2025 Maclean’s University Rankings: Undergraduate Schools

Find out which universities that focus mainly on undergraduate studies are the best in Canada according to Maclean's!

October is a month full of education fairs, school tours, and figuring out which school and program you want to apply to for your undergrad! Whether you’re about to begin your undergraduate degree, or you’re wanting to transfer schools, there’s no better way to help you narrow down your choices than with Maclean’s 2025 rankings for Canada’s best primarily undergraduate universities.

Maclean's rankings are based on 12 performance indicators like student/faculty ratio, scholarships/bursaries, operating budget, reputation, and more. Check out Maclean’s University Rankings Methodology for more information.

Now the moment you’ve been waiting for… introducing the top 20 undergraduate schools in Canada:

1. Mount Allison University

Last year’s ranking: 1

Mount Allison University, located in Sackville, New Brunswick, is a primarily undergraduate liberal arts and sciences university. Mount Allison prides itself on providing a high-quality academic experience mixed with hands-on learning opportunities and a close-knit community.

2. University of Northern British Columbia

Last year’s ranking: 2

The University of Northern British Columbia, or UNBC, is one of Canada’s best small universities. UNBC’s mission is to ignite, inspire, and lead change amongst their students through teaching and research.

3. Saint Mary’s University

Last year’s ranking: 3

Saint Mary's University is in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The university offers a close-knot campus with a world of possibilities where you won’t have to choose between big opportunities and small classes. The average class size is 30 students.

4. Acadia University

Last year’s ranking: 5

Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, is one of the oldest and most respected liberal arts universities in Canada. Acadia’s liberal arts curriculum helps their students with their future aspirations — travel, grad school, careers, and family. There are also 22 degrees with the option of co-op.

5. Lakehead University

Last year’s ranking: 11

With campuses in Thunder Bay and Orillia, Lakehead University promises the total university experience: a blend of academic excellence and opportunity with a rich variety of social and recreational activities. They also promise excellence in research.

Now, check out the full list of Canada’s top primarily undergraduate universities of 2025:

There you have it! The best undergraduate universities in Canada, according to Maclean’s! This year, Lakehead University climbed six spots from eleventh to sixth!

Remember, rankings aren’t everything, and they don’t give you the full picture of a school. So, if you don’t see a school you’re interested in on the list, then don’t worry! You should choose a school based on what is important to you and how it makes you feel.

Since this list only included schools mainly focused on undergraduate education, you can also explore Maclean’s other rankings to learn about more schools, like the best comprehensive universities for 2025 or the best universities based on scholarships and bursaries.