Montreal might be a dream city for students, but when it comes to rankings, Toronto has edged us out again.
In a development that feels all too familiar, McGill University has been outperformed by the University of Toronto (U of T) in a new CourseCompare's ranking of the best Canadian universities in 2025.
Released on January 7, CourseCompare's list evaluates universities on their ability to prepare students for the future, focusing on factors like industry connections, research opportunities, and job readiness. And while McGill still holds an impressive ranking in Canada, it just couldn’t keep up with U of T's powerhouse performance.
University of Toronto's strengths
Coming in first place, U of T was praised for its 700+ undergraduate programs, global reputation for cutting-edge research, and partnerships with major companies like Google, Amazon, and Apple. These connections give students invaluable access to co-op placements and internships that set them up for post-grad success.
McGill's silver lining
This isn't the first time McGill has trailed behind its Toronto rival. Back in November, the Times Higher Education Global Employability University Ranking also placed McGill second to U of T. While U of T ranked higher globally, McGill maintained its 31st-place position worldwide — the same as the previous year.
A few months earlier, a global ranking focused on research ranked McGill in 57th, far behind the University of Toronto in 4th and the University of British Columbia in 37th.
Still, McGill remains a strong contender thanks to its groundbreaking research in neuroscience, medicine, and climate science. It also boasts an incredibly diverse student body, with thousands of international students choosing Montreal every year. Plus, McGill's beautiful campuses and the affordable, vibrant lifestyle in Montreal continue to make it a top choice for students globally.
However, while the institution excels in areas like student life and research, it couldn’t quite match Toronto's career-focused advantages this year.
Here's how the rest of CourseCompare's list rounded out.
Canada's top 20 universities of 2025
- University of Toronto
- McGill University
- University of British Columbia
- University of Alberta
- University of Calgary
- Université de Montréal
- McMaster University
- Western University
- Queen's University
- University of Ottawa
- University of Waterloo
- Dalhousie University
- University of Saskatchewan
- University of Manitoba
- Simon Fraser University
- University of Victoria
- University of Guelph
- York University
- Wilfrid Laurier University
- Concordia University
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