Education in Waterloo, Canada: official figures
54.5% of people aged 25 to 64 in Waterloo held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2021, 3rd highest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site, above the national 32.9%.
How many adults in Waterloo did not finish high school?
4.6% of people aged 25 to 64 in Waterloo had no certificate, diploma or degree in 2021, 4th lowest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site, and 16.9% had a high school diploma as their highest qualification (Canada: 9.9% and 23.0%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow many people in Waterloo have a college diploma or trade certificate?
In 2021, 18.9% of people aged 25 to 64 in Waterloo had a college, CEGEP or other non-university diploma as their highest qualification and 3.1% an apprenticeship or trades certificate (Canada: 21.4% and 9.6%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow many people in Waterloo have a master's degree or PhD?
12,355 people aged 25 to 64 in Waterloo, 19.8% of that age group, held a master's degree or an earned doctorate in 2021 (Canada: 8.5%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow many people in Waterloo work in education?
13.3% of the labour force in Waterloo, 8,770 people, worked in educational services in 2021 (Canada: 7.3%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow Waterloo compares with other cities in Canada
Bachelor's degree or higher, ages 25 to 64, 2021 Census (2021)
Waterloo ranks 3 of 69, highest first.
| Rank | City | Bachelor's degree or higher, ages 25 to 64, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oakville | 61.0% |
| 2 | Richmond Hill | 55.9% |
| 3 | Waterloo | 54.5% |
| 4 | Vancouver | 52.8% |
| 5 | Milton | 50.3% |
| 6 | Ottawa | 49.5% |
| 7 | Toronto | 49.4% |
No certificate, diploma or degree, ages 25 to 64, 2021 Census (2021)
Waterloo ranks 66 of 69, highest first.
| Rank | City | No certificate, diploma or degree, ages 25 to 64, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 63 | Saanich | 5.1% |
| 64 | Coquitlam | 4.9% |
| 65 | Milton | 4.8% |
| 66 | Waterloo | 4.6% |
| 67 | Burlington | 4.2% |
| 68 | Richmond Hill | 4.0% |
| 69 | Oakville | 2.9% |
Any postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree, ages 25 to 64, 2021 Census (2021)
Waterloo ranks 4 of 69, highest first.
| Rank | City | Any postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree, ages 25 to 64, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oakville | 83.5% |
| 2 | Lévis V | 79.5% |
| 3 | Richmond Hill | 79.4% |
| 4 | Waterloo | 78.5% |
| 5 | Québec | 78.4% |
| 6 | Milton | 77.2% |
| 7 | Ottawa | 76.8% |
More on Waterloo: overview · economy and jobs · poverty and living standards · all cities in Canada
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population (98-316-X2021001): census subdivisions, selected characteristics (Census Profile SDMX API extract, dataflow DF_CSD, gender total, counts and rates), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 46d086943a5e…)
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