Maclean’s Unveils 2027 Canadian University Rankings with New Categories and Expanded Methodology

Maclean’s released its 2027 Canadian University Rankings today, introducing one of the most significant changes to the program in two decades. With a modernized methodology and new university categories, the rankings are designed to be easier to understand and more useful for students and families navigating their post-secondary options.

For the the 2027 rankings, Maclean’s replaced the longstanding Medical Doctoral, Comprehensive and Primarily Undergraduate categories with three straightforward groupings based on university size: Large (more than 30,000 students), Mid-Size (10,000 to 30,000 students) and Small (fewer than 10,000 students), measured by full-time-equivalent enrolment. Six new universities were added this year, bringing the total number of ranked schools to 56. 

In addition to the new university categories, Maclean’s has updated how universities are evaluated, introducing four new performance indicators:

• Retention rate: The percentage of students who continue at their university into their second year
• Graduation rate: The percentage of students who graduate within six years
• Research volume: Research output per faculty member
• Research impact: The proportion of research output among the top 10 per cent most-cited publications in comparable fields

These new measures join existing indicators such as scholarships and bursaries, student services, faculty awards and research funding. Together, the 15 indicators assess universities across four areas: student resources and support, student experience and success, faculty quality, and reputation.

“We heard that our traditional categories weren't always easy for students and families to understand, so we took a fresh look at how universities are evaluated, including ranking systems around the world,” said Claire Gagné, director, special projects for Maclean’s. “Our goal was to create a more intuitive way to explore Canadian universities while incorporating additional measures that provide a fuller picture of the student experience and academic excellence.”

The 2027 Canadian University Rankings are available now at macleans.ca. The rankings will also be featured in the November issue of Maclean’s, on newsstands October 20, alongside in-depth reporting on the issues shaping post-secondary education in Canada.

As in previous years, the rankings draw on data from third-party sources, including Statistics Canada and federal research funding agencies. The reputational survey is conducted in partnership with Angus Reid Group.

Canada's Top-Ranked Universities for 2027

The top three institutions in each of the new categories are:

Large Universities

1. McGill University — Quebec
2. University of Toronto — Ontario
3. University of British Columbia — British Columbia

Mid-Size Universities

1. Simon Fraser University — British Columbia
2. University of Victoria — British Columbia
3. Dalhousie University — Nova Scotia

Small Universities

1. Mount Allison University — New Brunswick
2. University of Northern British Columbia — British Columbia
3. St. Francis Xavier University — Nova Scotia

Six additional universities are included in this year's rankings: Mount Royal University, Thompson Rivers University, MacEwan University, Concordia University of Edmonton, University of the Fraser Valley and Vancouver Island University.

The complete rankings, including detailed results and an explanation of the methodology, are available at: https://macleans.ca/education/university-rankings.

Maclean’s Education Rankings

Beyond its annual rankings, Maclean’s publishes the Ultimate Guide to Canadian Universities and the Ultimate Guide to Canadian Colleges, offering practical advice on choosing programs, navigating admissions, applying for scholarships and understanding campus life. Both print guides are available on newsstands and through the Maclean’s Store, individually or as part of the Post-Secondary Planning Bundle.

These resources are part of Maclean’s broader education platform, which includes its Education Hub, weekly Message Board newsletter, student-focused TikTok content and annual Ideas Summit: Education, bringing together thought leaders to discuss issues shaping education in Canada.

For media inquiries, interview requests or additional information, please contact:

Marta Tsimicalis
Director of Communications, SJC
marta.tsimicalis@stjoseph.com

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About Maclean’s

Maclean’s is Canada's best-known and most beloved national magazine, covering politics, culture, trends, ideas and personalities with a focus on longform feature storytelling. For more than 120 years, Maclean’s has helped Canadians understand their country and their world. A multi–National Magazine Award winner, Maclean’s is recognized annually for excellence in journalism. Through its monthly print edition, digital stories, social channels, newsletters and live events, Maclean’s reaches millions of Canadians with trusted reporting and compelling storytelling.

Maclean’s is published by SJC Media, Canada's largest publisher of trusted magazine brands, reaching more than 23 million Canadians across print, digital and experiential platforms. SJC Media is a division of SJC, Canada's largest privately owned, fully integrated print, content and media company, delivering marketing solutions for leading brands and retailers across the country.

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