.jpg?h=35&w=35&mode=stretch){kind=small}
University of Waterloo is a highly rated public university located in Waterloo, Ontario in the Waterloo metropolitan area. It is a large school with around 32,000 undergraduate students and a total student population exceeding 37,000. Admissions is somewhat competitive as Waterloo has an acceptance rate of about 53%. Some of the majors offered are Computer Science, Engineering, Math, Sustainability, and Business Administration. The six-year graduation rate is roughly 79%, and Waterloo graduates have a median beginning salary of around INR 52,00,000 (ten years post-graduation, converted from $62,400 median earnings).
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a highly respected private institution in Cambridge, Massachusetts, within the Boston metropolitan area. It is a mid-sized institution with an undergraduate student population of around 4,535, and a total student population of around 11,886. Admissions are highly competitive since MIT's acceptance rate stands at about 1.9%. Popular majors include Computer Science, Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, and Management Science. The graduation rate within six years is 94%, and the median starting salary of MIT graduates is about INR 1,08,00,000 (based on $130,000 median ten-year post-graduation earnings).
| University of Waterloo | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 5.3 Out of 10 | 9 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 119 QS World University 2026 # 162 Times Higher Education 2026 # 115 QS World University 2025 | # 1 QS World University 2026 # 2 Times Higher Education 2026 # 1 QS World University 2025 |
| Subject Strength | # 47 for Engineering by QS World University 2025 # 34 for Data Science and Analytics by QS World University 2025 # 251 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 | # 1 for Engineering by QS World University 2025 # 1 for Data Science and Analytics by QS World University 2025 # 11 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 |
| Programs | UG Programs -45 PG Programs -33 Doctorate Programs -5 | UG Programs -47 PG Programs -38 Doctorate Programs -29 |
| Acceptance Rate | 53.0 % | 4.5 % |
| Exam Score | Duolingo-120 IELTS-6.5 PTE-63 TOEFL-90 | GRE-310 IELTS-7 PTE-65 SAT-1510 TOEFL-100 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 66000 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 11790 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 16020 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 30996 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 30995 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 21264 Per Year |
| placement (average package) | Graduate Employability Rankings- # 24(QS 2023); 98.9% international student employment rate; Top recruiters are Manulife, TD Canada, Sun Life Financial Inc. etc. Average Salaries by Degree:
| Average Salaries Of Degree:
|
| application requirements | Indian UG aspirants must have around 85% score with 75% in English and Maths. Fulfill Country-specific requirements | Letter of recommendations (two, preferrably from teachers of subjects maths and science or humanities) |
| Campuses and B-Schools | NA | MIT Sloan School of Management |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 7.8/10 Read 58 reviews | - |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | University of Waterloo | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1957 | 1861 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 31:1:1 | 3:1:1 |
| Male:Female | 53% Male, 0% Female | 1.3% Male, 0% Female |
| Location Facts | 1,000 acres campus located in the Quantum Valley (Canada’s emerging technological hub); surrounded at the borders by Waterloo Park, Wilfrid Laurier University & Laurel Creek Conservation Area; easily accessible via public transport; dozens of food outlets & restaurants within 20 minutes of distance. | Lying between central and kendall squares across Charles River from Boston’s Back bay. Small instituition with close knit student body postioned to collaborate and contribute to neighbors |
| Library | 4 libraries: 3 on-campus, 1 in Cambridge; Library system is a part of TriUniversity Group; Houses more than 1.4 million books including e-books, serial titles, databases. | More than 5 million items, with over 21,000 MIT theses |
| Campus Life | Student Life Centre (SLC) responsible for organizing cultural, social and recreational activities; Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association (WUSA) and Student Housing Office; 24/7 information desk known as Turnkey Desk; 200+ student clubs; 100+ volunteer services; Earth Sciences Museum; Mike & Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum-Nano Center (largest center for Quantum Research) | Over 450 co-curricular organizations, Society for Women Engineers, LGTQ+ community, Black stuents union, 33 varsity sports, The Tech (student newspaper), The Byte (graduate student publication), religious organizations, around 43 sororities, fraternities and independent living groups. |
| Hostel | #Housing - $11400 | #Rooms - $13614 |
| Famous Alumni | Over 203,000 graduates; Robert Mundell (Nobel Laureate), Donna Strickland (Nobel Laureate), Mike Lazaridis (Founder of BlackBerry Ltd.), Prem Watsa (Founder of Fairfax Financial); Rupi Kaur (Canadian Poet); Karl Ting (Actor); Apoorva Mehta (Founder of Instacart); David Cheriton (Canadian Computer Scientist). | 85 Nobel laureates, 58 National Medal of Science Winners, 29 National Medal of Technology and Innovation Winners |
| City Life | Waterloo- Tech-hub of Canada; over 1,000 tech-related businesses set up in the city; over 400 restaurants and shops to explore; More than 40 cultural events; Famous attractions include Waterloo Park, West Montrose Covered Bridge, Laurel Creek Conservation Area, Waterloo Central Railway, Conestoga Mall, Innocente Brewing Company; Unemployment rate: 5% | Cambridge- city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts; City is part of the Boston metropolitan area; home to a huge student community; Average salaries offered within the state are up to 97,5000 USD; Famous tourist attractions: Charles River, Harvard Square, Mount Auburn Cemetery, MIT Museum, CambrdgeSide, John Harvard Statue, Sanders Theatre; Unemployment rate- 2.1% (Dec 2019) |
| Weather |
University of Waterloo versus Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Subject Strength & International Rankings (2025/2026)
MIT and University of Waterloo are both world-ranked institutions, with MIT leading the ranking of the world's best university every year. In the QS World University Ranking 2026, MIT is #1 in the world, while Waterloo is ranked approximately #119. Times Higher Education indicates that MIT is a top-tier institution in every aspect, while Waterloo is ranked top in STEM, particularly in Canada.
Among subject areas, MIT dominates almost every field, topping Engineering & Technology, Computer Science, Natural Sciences, and Business & Management. Waterloo excels in Computer Science, Mathematics, Engineering, and Environmental Sciences, frequently placed within the world's top 100 in each of these fields. Waterloo's co-op is complemented to augment its vocational image, whereas MIT's supremacy is based on innovative research.
General Information
The University of Waterloo, established in 1957, is situated in Waterloo, Ontario, a technologically oriented Canadian city. It has around 37,000 students, of which 32,000 are undergraduates. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, founded in 1861, is situated in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the Boston metropolitan area, and accommodates around 11,886 students, including 4,535 undergraduates.
Waterloo provides a large campus with high focus on experiential learning in the form of its co-op programs. MIT offers a dense, innovation-focused environment with extensive interconnection between industry and academia.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Both institutions have competitive admissions, although MIT is much more selective. The acceptance rate at MIT is 1.9%, whereas Waterloo's is program-specific and averages around 53%, with flagship programs such as Computer Science and Engineering much more so4.
MIT candidates usually submit SAT ranges of 1480–1580 and ACT ranges of 34–36 and receive holistic review. Waterloo focuses on academic achievement, with averages of admission within high 70s to mid-90s, and accepts supplementary application for highly competitive programs.
Research Impact & Facilities
MIT's research facilities encompass the MIT Media Lab, Lincoln Laboratory, and Sloan School of Management, with research spending over $1.1 billion annually. It is the international leader in patents, startups, and inter-disciplinary innovation.
Waterloo has institutes that promote research, such as the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, Institute for Quantum Computing, and Centre for Automotive Research, with substantial graduate student funding. PhD students are given at least $27,130/year, and the institution is a center for AI, sustainability, and quantum innovation.
Cost & Financial Aid
The tuition at MIT is around $59,750/year, with overall expenses approaching $80,000/year, but it gives need-blind admissions and full-need financial aid, even to international students7. Waterloo's international tuition costs between CAD 26,000 to 46,000/year, depending on the program, with co-op earnings partially covering expenses.
Waterloo offers merit-based awards and limited need-based assistance, whereas MIT's financial aid is among the most generous in the world, frequently making it cheaper for admitted students even though its sticker price is higher.
Career Outcomes & Alumni Success
MIT graduates earn a median salary of $130,000 ten years post-graduation, with top employers including Google, Apple, Goldman Sachs, NASA, and McKinsey. The institute boasts over 100 Nobel laureates, and its alumni have founded thousands of companies, including Dropbox, Bose, and Intel.
Waterloo alumni have a median salary of $62,400, with excellent placement in technology, engineering, finance, and consulting. Waterloo's co-op program exposes students to more than 6,300 employers, such as Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Tesla, and is one of the most employable Canadian universities.
_(3)1716804776.png?h=40&w=40&mode=stretch){kind=small}
