Wilfrid Laurier University

Wilfrid Laurier University is an integral part of the Kitchener-Waterloo and Brantford communities. The Waterloo campus is squeezed mostly onto a single city block. Lazaridis Hall houses the school of business and economics, the math department and the StartUp Lab. Brantford campus students enjoy an athletic and recreation facility jointly run with the local YMCA. Students at the Waterloo campus benefit from the city’s status as one of the world’s fastest-growing tech sectors in a region with the world’s second-highest startup density after Silicon Valley. A new campus in Milton opened in 2014, with programs including business technology management, computer science and psychology, with a new software engineering program starting in the fall of 2026. Each year, more than 20,000 students participate in experiential learning opportunities, including co-op, field placements, lab experiences, workplace projects and community service learning. The university has 23 research centres and institutes, including ones dedicated to cold regions research, women in science, international migration and sustainable food systems. “When students enrol at Laurier, they are joining a university renowned for its sense of community and supports that ensure academic and personal success,” says president Deborah MacLatchy. “Laurier offers exceptional engaged and experiential learning that ensures students are prepared for a future in an increasingly complex and interconnected world.”

Campus buzz: Organized by the Criminology Student Association and led by faculty and students, the Blood Stains and Blood-Splatter: Inside a Crime Lab workshops allow students to become forensic scientists for the day. Students analyze bloodstain patterns and collect samples from a mock crime scene, all essential to a forensic investigation.

Quick facts

Tuition (includes compulsory ancillary fees) $8,101

Median Entering Grades
Arts: 82% | Science: 84.5% | Commerce: 90%

Student Body
Undergraduates: Full-time: 17,225 | Part-time: 3,359
Graduates: Full-time: 1,418 | Part-time: 935
International Students: First-year: 2.4% | Graduate: 30.6%

Housing Facts
Residence Spaces: 3,799 (for 2025, 96% of first-years who applied got a spot)
Cost of double room with meals: $14,405 to $16,502 
Cost of single room with meals: $16,118 to $17,684 
Cost of apartment-style: $8,759 to $11,417

Standout programs

Business Administration: This program offers 10 business concentrations, as well as practical experience through case competitions and co-op placements. Graduates enjoy a 98 per cent employment rate.

Health Sciences: This program prepares students for advanced fields like medicine and pharmacy. It offers hands-on research opportunities and small class sizes.

Education: This program offers diverse courses, substantial practice and alternative placements, locally and globally. A teaching option pathway is available in select undergraduate programs.

Reputation

Ranked #12 (Comprehensive) among faculty members and hiring managers in the 2025 reputation survey, powered by Angus Reid Group.