University of New Brunswick

The University of New Brunswick is the oldest English-language university in the country. With campuses in Fredericton and Saint John, UNB offers more than 125 undergraduate and graduate programs. Fredericton, home to the original campus, offers a larger number of programs, including arts, business administration, computer science, education, engineering, kinesiology, nursing, science, law, forestry and environmental management. The Saint John campus offers arts, business, science, engineering and an interdisciplinary health program. A new nursing program, Learn Where You Live, allows nursing students to stay in their community, learning partially using virtual-reality headsets. Both campuses have a small-school feel; the student-to-faculty ratio is 13 to 1 and average class size is 28. The university places a strong focus on research. The Planetary and Space Science Centre is involved in NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory mission and conducts planetary research, often with the help of undergraduate students. The Human Performance Lab is an innovative motion-analysis lab with state-of-the-art equipment. There’s a focus on hands-on learning and entrepreneurship—more than 100 startups have launched from the school in the past decade. Students have access to a wide variety of experiential learning opportunities, including clinical placements, co-op placements, community engaged learning and field placements. “We’re proud to be our province’s only comprehensive university. Our students enjoy a learning experience that goes beyond just earning a degree,” says president Paul Mazerolle.

Campus buzz: The new Health and Social Innovation Centre opens on the Saint John campus in the fall of 2026 and will feature teaching kitchens and a healing garden. 

Quick facts

Tuition (includes compulsory ancillary fees)
$10,059

Median Entering Grades
Arts: 85.93% | Science: 89.1% | Commerce: 87.67% | Engineering: 89.97%

Student Body
Undergraduates: Full-time: 7,964 | Part-time: 805
Graduates: Full-time: 1,260 | Part-time: 574
International Students: First-year: 15% | Graduate: 52.6%

Housing Facts
Residence Spaces: 1,627 (from 2025, 93% of first years who applied got a spot)
Cost of double room with meals: $12,342 to $13,088
Cost of single room with meals:  $14,320 to $16.636
Cost of apartment-style: $8,105 to $13,309

Standout programs

Criminology and Criminal Justice: This program teaches students interested in going into policing, government, security or the justice system about the roots and impact of crime, and equips them with research and analytical skills to address social issues. 
Forestry and Environmental Management: Students learn digital forestry, geospatial analytics, environmental monitoring and sustainable resource management. 
Environmental Engineering: Students prepare to help communities and governments navigate rapid climate shifts learn about emerging environmental challenges and how to design sustainable solutions.  

Reputation

Ranked #11 (Comprehensive) among faculty members and hiring managers in the 2025 reputation survey, powered by Angus Reid Group.