OCAD University
Toronto, Ontario · 4,875 undergraduates
Is it hard to get into OCAD U?
How OCAD U's first-year students came in (official figures, fall 2022), then what the school publishes for each program.
| Field | Entering average | School says | First-year tuition | Graduates working | Co-op |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arts and humanities | Not reported | 70% minimum | $6,170 | Not published | No |
| Fine and performing arts | 86.2% | 70% minimum plus portfolio | $6,170 | 83.9% | No |
Entering average: the official fall 2022 figure (Common University Data Ontario) for the program group that holds the field, shown by group below. Graduates working: graduates of 2021.
What averages did OCAD U's first-year students come in with?
Every new full-time first-year student at OCAD U who came straight from an Ontario high school in fall 2022, by program group: the share in each average band and the group's overall average. This is who enrolled, not a cut-off, and a group holds several programs.
| Program group | Average | 95 and up | 90 to 94 | 85 to 89 | 80 to 84 | 75 to 79 | 70 to 74 | Below 70 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fine and applied arts | 86.2% | 10% | 25% | 30% | 18% | 11% | 6% | 1% |
| All of OCAD U | 86.2% | 10% | 25% | 30% | 18% | 11% | 6% | 1% |
Source: Council of Ontario Universities, Common University Data Ontario (CUDO) section B3, fall 2022 entering class, read 2026-10-25. The council's CUDO report tool (opens in a new tab). Shares are rounded; the table gives them to one decimal. A blank in the source means no students in that band, shown here as 0%.
What average do you need for each OCAD U program?
19 first-year programs you can apply to straight from Grade 12, grouped by field. Open one for its required courses, extra steps, cost and the same program elsewhere.
Arts and humanitiesevery university, ranked
| Program | School says | Co-op | Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visual and Critical StudiesToronto | Minimum overall average of 70% | No | $6,170 |
Fine and performing artsevery university, ranked
| Program | School says | Co-op | Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| AdvertisingToronto | Minimum overall average of 70% | No | $8,082 |
| Creative WritingToronto | Minimum overall average of 70% | No | $6,170 |
| Criticism & Curatorial PracticeToronto | Minimum overall average of 70% | No | $6,170 |
| Digital FuturesToronto | Minimum overall average of 70% | No | Not published |
| Drawing & PaintingToronto | Minimum overall average of 70% | No | $6,170 |
| Environmental DesignToronto | Minimum overall average of 70% | No | $8,082 |
| Environmental Design: Interior Design SpecializationToronto | Minimum overall average of 70% | No | $8,082 |
| Experimental AnimationToronto | Minimum overall average of 70% | No | Not published |
| Graphic DesignToronto | Minimum overall average of 70% | No | $8,082 |
| IllustrationToronto | Minimum overall average of 70% | No | $8,082 |
| Indigenous Visual CultureToronto | Minimum overall average of 70% | No | $6,170 |
| Industrial DesignToronto | Minimum overall average of 70% | No | $8,082 |
| Integrated MediaToronto | Minimum overall average of 70% | No | $6,170 |
| Integrated Media: Life Studies SpecializationToronto | Minimum overall average of 70% | No | $6,170 |
| Material Art & DesignToronto | Minimum overall average of 70% | No | Not published |
| PhotographyToronto | Minimum overall average of 70% | No | $6,170 |
| Printmaking & PublicationsToronto | Minimum overall average of 70% | No | $6,170 |
| Sculpture/InstallationToronto | Minimum overall average of 70% | No | $6,170 |
How much does OCAD U cost?
First year, at this year's prices, for a student from Ontario. Each program's page adds up its own total.
Tuition over the years
First-year arts tuition for a student from the school's own province, as the school published it each year.
What is it like at OCAD U?
The same whatever program you pick.
- Who gets a room
- No promise published
- Money just for your marks
- $3,000 for 95% and up
- $2,000 for 90 to 94.99%
- $1,000 for 85 to 89.99%
- First-years who rate it good or excellent
- Not published
- Finish their degree
- 65.1%, started in 2015
- Ways in without the usual marks
- Mature Applicants. Adults who have been out of school for a while can apply as mature applicants. As for all OCAD U applicants, offers are based mainly on a portfolio or writing sample, and English proficiency must be shown. Who: At least 20 years old by September 1 of the year of entry, and not in formal education for at least two years.
- U of T Woodsworth College Academic Bridging Program pathway. OCAD U has a partnership with the Academic Bridging Program at the University of Toronto's Woodsworth College. Mature students who do not meet OCAD U's academic requirements can take the bridging course, and a final grade of 63% or more counts as meeting them, with transfer credit. Who: Mature students at least 20 years old and away from formal education for at least two years, who do not meet OCAD U's academic requirements. Admission to the bridging program itself is decided by Woodsworth College.
Support at OCAD U, and other ways in
For students with a disability, Indigenous students, and anyone who needs another route in. Quoted from OCAD U's own pages.
- Students with a disability
Student Accessibility Services (opens in a new tab)
- “It's best to register prior to the beginning of classes to ensure you have the appropriate academic accommodations in place, however you are free to register with Student Accessibility Services throughout the year.” Source (opens in a new tab)
- “Bring your completed Medical Documentation (PDF) OR psychoeducational assessment to your registration appointment.” Source (opens in a new tab)
- “You are eligible for interim accommodations and can receive accommodations while you are in the process of obtaining your medical documentation.” Source (opens in a new tab)
- Indigenous students
Getting in: no separate Indigenous admission pathway found on OCAD U's pages
Support: Indigenous Student Centre (ISC) (opens in a new tab)
- “The Indigenous Student Centre (ISC) offers a welcoming environment with a wide range of specialized services to support the academic, cultural, social and emotional wellbeing of Indigenous students at OCAD U.” Source (opens in a new tab)
- Other ways in
U of T Woodsworth College Academic Bridging Program (opens in a new tab). Mature students without the usual academic requirements, who complete a bridging course at the University of Toronto first.
- “OCAD U will accept successful completion of the Academic Bridging Program as equivalent to meeting the requirements for entry and will grant Liberal Arts & Science transfer credits to students entering via that pathway.” Source (opens in a new tab)
- “Mature students* who achieve a minimum of 63% final grade in the Academic Bridging Program (one full course) will be deemed to have met the academic requirements for admission to OCAD University.” Source (opens in a new tab)
- Mature students
- “To be considered as a Mature Applicant, you must be at least 20 years of age by September 1 of the year of intended enrolment and not engaged in formal education for at least two years.” Source (opens in a new tab)
- “Offers of admission to OCAD U’s programs are based primarily on the strength of the applicant’s portfolio or writing sample.” Source (opens in a new tab)
Every quote was found word for word on the page it links to on 29 October 2026. Rules change: confirm with the office before you rely on one. Compare every school's support and access routes.
What do OCAD U graduates earn?
Statistics Canada does not publish pay by university, only by field for each province's graduates. Figures are for Ontario bachelor's graduates, the class of 2022 two years after and the class of 2019 five years after, in 2024 dollars.
| Field | Two years after (class of 2022) | Five years after (class of 2019) |
|---|---|---|
| Arts and humanities | $41,700 | $60,500 |
| Fine and performing arts | $33,300 | $49,300 |
What careers do OCAD U programs lead to?
Two careers per field the school teaches, each with its pay, training and what the work is like.
- LawyerSeven years of school, a licensing year, then anything from legal aid to Bay Street.$124kTypical pay7 to 8 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemand
- JournalistYou find out what happened, check it, and tell people clearly and fast.$77kTypical pay2 to 4 yearsTo qualifyLimitedDemand
- Graphic DesignerLogos, websites, packaging, apps. A portfolio matters more than a diploma.$65kTypical pay2 to 4 yearsTo qualifyLimitedDemand
- MusicianPlay or sing for money. Almost everyone does it by stacking gigs, teaching and session work together.$33kTypical pay2 to 10 yearsTo qualifyLimitedDemand
Compare OCAD U with other universities
Side by side: programs, averages, costs and outcomes.
Where these numbers come from
Checked 2026-10-10. Every figure is from the school's own pages or a government table; nothing is estimated.
- Residence: admissions.ocadu.ca (opens in a new tab) (admissions.ocadu.ca (opens in a new tab))
- Scholarships: admissions.ocadu.ca (opens in a new tab) (admissions.ocadu.ca (opens in a new tab))
- Fees: ocadu.ca (opens in a new tab) (ocadu.ca (opens in a new tab))
- Satisfaction: ocadu.ca (opens in a new tab) (ocadu.ca (opens in a new tab))
- Rent: www150.statcan.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)
- Books: admissions.ocadu.ca (opens in a new tab) (calculator: erpapps.ocadu.ca (opens in a new tab))
- Pay by field: www150.statcan.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)
- Entering averages (Common University Data Ontario, fall 2022): couprodpublicreports.tgtsolutions.com (opens in a new tab)
- Advertising: admissions.ocadu.ca (opens in a new tab)
- Creative Writing: admissions.ocadu.ca (opens in a new tab)
- Criticism & Curatorial Practice: admissions.ocadu.ca (opens in a new tab)
How every figure in this part of the site is sourced, and the check of every link.
Careerhelp is not affiliated with any school. Check the program page before you apply; requirements change every year.