McMaster University

McMaster University sits on a green campus with ivy-covered buildings that blend in with modern buildings made of glass and steel. Pedestrians rule the school grounds, which are located near lakefront conservation areas; cars are not allowed beyond the parking lots located along the campus perimeter. Students are as enthusiastic and engaged as the forward-thinking professors, thanks to the university’s innovative offerings such as integrated programs, where related subjects are taught under one degree, like integrated business and humanities. The inquiry approach—a form of self-directed, problem-based learning—originated at McMaster’s well-respected medical school. Universities around the world, including Harvard, continue to use Mac’s process as a model. The university’s state-of-the-art facilities include a low-powered nuclear reactor, which is used for research and to produce medical isotopes for cancer treatment. Meanwhile, students can take a break at the on-campus planetarium or check out the university’s art gallery and archives. “McMaster has a long tradition of bold innovation across its six faculties, from building a research nuclear reactor on campus to reinventing the way physicians are trained,” says president Susan Tighe. “Today our faculty members are using AI to discover new antibiotics and are recovering heat wasted in commercial settings. With a broad array of supports and amenities, we work to make sure every student can thrive and succeed.”

Campus buzz: Students can test their campus knowledge with a new app, Macguessr, built by a third-year software engineering student.

Quick facts

Tuition (includes compulsory ancillary fees)
$7,671 ($9,193 out-of-province students)

Median Entering Grades
Arts: 80% | Science: 86% | Commerce: 85% | Engineering: 88%

Student Body
Undergraduates: Full-time:  30,574 | Part-time: 1,205
Graduates: Full-time: 4,565 | Part-time: 912
International Students: First-year: 8.4% | Graduate: 34.9%

Housing Facts
Residence Spaces: 4,644 (guaranteed for first-years who meet a grade minimum)
Cost of double room with meals: $15,615 to $17,100
Cost of single room with meals: $16,900 to $18,700
Cost of apartment-style: $10,215 to $11,150

Standout programs

Integrated Rehabilitation and Humanities: Students in this program focus on the connection between rehabilitation, health and the humanities, learning what it means to be human at its most fundamental level. 
Integrated Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences: This interdisciplinary program provides students with a strong theoretical foundation, as well as practical hands-on, project-based learning, with a strong emphasis on entrepreneurship and solving real-world problems.
Leadership and Civic Studies: This new program trains students how to tackle pressing societal challenges, develops their skills in critical and creative thinking and prepares them to drive meaningful change in their community.

Reputation

Ranked #6 (Medical Doctoral) among faculty members and hiring managers in the 2025 reputation survey, powered by Angus Reid Group.