In its annual ranking of post-secondary institutions, Conestoga has been recognized by CourseCompare as the Best College in Ontario for 2025. Conestoga was also named Canada’s top trade school and Canada’s best Early Childhood Education program.
According to CourseCompare, a marketplace for education serving more than two million prospective students from more than 100 countries each year, the 2025 rankings evaluated enrolment data, job placement rates, thousands of verified student ratings for faculty, curriculum, career support, and the overall learning experience, alongside employer reputation scores, graduate salaries and graduation rates.
“Sweeping changes to international study permits, along with inflation and growing concerns about the impact of AI on the job market, are driving institutions to rethink priorities and focus on programs that deliver specialized skills and measurable career outcomes,” said Robert Furtado, CEO of CourseCompare. “Our 2025 rankings help students navigate these shifts and enroll in schools and programs best positioned to meet the moment.”
Conestoga also ranked among Canada’s best post-secondary institutions in eight other categories: Co-op Programs, Coding Bootcamps, Culinary, Cybersecurity, Interior Design, Massage Therapy and Nursing.
In ranking Conestoga as the best college in Ontario, CourseCompare celebrated the wide variety of options available to students and their success after graduation.
“Conestoga delivers a vast array of certificate, diploma, degree and apprenticeship possibilities in fields including applied computer science and IT, business, community services, creative arts, engineering, food processing, health, hospitality, workforce development and trades. It has more degree programs than any other college outside of the Greater Toronto Area,” CourseCompare reported.
“More than 90 per cent of Conestoga students find work within six months of graduation, and 92.3 per cent of employers were ‘very satisfied’ with their graduates. Conestoga has the highest graduation rate in Ontario at 72 per cent, and 80.7 per cent of students are satisfied with their experience.”
Conestoga was awarded the top spot for trade schools in Canada for the college’s leadership in polytechnic education. CourseCompare celebrated the breadth of Conestoga’s training in the skilled trades and highlighted the college’s training facilities: “Conestoga has one of the largest electrical training facilities in the province, while its woodworking and cabinetmaking programs are among the best-of-their-kind in Canada. Also noteworthy is the Women in Skilled Trades General Carpenter Pre-Apprenticeship program, which provides the skills needed to earn an apprenticeship, and start working with industry standard equipment.”
Conestoga also was honoured with top spots in other categories, ranking second for Best Cybersecurity Certification Programs, and third for Co-op Programs and Best Massage Therapy Schools in Canada.
“We are honoured to be recognized as the best college in Ontario and to have our programming celebrated at both the provincial and national levels. This achievement is a testament to the dedication and excellence of our employees and students,” said Conestoga President John Tibbits.
“Together, we continue to set the standard for career-focused programming, innovation and research, ensuring our graduates and the communities we serve continue to prosper now and in the future. The Conestoga community should be incredibly proud of what we have accomplished.”