University of Waterloo
Waterloo, Ontario · 58,172 undergraduates
Counsellors: add notes to this page for a student
Is it hard to get into Waterloo?
How Waterloo's first-year students came in (official figures, fall 2022), then what the school publishes for each program.
Entering average
92.2%
First-year students from Ontario high schools, fall 2022; 72% came in at 90 or above. Official figure, Common University Data Ontario
Lowest published average
High 70s
Honours Arts, the school's own figure
Highest published average
Low to mid-90s
Software Engineering, the school's own figure
Back for second year
92.5%
started in 2021
| Field | Entering average | School says | First-year tuition | Graduates working | Co-op |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer science | 97.8% | Low to mid 90s | $13,126 | 96.9% | Yes |
| Engineering | 95.2% | Mid 80s to mid 90s, by program | $14,248 | 96.1% | Yes |
| Business and commerce | 90.4% | Mid 80s | $6,250 | 92.1% | Yes |
| Health sciences and kinesiology | 92.1% | Low to high 80s | $6,250 | 93.3% | Yes |
| Life sciences | 89.9% | Low 80s | $6,250 | 94% | Yes |
| Math and physical sciences | 95.3% | Mid 80s | $6,250 | 97.6% | Yes |
| Social sciences | 88.4% | High 70s | $6,250 | 94.3% | Yes |
| Arts and humanities | 88.4% | High 70s | $6,250 | 90.2% | Yes |
| Fine and performing arts | Not reported | High 70s | $6,250 | 100% | Yes |
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 Waterloo's first-year students come in with?
Every new full-time first-year student at Waterloo 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and information science | 97.8% | 94% | 4% | 2% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Mathematics and statistics | 95.3% | 68% | 28% | 4% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Engineering | 95.2% | 67% | 28% | 6% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Health professions | 92.1% | 34% | 40% | 19% | 7% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Architecture and planning | 90.9% | 28% | 36% | 27% | 10% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Commerce, management and business | 90.4% | 30% | 33% | 19% | 13% | 6% | 0% | 0% |
| General science | 90.2% | 22% | 35% | 27% | 15% | 2% | 0% | 0% |
| Biological and biomedical sciences | 89.9% | 18% | 38% | 32% | 11% | 1% | 0% | 0% |
| Communication and journalism | 89.7% | 15% | 41% | 33% | 11% | 1% | 0% | 0% |
| Physical science | 89.5% | 18% | 35% | 27% | 17% | 3% | 0% | 0% |
| Liberal arts, general studies and humanities | 88.4% | 15% | 33% | 27% | 20% | 6% | 0% | 0% |
| Social sciences | 88.4% | 10% | 29% | 45% | 13% | 3% | 0% | 0% |
| Kinesiology, recreation and physical education | 87.7% | 10% | 28% | 35% | 22% | 5% | 0% | 0% |
| All of Waterloo | 92.2% | 42% | 30% | 18% | 8% | 2% | 0% | 0% |
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 are the easiest programs to get into at Waterloo?
The programs with the lowest bar in the school's own figures: its published minimum or range. A low bar is not an easy program; competitive programs can take students well above it.
Lowest bar
- 1Climate and Environmental ChangeThe school says high 70s
- 2Environment and BusinessThe school says high 70s
- 3Environment, Resources and SustainabilityThe school says high 70s
- 4Geography and Environmental ManagementThe school says high 70s
- 5Geospatial Data ScienceThe school says high 70s
- 6Honours ArtsThe school says high 70s
- 7Honours Arts and BusinessThe school says high 70s
- 8Biomedical SciencesThe school says low 80s
Highest bar
- 1Business Administration (Laurier) and Computer Science (Waterloo) Double DegreeThe school says individual selection from the low to mid-90s
- 2Computer ScienceThe school says individual selection from the low to mid-90s
- 3Computing and Financial ManagementThe school says individual selection from the low to mid-90s
- 4Software EngineeringThe school says individual selection from the low to mid-90s
- 5Biomedical EngineeringThe school says individual selection from the high 80s to low 90s
- 6Computer EngineeringThe school says individual selection from the high 80s to low 90s
- 7Electrical EngineeringThe school says individual selection from the high 80s to low 90s
- 8Mechanical EngineeringThe school says individual selection from the high 80s to low 90s
What average do you need for each Waterloo program?
50 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.
Computer scienceevery university, ranked
| Program | School says | Co-op | Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer ScienceWaterloo | Individual selection from the low to mid-90s | Yes, optional, 6 work terms | $13,126 |
| Computing and Financial ManagementWaterloo | Individual selection from the low to mid-90s | Yes, required, 6 work terms | $6,250 |
| Data ScienceWaterloo | Individual selection from the mid-80s if applying directly to Data Science or through Mathematics; low to mid-90s if applying through Computer Science | Yes, optional, 6 work terms | $13,126 |
Engineeringevery university, ranked
| Program | School says | Co-op | Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural EngineeringWaterloo | Individual selection from the Mid-to-high 80s | Yes, required, 6 work terms | $14,248 |
| Biomedical EngineeringWaterloo | Individual selection from the high 80s to low 90s | Yes, required, 6 work terms | $14,248 |
| Chemical EngineeringWaterloo | Individual selection from the Mid-to-high 80s | Yes, required, 6 work terms | $14,248 |
| Civil EngineeringWaterloo | Individual selection from the Mid-to-high 80s | Yes, required, 6 work terms | $14,248 |
| Computer EngineeringWaterloo | Individual selection from the high 80s to low 90s | Yes, required, 6 work terms | $14,248 |
| Electrical EngineeringWaterloo | Individual selection from the high 80s to low 90s | Yes, required, 6 work terms | $14,248 |
| Environmental EngineeringWaterloo | Individual selection from the Mid-to-high 80s | Yes, required, 6 work terms | $14,248 |
| Geological EngineeringWaterloo | Individual selection from the Mid-to-high 80s | Yes, required, 6 work terms | $14,248 |
| Management EngineeringWaterloo | Individual selection from the Mid-to-high 80s | Yes, required, 6 work terms | $14,248 |
| Mechanical EngineeringWaterloo | Individual selection from the high 80s to low 90s | Yes, required, 6 work terms | $14,248 |
| Mechatronics EngineeringWaterloo | Individual selection from the high 80s to low 90s | Yes, required, 6 work terms | $14,248 |
| Nanotechnology EngineeringWaterloo | Individual selection from the Mid-to-high 80s | Yes, required, 6 work terms | $14,248 |
| Software EngineeringWaterloo | Individual selection from the low to mid-90s | Yes, required, 6 work terms | $14,248 |
| Systems Design EngineeringWaterloo | Individual selection from the high 80s to low 90s | Yes, required, 6 work terms | $14,248 |
Business and commerceevery university, ranked
| Program | School says | Co-op | Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting and Financial ManagementWaterloo | Mid-80s | Yes, required, 4 work terms | $6,250 |
| Business Administration (Laurier) and Computer Science (Waterloo) Double DegreeWaterloo | Individual selection from the low to mid-90s | Yes, required, 5 work terms | $13,126 |
| Business Administration (Laurier) and Mathematics (Waterloo) Double DegreeWaterloo | Individual selection from the mid-to-high 80s | Yes, required, 5 work terms | $10,564 |
| Environment and BusinessWaterloo | High 70s | Yes, required, 5 work terms | $6,250 |
| Global Business and Digital ArtsStratford | Low 80s | Yes, required, 4 work terms | $11,592 |
| Mathematics/Business AdministrationWaterloo | Individual selection from the mid-80s | Yes, optional, 6 work terms | $6,250 |
| Mathematics/Chartered Professional AccountancyWaterloo | Individual selection from the mid-80s | Yes, required, 4 work terms | $6,250 |
| Mathematics/Financial Analysis and Risk ManagementWaterloo | Individual selection from the mid-80s | Yes, optional, 6 work terms | $9,756 |
| Science and BusinessWaterloo | Low 80s | Yes, optional, 5 work terms | $6,250 |
| Science and Financial ManagementWaterloo | Low to mid-80s | Yes, required, 4 work terms | $6,250 |
| Sustainability and Financial ManagementWaterloo | Mid-80s | Yes, required, 4 work terms | $6,250 |
Health sciences and kinesiologyevery university, ranked
| Program | School says | Co-op | Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health SciencesWaterloo | Mid 80s (no co-op) and high 80s (co-op) | Yes, optional, 5 work terms | $6,250 |
| KinesiologyWaterloo | Low 80s (no co-op) and mid-80s (co-op) | Yes, optional, 5 work terms | $6,250 |
| Medical Sciences (Waterloo) and Doctor of Medicine (St. George's University)Waterloo (2 years), then St. George's University, Grenada, and affiliated hospitals | No average published | No | Not published |
| Public HealthWaterloo | Low 80s (no co-op) and mid-80s (co-op) | Yes, optional, 5 work terms | $6,250 |
| Recreation and Leisure StudiesWaterloo | Low 80s (co-op and regular) | Yes, optional, 5 work terms | $6,250 |
Life sciencesevery university, ranked
| Program | School says | Co-op | Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biomedical SciencesWaterloo | Low 80s | No | $6,250 |
| Life SciencesWaterloo | Low 80s | Yes, optional, 5 work terms | $6,250 |
Math and physical sciencesevery university, ranked
| Program | School says | Co-op | Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Climate and Environmental ChangeWaterloo | High 70s | Yes, optional, 5 work terms | $6,250 |
| Environmental SciencesWaterloo | Low 80s | Yes, optional, 5 work terms | $6,250 |
| Honours ScienceWaterloo | Low 80s | No | $6,250 |
| MathematicsWaterloo | Individual selection from the mid-80s | Yes, optional, 6 work terms | $6,250 |
| Physical SciencesWaterloo | Low 80s | Yes, optional, 5 work terms | $6,250 |
| Science and AviationWaterloo | Mid-80s | No | $6,250 |
Arts and humanitiesevery university, ranked
| Program | School says | Co-op | Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honours ArtsWaterloo | High 70s | Yes, optional, 5 work terms | $6,250 |
| Honours Arts and BusinessWaterloo | High 70s | Yes, optional, 5 work terms | $6,250 |
Architecture and designevery university, ranked
| Program | School says | Co-op | Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| ArchitectureCambridge | Individual selection from the mid-80s | Yes, required, 6 work terms | $9,322 |
How much does Waterloo cost?
First year, at this year's prices, for a student from Ontario. Each program's page adds up its own total.
Tuition, first year
$6,250 to $14,248
Depends on the program
Fees on top of tuition
$1,833 to $2,168
Compulsory student fees
Residence and meals
$16,294
First year, shared room, usual meal plan
Rent after first year
$908 a month
Half a two-bedroom in Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo, CMHC Rental Market Survey, October 2025
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 Waterloo?
The same whatever program you pick.
- Who gets a room
- First-year students are guaranteed a residence spot if they accept their Offer of Admission by the offer deadline (1 June 2027 for most students) and submit the New Student Residence Application and $500 non-refundable deposit by 11:55 p.m. ET on 8 June 2027.
- Money just for your marks
- $2,000 for 95% and up
- $2,000 for 90 to 94.9%
- $1,000 for 85 to 89.9%
- First-years who rate it good or excellent
- 77% (National Survey of Student Engagement)
- Finish their degree
- 86.4%, started in 2015
- Ways in without the usual marks
- Prior learning assessment and recognition (PLAR). A process Waterloo uses to judge whether adult applicants can be admitted when they do not meet the published requirements because of a disability, illness, trauma or other circumstance that was not accommodated. It can also count skills gained through work, volunteering, military service, training or other life experience. Who: Mature applicants aged 21 or older who do not meet the published admission requirements because of an unaccommodated (or suspected) disability, illness, trauma or other circumstance, or who have equal skills and knowledge from life experience.
- Mature student admission. Waterloo considers mature students case by case, with rules that differ by faculty. Most faculties still expect the published requirements; the Faculty of Mathematics accepts mature applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements if they have covered the required Grade 12 math. Who: Never studied at college or university. Away from high school for some time: normally four years for Arts, Environment, Health and Science, and more than two years for Mathematics.
Support at Waterloo, and other ways in
For students with a disability, Indigenous students, and anyone who needs another route in. Quoted from Waterloo's own pages.
- Students with a disability
AccessAbility Services (opens in a new tab)
- “Complete the AccessAbility Services' online application to begin the registration process (this will take approximately 5-10 minutes to complete).” Source (opens in a new tab)
- “It's okay if you don’t have documentation. Apply if you believe you need accommodations: we can help you with the rest!” Source (opens in a new tab)
- “Incoming students: you will begin to receive emails from us in mid-June when your Waterloo email is active.” Source (opens in a new tab)
In admission
- “Being granted special consideration means we’ll apply a form of adjustment to support your application and make sure you receive fair and equal academic treatment in the application process.” Source (opens in a new tab)
- “You're eligible if you have had significant circumstances that affected your grades AND were not accommodated through your school or relevant services (e.g., Individual Education Plan (IEP), informal accommodation by your teachers).” Source (opens in a new tab)
- Indigenous students
Getting in: Indigenous applicants pathway, School of Pharmacy (opens in a new tab)
- “Students who self-identify as Indigenous can complete that section of the Ontario Universities' Application Centre application and an admissions representative will reach out with details about a targeted application pathway that's available.” Source (opens in a new tab)
Support: Waterloo Indigenous Student Centre (WISC) (opens in a new tab)
- “The Waterloo Indigenous Student Centre (WISC) is a warm, welcoming, and all-inclusive space that provides Indigenous-led programming, services and events centered in supporting the University of Waterloo Indigenous community.” Source (opens in a new tab)
- Other ways in
Prior learning assessment and recognition (PLAR) (opens in a new tab). Applicants aged 21 or older who do not meet the usual requirements because of a disability, illness, trauma or other circumstance, or who learned through work and life.
- “Waterloo uses to assess the admissibility of mature applicants (age 21 or older) who do not meet our published admission requirements due to an unaccommodated (or suspected) disability, illness, trauma, or other unaccommodated circumstance.” Source (opens in a new tab)
Sankofa Pathways to University (opens in a new tab). Black students who are starting or thinking about post-secondary education.
- “Sankofa Pathways to University (SPU) is a two-week summer program designed for Black students entering or exploring post-secondary education.” Source (opens in a new tab)
- Mature students
- “Applications from mature students are considered on a case-by-case basis. Like all applicants to Waterloo, mature students are expected to meet the published admission requirements for their program of interest.” Source (opens in a new tab)
- “If you've studied at college or university, you are not considered a mature student for admission purposes.” 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 Waterloo 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) |
|---|---|---|
| Computer science | $79,700 | $106,600 |
| Engineering | $81,000 | $95,900 |
| Business and commerce | $63,900 | $82,200 |
| Health sciences and kinesiology | $44,200 | $68,900 |
| Life sciences | $43,000 | $71,300 |
| Math and physical sciences | $61,000 | $84,200 |
| Social sciences | $51,400 | $68,400 |
| Arts and humanities | $41,700 | $60,500 |
What careers do Waterloo programs lead to?
Two careers per field the school teaches, each with its pay, training and what the work is like.
- Software DeveloperBuild apps, websites and systems. No licence required, many roads in.$100kTypical pay1 to 4 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemand
- Data ScientistTurn piles of data into predictions and decisions. Math, code and a lot of cleaning up.$96kTypical pay4 to 7 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemand
- Civil EngineerRoads, bridges, water and buildings. A four-year degree, then a licence that lets you sign the drawings.$101kTypical pay4 to 8 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemand
- Mechanical EngineerMachines, engines, heating systems and factories. The biggest engineering discipline, with the widest choice of employers.$95kTypical pay4 to 8 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemand
- Accountant (CPA)The money behind every business. A degree, a national exam, and a designation that travels.$84kTypical pay6 to 7 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemand
- Financial AnalystRead the numbers behind a company or a deal and tell people what they mean. A degree, then years of exams.$90kTypical pay4 to 7 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemand
- PhysiotherapistGet people moving again after injury, surgery and illness. A tough master's to get into, then steady work everywhere.$96kTypical pay6 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemand
- KinesiologistMovement, exercise and rehab science. A popular 4-year degree that opens doors, often to more school.$67kTypical pay4 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemand
- BiologistStudy living things for a government, a university or a consulting firm. The degree is the easy part; the funding is the hard part.$83kTypical pay4 to 6 yearsTo qualifyLimitedDemand
Compare Waterloo 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: uwaterloo.ca (opens in a new tab)
- Who gets a room: uwaterloo.ca (opens in a new tab)
- Scholarships: uwaterloo.ca (opens in a new tab)
- Fees: uwaterloo.ca (opens in a new tab) (uwaterloo.ca (opens in a new tab))
- Satisfaction: uwaterloo.ca (opens in a new tab) (listed on uwaterloo.ca (opens in a new tab))
- Rent: www150.statcan.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)
- Books: uwaterloo.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)
- Honours Arts: uwaterloo.ca (opens in a new tab)
- Honours Arts and Business: uwaterloo.ca (opens in a new tab)
- Accounting and Financial Management: uwaterloo.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.
Social sciencesevery university, ranked