Top 7 colleges in Ontario 2023

With an ever-increasing labor shortage in Ontario, Canada, more international students are seeking to work in Canada by studying here first. Canadian college courses are more practical, technically focused than university courses. Different from universities that focus on theoretical knowledge and academic research, colleges pay more attention to practical techniques and cultivating students' vocational skills.

Here are the top 7 colleges in Ontario in 2023.

Humber College

Hailed as one of the largest colleges in Canada, Humber College houses 33,000 students, of which 6,500 (~20%) are international students. The employer and graduate satisfaction rates are above 90%, and 86.8% of graduates found jobs within 6 months of graduating.

Popular areas of study:

• Hospitality

• Healthcare

• Engineering

• Business Management

Programs available for a two-year diploma:

• Baking and Pastry Arts

• Broadcast Television

• Business Management

• Child and Youth Care

• Community services

• Engineering

• Healthcare Management

• Industrial Woodworking

• Paralegal Services

• Police Foundations

• Nursing

• Supply Chain Management

Language requirements:

For two-year diplomas, your IELTS scores need to be 6.0 overall (with all bands at 5.5 or above).

Tuition fee:

$15,600 per annum on average

Campus locations:

2 campuses in Toronto. The Lakeshore Campus is near Lake Ontario, and the North Campus is near Etobicoke.

Sheridan College

Sheridan College boasts its experience as it is ranked #1 as the college that gives the best international student experience. Its students come from 110 countries, and has over 190,000 alumni. Its library has a vast collection of 600,000+ resources, with 85% available electronically.

Popular areas of study:

• Computer Science

• Engineering

• Applied Health

• Animation and Game Design

Programs available for a two-year diploma:

• Architectural Technology

• Computer Programming

• Early Childhood Education

• Electromechanical Engineering

• Veterinary Technician

• Visual Merchandising

Language requirements:

For two-year diplomas, your IELTS scores need to be 6.0 overall (with all bands at 5.5 or above).

Tuition fee:

$17,801 to $20,293 per annum

Campus locations:

3 campuses very close to Toronto. Its campuses can be found in Brampton, Mississauga, and Oakville.

George Brown College

George Brown College hones its capacity at creating hands-on, real-world experience simulations with its culinary, dental, health, and wellness experience centres. It has over 5,000 industry partners that help build the curriculum and ensure skill development, which leads to an 89% employer satisfaction rate. In every 10 graduates, more than 8 (84%) are employed within 6 months.

Popular areas of study:

• Business and information technology

• Hospitality

• Media, Art and Design

• Early Childhood Education

Programs available for a two-year diploma:

• Business Administration

• Computer Programming

• Early Childhood Education

• Fashion Management

• Hospitality

• Skilled Trades

Language requirements:

For two-year diplomas, your IELTS scores need to be 6.0 overall (with all bands at 5.5 or above).

Tuition fee:

$15,325 to $18,135 per annum

Campus locations:

4 campuses in downtown Toronto. Its campuses can be found in Casa Loma, St. James, Waterfront, and Ryerson University.

Algonquin College

Situated in the capital of Canada, Algonquin College is dedicated to student success. In fact, 90% of its graduates find jobs within 6 months of graduation; and almost all (96%) graduates would recommend it to others. Employers are impressed with its graduates too, with their satisfaction rate at 92%.

Popular areas of study:

• Aviation Management

• Medical Technologist

• Child and Youth Care

• Paralegal

Programs available for a two-year diploma:

• Aircraft Maintenance

• Building Construction

• Forestry Technician

• Early Childhood Education

• Practical Nursing

• Nuclear and Radiation Science

Language requirements:

For two-year diplomas, your IELTS scores need to be 6.0 overall (with all bands at 5.5 or above).

Tuition fee:

$16,138 to $17,946 per annum

Campus locations:

3 campuses in and around Ottawa. Its campuses can be found in Ottawa, Perth, and Pembroke.

Fanshawe College

Fanshawe College is another remarkable college that churns out job-ready graduates. 88% of its graduates found jobs within 6 months of graduating, and 94% of employers are satisfied with their recruits from Fanshawe.

Popular areas of study:

• Business and Information Technology

• Aviation

• Engineering Technology

• Media, Art and Design

Programs available for a two-year diploma:

• Animation

• Aviation Technology

• Baking and Pastry Arts

• Computer Programming

• Culinary Management

• Early Childhood Education

• Engineering Technician

• Food and Beverage

• Police Foundations

• Tourism

Language requirements:

For two-year diplomas, your IELTS scores need to be 6.0 overall (with all bands at 5.5 or above).

Tuition fee:

$15,036 per annum on average

Campus locations:

6 campuses across the greater London region. It has 3 campuses in London, and the others can be found in Simcoe, St. Thomas, and Woodstock.

Seneca College

Truly an international college, Seneca has educated 100,000+ international students from more than 170 countries. Its program catalog contains more than 180 programs where many have the option of co-op work placements. 93% of employers are satisfied with their Seneca hires.

Popular areas of study:

• Early Childhood Education

• Accounting and Finance

• Police Foundations

• Business and Management

Programs available for a two-year diploma:

• Aviation

• Business

• Child and Youth Care

• Computer Programming

• Engineering

• Early Childhood Education

• Graphic Design

• Journalism

• Law

• Photography

Language requirements:

For two-year diplomas, your IELTS scores need to be 6.0 overall (with all bands at 5.5 or above).

Tuition fee:

$14,468 to $17,648 per annum

Campus locations:

5 campuses across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). It has 3 campuses in Toronto, and the others can be found in King City and Peterborough.

Conestoga College

Some call Conestoga one of the best colleges in Ontario and even Canada because it consistently ranks high on student, graduate, and employer satisfaction rates. This is contributed by its career-focused programs and its project-based learning model (read: hands-on experience). It has to be the fastest-growing college in Canada with an enrolment growth of over 42% over the last 5 years.

Popular areas of study:

• Project Management

• Science

• Information Technology

• Skilled Trades

Programs available for a two-year diploma:

• Animation and Design

• Business Administration

• Computer Programming

• Early Childhood Learning

• Engineering

• Insurance

• Police Foundations

• Tourism

Language requirements:

For two-year diplomas, your IELTS scores need to be 6.0 overall (with all bands at 5.5 or above).

Tuition fee:

$12,789 to $14,293 per annum

Campus locations:

6 campuses, with the main campus and 3 other campuses around the Kitchener-Waterloo. This area has the fastest-growing tech sector in Canada.

Did you know?

Students can apply to work in Canada for up to 3 years after graduating from one of these colleges. Check out our page on how to apply for a Postgraduate Work Permit!