York University vs McMaster University

York University vs McMaster University

York University and McMaster University are two of the top public research universities in Ontario. They rank at #18 and #4 in Canada respectively according to THE World University Rankings 2020.

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York UniversityMcMaster University
Collegedunia Score4.3 sfHSI/5.5 sfHSI/
CtVgo0# 296 Collegedunia Study Abroad 2026
# 333 QS World University 2026
# 401 Times Higher Education 2026
# 101 Collegedunia Study Abroad 2026
# 116 Times Higher Education 2026
# 173 QS World University 2026
Subject Strength# 301 sQv06Y Engineering Vi2Pqx Collegedunia Study Abroad 2026
# 218 sQv06Y Medicine Vi2Pqx Collegedunia Study Abroad 2026
# 70 sQv06Y Law Vi2Pqx Collegedunia Study Abroad 2026
# 121 sQv06Y Engineering Vi2Pqx Collegedunia Study Abroad 2026
# 31 sQv06Y Medicine Vi2Pqx QS World University 2026
ProgramsK6FNSL -59
+BcTMq -41
uAFC26 -6
K6FNSL -69
+BcTMq -47
uAFC26 -6
Acceptance Rate48.0 %59.0 %
Exam ScoreIELTS-7
TOEFL-100
Duolingo-120
GMAT-600
GRE-305
IELTS-6.5
PTE-60
TOEFL-86
Cost to Study78XRnV   61304
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78XRnV  19716
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4fro2k + zNMGDV - 16865 j5deyA
78XRnV   53040
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78XRnV  27738
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4fro2k + zNMGDV - 15470 j5deyA
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Graduate Employability Rankings (QS 2023)- #301-500

  • MBA : $107,000 
  • Doctorate : $89,000 
  • PhD :  $85,000 
  • LLM  : $76,000 
  • Executive Masters  : $70,000 
  • Bachelor (Other)   : $69,000 

Ranked #81 for graduation emplyment rate

Salaries by degree:

  • Doctrate: $111,000
  • MBA:$101,000
  • Master(Other):$63,000
  • Master in Science:$58,000
  • Bachelor of Science:$50,000
  • Master Of Arts:$45,000

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Supplementary Program Information Form
Letters of Recommendation

LOR;
Personal Statement;
Resume;
Portfolio;
Supplementary Application (for a few programs);
Test scores (such as TOEFL, IELTS, GRE, GMAT)
 

Campuses and B-SchoolsSchulich School of Business
Osgoode Hall Law School
DeGroote School of Business
CollegeDunia Reviews6.8/10 FlUcco7.7/10 FlUcco
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H1MbuoYork UniversityMcMaster University
Type of UniversityUniversity
University
Established1959
1887
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Location Facts

Completely bilingual Gledon campus- home to Southern Ontario’s Center for Excellence for French Langauge & Bilingual Postsecondary education. Third largest university in Canada. 


Located on the western end of lake Ontario, McMaster University is located in the Golden Horshoe. It is surrounded by Cootes Paradise and natural marshlands.


Library

Four main and one archive libraries with more than 2,500,000 volumes


McMaster University has a total of 4 libraries. There are 1.9 million print and electronic books, 86,000 print and electronic journal titles, 14,000 linear feet of archival resources combined. 


Campus Life

25 organized research centers
300 student clubs and organizations,
13 newspapers,
36 governing groups
33 national titles to its Athletic teams,
More than 1000 student-run events
20+community support centers


Located in the Waterfall Capital of Canada- Hamilton, the campus has McMaster Museum of Art, W.J. McCallion Planetarium, McMaster Nuclear Reactor, McMaster Hall, 16 sports clubs, Bertrand Rusell Archives, etc. 


Hostel#Residence/Apartment - $13800
#Housing - $9750
Famous Alumni

Lily Singh (Youtuber), Steve Maclean (astronaut), John Tory (Mayor of Toronto), Dr. Miguna Miguna (Canadian-Kenyan Author), Jack Layton (Former MP), Shawn Doyle (Actor), Navdeep Bains (Minister of innovation, science and industry), Eric Walter (Author).


Tihomir Oreškovi (11th PM of Croatia); Bertram Brockhouse (Nobel Laureate in Physics); Stephen Elop (President and CEO of Nokia Corporation); Myron Scholes (Nobel Laureate in Economics); Roberta Bondar (Canada’s first female astronaut and neurologist in space)


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Based on the global and national rankings, McMaster University would be the first choice among students looking for higher education in Canada. However, York University also has its own highlights. A brief discussion below might help students choose between these two Canadian universities.

Why choose McMaster University?

  • McMaster University Rankings are higher for engineering & technology, life sciences, computer science, medicine, nursing.
  • Admissions at McMaster University are less selective than admissions at York University with lower average scores requirements.
  • Renowned for its research as it is the only university in Canada that is a part of Universitas 21 (a group of 26 research intensive universities in the world).
  • Ranks #4 in Canada according to QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2020.
  • McMaster graduates earn a higher salary package than York graduates.

Why choose York University?

  • Ranks higher for law, arts & humanities, accounting & finance, social sciences.
  • York's Schulich School of Business (#5) ranks higher than McMaster's DeGroote School of Business (#13) in Canada according to QS Global MBA Rankings.
  • Even though the average salary packages for McMaster graduates are higher, law and MBA graduates at York University earn higher.
  • York University is the only university in Canada that offers a space engineering program.

Based on the above parameters, it can be noted that the choice of institution for studies in Canada between York and McMaster would depend highly on the choice of program.