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If you’re trying to decide where to go to university next year, prepare to take notes! Canada’s top universities have been ranked by reputation, and while McGill performed impressively, it just missed claiming the top spot.
On October 10, Maclean’s released its 2025 edition of the Best Universities in Canada by National Reputation, and McGill’s performance was nothing short of impressive.
From coast to coast, universities across the country were evaluated by faculty, administrators, and business leaders, giving Canadians a clear snapshot of which institutions are considered the most innovative, highest quality, and overall best.
Though U of T took first place in each of these categories, McGill consistently ranked just behind, proving that it’s a powerhouse in Canadian education.
The survey grouped schools from three categories—Primarily Undergraduate, Comprehensive, and Medical Doctoral—into one massive list. While Maclean’s ranked 50 universities in total, we’re honing in on the top 10.
McGill landed third in the Best Overall category, falling just short of U of T and the University of British Columbia (UBC). When it came to Highest Quality, McGill moved even higher, securing the number two spot just behind U of T. As for Most Innovative, McGill once again performed strongly, coming in at third.
While McGill didn’t quite snag first place (which keeps happening), its rankings across these major categories show just how respected it is both nationally and globally. Whether it’s its academic excellence or reputation for innovation, McGill consistently proves it’s among Canada’s elite.
Here’s a closer look at how the rankings went down:
Best Overall
- University of Toronto
- UBC
- McGill
- Waterloo
- McMaster
- Université de Montréal
- Queen’s University
- University of Alberta
- Western University
- Simon Fraser University
Most Innovative
- University of Toronto
- Waterloo
- McGill
- UBC
- McMaster
- Université de Montréal
- University of Alberta
- Queen’s University
- University of Calgary
- Western University
Highest Quality
- University of Toronto
- McGill
- Waterloo
- UBC
- McMaster
- Université de Montréal
- Queen’s University
- Western University
- University of Alberta
- Simon Fraser University
You can find the full 50-university list here.
While these national rankings highlight Canada’s best universities, it’s also worth considering how they stack up globally.
Earlier this week, the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings for 2025 were released, and Canadian schools had an interesting showing. Three schools made the global top 50:
- #21: University of Toronto
- #41: University of British Columbia
- #45: McGill University
THE pointed out that while these elite institutions have remained steady in their rankings, the story isn’t as positive for the rest of the country.
Over two-fifths of Canadian universities in the global ranking have actually dropped in placement, as the worldwide competition for top university spots continues to heat up.
Of the 33 Canadian schools ranked (out of 2,857 universities globally), only U of T and UBC held on to their positions, while almost all others saw a dip. Conversely though, McGill rose four places to 45th (but yes, still behind U of T).
So, while U of T, UBC, and McGill continue to shine both nationally and internationally, there’s a growing sense of pressure on some other Canadian universities to keep up with the fierce global competition.
If you’re considering where to study or just curious about how Canada’s schools are stacking up, U of T’s dominance is hard to ignore—but McGill continues to make a strong case for itself too!
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