 80 percent of Centennial students find work in their arena within six months of graduation, and employer satisfaction clocks in at 81.3 percent.

Since its founding in 2011, BrainStation has firmly established itself as a recognized leader in digital education. Embracing the slogan, “be future-proof,” the private tech academy has helped over 100,000 learners kickstart or accelerate their digital careers.

BrainStation students benefit from active career support, offering interview workshops and networking events to connect with industry professionals and recruiters. Its network of over 6,500 hiring partners includes Amazon, Shopify, Samsung, and all of Canada’s “big five” banks.

BrainStation has a 92.4 percent graduation rate, with one in two graduates finding employment within six months of graduation.

Lighthouse Labs has been offering transformative tech reskilling and upskilling courses, teaching “coding as the ultimate craft” since 2013. Previously known for its expansive in-person training, Lighthouse Labs transitioned to a fully online experience coinciding with the boom in remote work.

Lighthouse is a leader in fostering diversity in the tech field. It takes an active role in diversity initiatives including Women Learning to Code, the Indigenous Digital Equity Strategy Project, Digital Skills for Youth, and other programs to open doors to successful tech careers. Lighthouse also continues its commitment to offering one million dollars in needs-based scholarship funding to new students, and created a “breaking barriers” scholarship to support LGBTQA+ learners.

Lighthouse describes itself as “outcome-obsessed,” and offers lifetime career services. Based on 2022 data, 82 percent of graduates find work within six months, with an average starting salary of $58,549.

The Michener Institute is a unique entry on our list, being the only postsecondary institution in Canada with an exclusive focus on healthcare education. It’s also the oldest school in our ranking, having opened its doors in 1958 as a pilot program at Toronto General Hospital.

Over 5,000 students train at Michener’s five campus locations, studying in full-time, part-time, post-certification, and bridging programs.

Hands-on experience is a key element of the Michener experience. The school boasts one of the largest simulation-based learning hubs in Canada, with over 20,000 sq. ft. of clinical exam rooms, simulation suites and classrooms with state-of-the-art equipment. And with an average class size of 25 students, you’ll have an intimate learning experience and plenty of instructor focus.

According to its most recent statistics, nearly 80 per cent of Michener graduates land a job within six months of graduation, and employers report a 100 percent satisfaction rate.

Open since 1995, College Boréal is one of Ontario’s newer public colleges, but has quickly developed a strong presence, with seven campuses across Ontario including its Toronto campus at the foot of Yonge Street.

Boréal is one of just two publicly funded Francophone colleges in the entire province, and has a mission to produce a highly skilled bilingual workforce. Students can pursue post-secondary education entirely in French, and also learn the specialized vocabulary of their chosen fields in English.

Boréal regularly ranks as one of Ontario’s top schools in graduation rates, graduate satisfaction and employer satisfaction. At 71.3 percent, the college’s graduation rate is the second-highest in the province. Nearly 85 percent of graduates find work within six months of graduation. Backing that up is the “Garantie Boréal,” which promises a new full-time program at no cost if a graduate doesn’t find work in their chosen field within 12 months of graduating.

True to its name and purpose, the Toronto School of Management (TSoM) is located on College Street in Toronto’s downtown core. Although relatively new on the college scene, first opening its doors in 2017, it’s quickly earned a reputation for its hands-on focus, strong programs, and student satisfaction.

TSoM’s 2,000 students come from over 90 countries to earn certificates and diplomas in business, hospitality and tourism, accounting and finance, technology, legal studies, and English.

Real-world education is key to the TSoM experience. The school has more than 150 co-op partners, giving students ample opportunity to apply their learned skills in a practical setting. TSOM has a 55.9 percent graduation rate and a 76.6 employment rate.