Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning

The Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning is a fixture in the Kitchener area. More than half of all adults in the Waterloo region have participated in training and education at Conestoga. At its network of campuses in southwestern Ontario, including in Brantford, Guelph and Ingersoll, Conestoga offers a full range of degree, diploma, certificate, post-graduate, apprenticeship, upgrading and preparatory programs, along with microcredentials. Conestoga now offers 25 degree programs and 85 co-op terms.

Residences are walking distance from the Kitchener and Cambridge campuses. The school recently expanded student housing, securing eight properties across Waterloo, Kitchener and Brantford. As of the fall of 2024, all first-year students in Waterloo and Brantford are guaranteed housing through a college-run residence. The school’s childcare centre, which is open to the community, also provides experience for early childhood education students.

Research areas at Conestoga include improving the quality of life and care of Canada’s seniors, advanced recycling technologies for electronic waste, smart manufacturing, food-processing technology, supply chain management and improving the safety and performance of Canada’s labour force. The school has seen many upgrades in recent years, including a revamp of its skilled trades campus and major expansion of its health-care facilities and training programs. 

Quick facts

School size:
Large

Tuition:
Degree $6,200-$7,00
Diploma $2,700-$15,026
Certificate $3,400-$9,800
Post-Grad $3,400-$16,319

Residence offerings:
Yes

Popular programs

Practical Nursing Diploma
Bachelor of Science—Nursing
Early Childhood Education Diploma
Police Foundations Diploma
Personal Support Worker Certificate

Cool options

Baking and Pastry Arts: This program provides students with the fundamentals of traditional and contemporary pastry making through both individual and collaborative projects. 
Building Systems Engineering: This bachelor of engineering co-op program covers specialized building automation, controls, thermodynamics, fluid and heat transfer and design building. 
Powerline Technician: This program prepares students to work as powerline technicians, with hands-on training in the school’s dedicated, on-site training yard.