The State of Postsecondary Education in Canada 2024

Table of Contents

• About This Series 8
• Introduction 17
• Chapter One Learners 21
• 1.1 Enrolment Trends in Postsecondary Education 21
• 1.2 Enrolment Trends in Universities 22
• 1.2.1 Fields of study 23
• 1.2.2 Student demographics 23
• 1.2.3 Inter-provincial student mobility 27
• 1.3 Enrolment Trends in Colleges 27
• 1.4 Private Postsecondary Education 30
• 1.5 Apprenticeship Enrolments 31
• 1.6 International Students 32
• 1.7 Canada in International Perspective 33
• Chapter Two Staff 38
• 2.1 Staff at Universities 38
• 2.2 Staff at Colleges 43
• Chapter Three Institutional Income & Expenditures 47
• 3.1 Income Trends for PSE Institutions 47
• 3.2 Expenditure Patterns for PSE Institutions 50
• Chapter Four Government Expenditures 54
• 4.1 Provincial Expenditures on Postsecondary Education 54
• How Funding is Distributed to Institutions 57
• 4.2 Federal Expenditures on Postsecondary Education 58
• A Short History of Federal Transfer Payments 60
• Chapter Five Tuition & Student Aid 63
• 5.1 Tuition 63
• 5.2 Student Assistance 66
• 5.2.1 Need-based Student Assistance 66
• Education Tax Credits in Canada: A Short Explainer 68
• 5.2.2 Non-need-based student assistance 69
• 5.3 Total Student Aid 70
• 5.4 Student Debt at Graduation 71
• Chapter Six Graduation, Attainment, & Graduate Outcomes 74
• 6.1 Graduation Rates 74
• 6.2 Attainment Rates 75
• 6.3 Labour market outcomes 76
• Chapter Seven Research 81
• 7.1 National-Level Research Performance 81
• 7.2 Academic Research at Canadian Universities 83
• 7.2.1 Colleges, Polytechnics and Applied Research 86
• Appendix A Describing the Canadian Postsecondary Education System 88
• Defining the Postsecondary Sectors 88
• What is a University? 88
• Non-Standard Universities 90
• Affiliated Colleges: 90
• Stand-alone religious institutions: 90
• Private non-denominational universities: 90
• Indigenous institutions: 90
• Offshore institutions: 90
• What is a College? 91
• Who Controls Degree-Granting Authority? 92
• What is a polytechnic? 92
• Apprenticeships 93
• Private Vocational Colleges 93
• Federalism and Postsecondary Education: Who Funds What? 94
• Appendix B Note on Sources 95
• Appendix C Provincial Profiles 97
• Newfoundland & Labrador 98
• Prince Edward Island 101
• Nova Scotia 104
• NewBrunswick 107
• Québec 110
• Ontario 113
• Manitoba 116
• Saskatchewan 119
• Alberta 122
• British Columbia 125
• Figure 1: Domestic Enrolment, Full-Time Equivalent Basis, 2012-13 to 2022-23 17
• Figure 2: Change in Domestic Enrolment by Province and Sector, 2012-13 to 2022-23 17
• Figure 3: Gross Participation Rates, by Province, 2012 vs 2022 18
• Figure 4: Operating Income per FTE Student by Source, Canadian Universities, 2006-07 to 2022-23, in $2022 18
• Figure 5: Historical and Projected Institutional Income from Tri-Councils and the Canadian Foundation for Innovation, 2001-02 to 2028-29, in Millions, in $2023 19
• Figure 1.1: Full-time Equivalent Enrolments by Sector, 1992-93 to 2022-23 21
• Figure 1.2: Full- and Part-Time Students in Canadian Universities, 1992-93 to 2022-23 22
• Figure 1.3: Change in FTE University Enrolments by Province, 2012-13 to 2022-23 23
• Figure 1.4: University Enrolments by Major Field of Study, 1992-93 to 2021-22 23
• Figure 1.5: Full-Time University Enrolment, by Gender, 1992-93 to 2021-22 23
• Figure 1.6: Women’s Share of Full-Time Enrolments, by Field of Study, Canadian Universities, 2021-22 24
• Figure 1.7: First-Year University Students by Visible-Minority Status, 2001 to 2022 24
• Figure 1.8: Shares of Enrolment by Ethnicity and Sector, Canada, 2021 (15-24 year-old) 25
• Figure 1.9: Participation rates of 15–24-year-old high school graduates by Ethnicity and Sector 25
• Figure 1.10: Participation rates of 15–24-year-old high school graduates by Indigenous Status and Sector 26
• Figure 1.11: First-Year University Students Reporting Disability, 2001-2024 26
• Figure 1.12: Net Inflows of Undergraduate Students from other Canadian provinces, by Province, 2020-21 27
• Figure 1.13: Full- and Part-Time College Enrolment, from 1992-93 to 2022-23 27
• Figure 1.14: Change in FTE College Enrolments, by Province and Territories, 2012-13 to 2022-23 28
• Figure 1.15: College Enrolments by Major Field of Study, 1992-93 to 2021-22 28
• Figure 1.16: Full-Time College Enrolment, by Gender, 1992-93 to 2021-22 28
• Figure 1.17: Full-Time Women’s College Enrolment, by Field of Study, 2021-22 29
• Figure 1.18: Polytechnic Enrolments by Level of Education, 2021-22 29
• Figure 1.19: Polytechnics, CÉGEP’s & Colleges – Student Enrolment, 2009-10 to 2021-22 30
• Figure 1.20: Percentage of Private PSE Institutions & Students Attending Private Institutions in Canada, by Province, 2020 30
• Figure 1.21: Apprenticeship Enrolments: 1995 to 2022 31
• Figure 1.22: International Enrolments by Sector, Canada, 1992-93 to 2022-23 32
• Figure 1.23: International Students as a Percentage of Total Student Body, by Region and Sector, 2022-23 32
• Figure 1.24: International Students, by Major Field of Study, Canadian Universities 1992-93 to 2021-22 33
• Figure 1.25: International Students, by Major Field of Study, Canadian Colleges, 1992-93 to 2021-22 33
• Figure 1.26: Gross Enrolment Ratios in Tertiary Education, select OECD Countries, 2022 (or most recent year) 34
• Figure 1.27: Proportions of Youth Aged 18-24 year-old in School, in Employment or NEET, Selected OECD Countries, 2022 34
• Figure 1.29: Distribution of New Entrants by Field of Study, Selected OECD Countries, 2021 35
• Figure 1.28: Proportion of Postsecondary Students Studying in Institutions Predominantly Offering Programs Below Bachelor-level, Selected OECD Countries, 2020 35
• Figure 1.30: Age Distribution of Apprentices in Canada and Germany, 2022 36
• Figure 2.1: Total Tenured and Tenure-Track Academic Staff Numbers by Sex, Canada, 1992-93 to 2022-23 38
• Figure 2.2: Number of Labour Force Survey Respondents Indicating their Primary Occupation is Teaching in a University, by Intensity and Security, Canada, in Thousands, 1997 to 2023 39
• Figure 2.3: Full-Time University Professors by Visible Minority Status and Position Permanency, in Thousands, 2023 39
• Figure 2.4: Proportion of Faculty in Senior Administrative Roles, 1992-93 to 2022-23 40
• Figure 2.5: Ratio of FTE Students to Full-Time Tenured and Tenure-Track Academic Staff, 1992-93 to 2022-23 40
• Figure 2.6: Full-Time Tenured and Tenure Track Academic Staff by Broad Field of Study, Canada, 2021-22 41
• Figure 2.7: Ratio of Enrolled Students to Full-Time Tenure and Tenure-Tracked Academic Staff, by Broad Field of Study, Canada, 1992-93 to 2021-22 41
• Figure 2.8: Age Composition of Tenured and Tenure-Track Staff, Canada, 2002-03 to 2022-23 41
• Figure 2.9: Average Professorial Salary by Rank, 2001-02 to 2022-23, in $2023 42
• Figure 2.10: Total Staff by Status, Canadian Universities, 2001-2022 42
• Figure 2.11: Ratio of Full-time Academic Salaries to Non-Academic Salaries, All Canadian Universities, 1979-80 to 2022-23 43
• Figure 2.12: Number of Labour Force Survey Respondents Indicating their Primary Occupation is Teaching in a College, by Intensity and Security, Canada, in Thousands, 1997 to 2023 43
• Figure 2.13: Full- and Part-time Academic Staff, Ontario Colleges, 2006-07 to 2023-24 44
• Figure 2.14: Full-Time College/Vocational Instructors by Visible Minority Status and Position Permanency, in Thousands, 2023 44
• Figure 2.15: Total Staff by Status, Canadian Colleges, 2001-2022 45
• Figure 2.16: Full-time Academic, Support and Administrative Staff, Ontario Colleges, 2006-07 to 2023-24 45
• Figure 3.1: Total Income by Source, Public PSE Institutions, Canada, in Billions ($2022), 2001-02 to 2022-23 47
• Figure 3.2: Total Fee Income by Source, Public PSE Institutions, Canada, in Billions ($2022), 2007-08 to 2022-23 48
• Figure 3.3: Tertiary Institutions’ Income by Source, as a Percentage of Gross Domestic Product, Canada and Selected OECD Countries, Most Recent Years 48
• Figure 3.4: Total Income by Source for Universities, Canada, in Billions ($2022), 1979-90 to 2022-23 48
• Figure 3.5: Real Change in Government and Student Fee University Income, Canada, 2006-07 to 2022-23 (2006-07 = 100) 49
• Figure 3.6: Total Income by Source for Colleges, Canada, in Billions ($2022), 2001-02 to 2022-23 49
• Figure 3.7: Expenditures on Administration & ICT as a Percentage of Total Spending, Universities vs Colleges, 2001-02 to 2021-22 50
• Figure 3.8: Wages as a Percentage of Total Budget, Colleges, 2001-02 to 2021-22 52
• Figure 3.9: Wages as a Percentage of Total Budget, Universities, 2001-02 to 2021-22 52
• Figure 3.10: Percentage of Aggregate Academic Wages Going to Non-tenure Track Staff, 2000-01 to 2022-23 52
• Figure 4.1: Provincial Government Transfers to Institutions by Type of Institution, in Billions ($2022), 2001-02 to 2022-23 54
• Figure 4.2: Changes in Provincial Transfers to Institutions by Province over Five and Ten Years, 2012-13 to 2022-23, in $2022 55
• Figure 4.3: Provincial Expenditures per FTE Student, 2022-23 55
• Figure 4.4: Provincial Expenditures per FTE Student by Sector, 2022-23 56
• Figure 4.5: Total Provincial Funding per Full-Time Student, 2001-02 to 2022-23, in $2022 56
• Figure 4.6: Provincial PSE Expenditures, by Sector, as a Percentage of Provincial GDP, 2022-23 58
• Figure 4.7: Research Granting Council Expenditures by Council, in Millions ($2022), 2001-02 to 2022-23 58
• Figure 4.8: Direct Federal Funding to Postsecondary Institutions, Excluding Tri-Council Funding, 2001-02 to 2022-23, in $2022 59
• Figure 4.9: Federal Assistance to Postsecondary Institutions by Type, in Millions ($2022), 2007-08 to 2022-23 61
• Figure 4.10: Federal and Provincial Own-Source Expenditures in Respect of PSE Institutions, Canada, 2007-08 to 2022-23, in $2022 61
• Figure 5.1: Average Domestic Undergraduate Tuition and Fees, Canada, 1995-96 to 2024-25 (est.), in $2024 63
• Figure 5.2: Average Undergraduate Tuition and Mandatory Fees, by Province, 2023-24 64
• Figure 5.3: Average Tuition Fees, by Field of Study, First-Entry Undergraduate Programs, 2023-24 65
• Figure 5.4: Average Tuition Fees, by Field of Study, Second-Entry Professional Undergraduate Programs, 2023-24 65
• Figure 5.5: Domestic vs. International Student Tuition, Canadian Universities, 2006-07 to 2023-24, in $2023 66
• Figure 5.6: International Undergraduate Student Tuition by Province, Canadian Universities, 2023-24 66
• Figure 5.7: Total Annual Loans and Grants Issued, Canada, 1992-93 to 2022-23, in Millions, in $2022 67
• Figure 5.8: Total Annual Need-Based Student Aid by Source, Canada, 1992-93 to 2022-23, in Millions, in $2022 68
• Figure 5.9: Total Value of Education and Tuition Tax Credits by Source, Canada, 1992 to 2022, in Millions, in $2022 69
• Figure 5.10: Total Canada Education Savings Grants Payments, 1998 to 2022, in Millions, in $2022 69
• Figure 5.11: Total Institutional Scholarships by Institutional Type, Canada, 1993-94 to 2022-23, in Millions, in $2022 70
• Figure 5.12: Total Student Financial Assistance by Type, Selected years, 1993-94 to 2022-2023, in Millions, in $2022 71
• Figure 5.13: Aggregate Non-Repayable Aid vs Aggregate Domestic Tuition fees, 2007-08 to 2022-23, in Billions, in $2022 71
• Figure 5.14: Average Student Debt at Graduation for Those with Debt, University Undergraduates and Colleges, Selected Years, 1982-2024, in $2024 72
• Figure 5.15: Average Student Debt at Graduation, by Province, Universities and Colleges, 2020 72
• Figure 6.1: Completion Rates by Credential Type, Canada, Most Recent Cohorts 74
• Figure 6.2: Educational Attainment Rates of Canadians Aged 25-64, Selected Years, 2003 to 2023 75
• Figure 6.3: Educational Attainment Rates of Canadians Aged 25-34, 2000 to 2023 75
• Figure 6.4: Educational Attainment Rates of Canadians Aged 25-34, by Province, 2023 76
• Figure 6.5: Educational Attainment Rates of Persons Aged 25-64, Selected OECD Countries, 2022 76
• Figure 6.6: Employment Status by Level of Education Completed, Canada, Class of 2020, Three Years After Graduation 77
• Figure 6.7: Employment Rates at Six Months and Two Years, Ontario Undergraduates, Graduating Classes of 1996 to 2020 77
• Figure 6.8: Median Graduate Incomes Two and Five Years After Graduation, Bachelor’s Graduates, Class of 2017, in $2022 78
• Figure 6.9: Median Graduate Incomes Two and Five Years After Graduation, College Diploma Graduates, Class of 2017, in $2022 78
• Figure 6.10: Median Salaries Three Years After Graduation, by Province of Study, Bachelor’s Graduates, Classes of 2010 and 2020, in $2023 78
• Figure 6.11: Median Salaries Three Years After Graduation, by Province of Study, College Graduates, Classes of 2010 and 2020, in $2023 79
• Figure 6.12: Graduate Salaries Two Years After Graduation, Ontario Undergraduates, Selected Fields of Study, Graduating Classes of 2001 to 2020, in $2022 79
• Figure 6.13: Salaries of Graduates aged 25-64, by Type of Credential, Selected OECD Countries (Salaries of Upper Secondary Graduates Aged 25-34 = 100), 2021 79
• Figure 7.1: Research and Development Spending as a Percentage of Gross Domestic Product, Selected OECD Countries, 2021-2022 81
• Figure 7.2: Research and Development Spending by Performing Sector, as a Percentage of Gross Domestic Product, Selected OECD Countries, 2022 82
• Figure 7.3: Total Scientific Publications, by Geography of Collaboration, Selected OECD Countries, 2022 82
• Figure 7.4: Canada’s Share of Total Global Scientific Publications, by Field, 2022 83
• Figure 7.5: Top 10 Colleges for Sponsored Research, 2022-2023, in Millions 86
• Table 1.1: Full-time Equivalent Enrolments by Sector and Province, 2022-23 22
• Table 1.2: Top Ten Major Trade Groups in Canada, 2012 vs 2022 31
• Table 1.3: Share of Apprentices by Occupational Grouping, Canada vs. Germany 2021 36
• Table 3.1: Distribution of Total Expenditures by Fund, Colleges and Universities, 2021-22 50
• Table 3.2: Distribution of Spending by Type, Universities and Colleges, 2021-22 51
• Table 7.1: Top Canadian Universities According to Major Rankings Agencies, 2024 83
• Table 7.2: Top Fifteen Canadian Universities for Proportion of Papers Attaining Top-10% Field-adjusted Citations, 2019-2022 (minimum 250 papers in top 10%) 84
• Table 7.3: Top Five Canadian Universities for Proportion of Papers Attaining top-10% Field-adjusted Citations, by Broad Scientific Field 2019-2022 (minimum 50 papers in specific field) 85
• Table 7.4: Top Fifteen Institutional Recipients of Federal Research Grants, by Council, 2022-2023 85