Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning is the biggest college in Canada, delivering over 220 programs to more than 38,000 full-time, 19,000 part-time and 1,500-plus apprenticeship 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 82 per cent of graduates find work within six months, and 93 per cent of employers are happy with their Humber hires.

George Brown College is a major presence in downtown Toronto, with three sizable campus locations and over 30,000 full- and part-time students earning degrees in its 170-plus 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.

Eighty-one per cent of GBC students land a job within six months of graduating, and more than 83 per cent of employers express satisfaction with their GBC hires.

With 30,000 full-time students across eight campus locations, Seneca is among the biggest colleges in Canada. The college offers nearly 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.

Seneca has recently expanded its partnership with Niagara University to co-deliver graduate degree programs, including an MsC in information security and digital forensics.

More than 76 per cent of Seneca students find a job in their field within six months of graduating, and employers report a 75 per cent satisfaction rate with Seneca alumni.

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 self-reports a 90 per cent employment rate among recent graduates, and the most recent statistics also show a 100 per cent employer satisfaction rate.

In 2023, Lighthouse Labs marks its 10th year of transformative tech reskilling and upskilling courses, teaching “coding as the ultimate craft.” Previously known for its expansive in-person training, Lighthouse Labs recently 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. Nearly 75 per cent of graduates find work within six months, although Lighthouse reports its bootcamp grads enjoy a 90 per cent employment rate within a year.

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.

Nearly 17,000 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 per cent satisfaction rate.

Open since 1995, College Boréal is one of Ontario’s younger 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 75 per cent, the college’s graduation rate is nearly 20 per cent above the provincial average and also the top mark in Ontario for the 20th time in the past 23 years. Nearly 91 per cent 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.

General Assembly began as a co-working space in 2011, but has since blossomed into an international pioneer in digital training, upskilling and future-proofing. The private tech academy brands itself as the “solution to the global skills gap,” delivering experiential education in some of the most in-demand career skills today: tech, data, design, business and more.

GA prides itself on its elite instructors, industry experts drawn from leading businesses such as Google, eBay and Salesforce delivering real-world training. And the school’s dynamic course designers update each course at least twice per year to keep pace with the evolving digital landscape and ensuring students experience the very latest learning features and content.

GA established a foothold in Toronto when it acquired Bitmaker Labs in 2016, absorbing a downtown campus and vibrant community of seasoned and aspiring technology professionals.

Career outcomes continue to be a major focus for GA to this day, which offers personalized career coaching, job-search prep and extensive networking opportunities through its 10,000-plus hiring partners including Microsoft, Nike, Starbucks, PayPal, Pfizer, Google and Deloitte. According to GA’s data, nearly 85 per cent of students participating in the school’s career services program found work within six months of graduation, and nearly 96 per cent landed a job within a year.

Centennial College was Ontario’s first public college, opening in 1966 (one year ahead of Canada’s centennial in 1967). It has also masqueraded as one of Canada’s best-known high schools, being the filming location for dozens of episodes of the iconic TV series Degrassi High.

Centennial delivers more than 250 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 program in particular 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 75 per cent of Centennial students find work in their arena within six months of graduation, and employer satisfaction clocks in at an even 75 per cent.

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. The school recently won “Best Adult Education” in the Toronto Star Reader’s Choice poll for the third consecutive year and is also a two-time winner in the “Best Business and Career Training” category.

TSoM’s 2,000 students come from over 130 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. Nearly 75 per cent of its certificate and diploma programs include extensive co-op placements ranging from 12-36 weeks, giving plenty of time to apply your learned skills in a practical setting.

With a student population of just 3,654, Loyalist is among the smaller colleges in Ontario, but considers size one of its greatest strengths. The modest student body provides intimate learning experiences with plenty of personal and even one-on-one attention.

And while Loyalist is small – those 3,654 enrolments are the college’s highest-ever – it’s also expanding its course offerings and locations, opening new campus locations in Port Hope in Toronto in recent years, with a distinctly international student focus.

Loyalist’s former motto was “we put you to work:” a tagline that still rings true, both before graduation and after. Most programs offered at the Toronto campus include 14-week co-op placements, giving you plenty of time to apply your learning in a real-world environment. And the experiential approach pays off: Loyalist boasts the highest graduate employment rate in Ontario, nearly 94 per cent. The college is also tied for the top employer satisfaction rate at a pristine 100 per cent.

Algonquin College is one of the largest in the province, and its footprint is growing with its recent expansion into Toronto. In 2022, Algonquin struck a partnership with Toronto-based CDI College to deliver a select menu of sought-after courses in the GTA, offering diploma and certificate programs in art and design, business in technology.

In the technology programs, Algonquin offers a unique initiative to narrow the gender gap in the STEM fields; the “We Saved You A Seat” program actively recruits women to select programs and reserves up to 30 per cent of class space for qualified female candidates.

Algonquin’s mission statement is “to transform hopes and dreams into lifelong success,” and the college seems to get students off on the right foot; nearly 85 per cent of graduates find work in their field within six months, and 100 per cent of employers report satisfaction with their hires.

In the 25 years since its founding, ILAC has built a reputation as one of the strongest English-language schools in Canada. The college has racked up multiple local and international awards, including the global ST (StudyTravel) “leading star” award in 2022, a recognition it’s earned for five consecutive years. ILAC offers career-focused business education, supporting international students develop language skills while gaining Canadian work experience.

Real-world experience is a keystone of the ILAC experience. Each of its programs features a substantial co-op placement – ranging from 24-40 weeks, depending on the program – giving students ample time to apply their skills and strengthen English fluency. ILAC also guarantees a co-op placement, easing the challenge of finding your own while focusing on your studies.

Going by the most recent stats available, 50 per cent of ILAC students earn a job within six months, while boasting a 100 per cent employer satisfaction rate.