Canada: education

How many students are in college and university in Canada?

There were 2.3 million enrolments in Canada's public colleges and universities in the 2024/2025 academic year, up 0.1% (+3,174) from the year before, according to Statistics Canada, released on 1 October 2026. Domestic enrolments rose 2.1% (+37,626) while international enrolments fell 6.9% (-39,582).

Enrolments are counted on a fall snapshot date and by program, so a student in two programs counts twice, and short college programs that start later in the year are partly missed. Apprenticeship programs are excluded. 724,071 students graduated with a credential in 2024, up 9.2%. The data are revised each year.

Official sources: Statistics Canada: Canadian postsecondary enrolments and graduates, 2024/2025

How many international students are there in Canada?

International student enrolments at Canadian public colleges and universities fell 6.9% (-39,582) in 2024/2025, according to Statistics Canada, the first academic year to reflect the federal cap on new study permits announced in January 2024. The decline was larger at colleges (-22,323; -7.7%) than at universities (-17,259; -6.1%).

Ontario recorded the largest declines. Business and administration saw the biggest fall in international enrolments, while health care programs grew. These figures count enrolments in public institutions only, not all study permit holders; the number of people holding permits is published by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Official sources: Statistics Canada: Canadian postsecondary enrolments and graduates, 2024/2025

How much is university tuition in Canada?

Average tuition for Canadian full-time undergraduate students was $7,734 in 2025/2026, up 1.4%, and $41,746 for international undergraduates, up 2.5%, according to Statistics Canada. Graduate tuition averaged $7,978 for Canadian students and $24,028 for international students.

The amounts are in June 2025 constant dollars and vary widely by province and program. Statistics Canada released the 2026/2027 tuition data on 16 September 2026 in its data tables and interactive tool; that release did not include a written summary of the national averages.

Official sources: Statistics Canada: Tuition in Canada, 2025/2026 · Statistics Canada: Tuition fees for degree programs, 2026/2027

What percentage of Canadians have a degree?

In 2025, 64% of Canadians aged 25 to 64 held a college or university credential, up from 55% in 2015, according to Statistics Canada's Education Indicators in Canada, released on 25 March 2026. 25% held a bachelor's degree and 14% a master's or doctorate, while 25% held a college credential.

Statistics Canada notes the share is above the OECD average of 41%, mainly because of Canada's college system. Women were more likely than men to hold a credential (71% against 57%). The figures are 12-month averages from the Labour Force Survey and use the international ISCED classification of education levels.

Official sources: Statistics Canada: Education indicators in Canada, 2025

How many students are in public schools in Canada?

Enrolment in Canadian elementary and secondary schools rose by 125,200 (+2.3%) in 2023/2024, the largest increase since the statistics were first compiled in 1997/1998, according to Statistics Canada, released on 3 February 2026. The number of public school educators rose 2.1%.

Spending on salaries, wages and benefits for instructional staff rose 8.7% to $54.9 billion, the largest single-year rise since 1976/1977, reflecting enrolment growth and new collective agreements. Alberta (+3.6%) and New Brunswick (+3.4%) had the largest enrolment increases. Education is a provincial responsibility, so school statistics are also published by each province.

Official sources: Statistics Canada: Public school enrolment and compensation, 2023/2024

How many children in Canada are in primary school?

The UNESCO Institute for Statistics puts net primary school enrolment in Canada at 99.9% in 2017. The peak was 100.0% in 2016 and the low 99.4% in 2014. World rank, highest first: 2nd of 134.

How many teenagers in Canada are in school?

The latest figure from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, for 2023, is 104.3%. The peak was 112.0% in 2017 and the low 100.3% in 2005. World rank, highest first: 33rd of 138.

How many people in Canada go to university?

According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, gross tertiary enrolment in Canada was 76.3% in 2023. Since 2007 it has ranged from 61.9% (2010) to 79.8% (2021). Worldwide: 33rd of 120.

How much does Canada spend on education?

In 2022, government spending on education in Canada was 4.8% of GDP, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Since 2005 it has ranged from 4.6% of GDP (2013) to 5.4% of GDP (2010). Of 155 countries with 2022 data, 50th highest.