Queen's University, which is based in Kingston, Ontario, is one of Canada's oldest and most respected universities. It is a mid-sized university with about 24,000 undergraduate students. Queen's admissions are competitive, with an acceptance rate of about 42%. Queen's is recognized for strong offerings in Business, Law, Social Sciences, Engineering, and Health Sciences. The six-year graduation rate is about 90%, and graduates have good career outcomes, especially in Canada, with median earnings higher than national averages.
McGill University, located in Montreal, Quebec, is among Canada's top research universities and is famous worldwide. It has a medium-sized undergraduate enrolment of approximately 20,000 students. Admissions are extremely competitive, particularly for schools such as Medicine, Law, and Engineering, with acceptance rates 46.3%. McGill performs best in Medicine, Engineering, Law, Business, and Natural Sciences. Its graduation rate of about 92% takes six years, and its graduates have excellent international career opportunities with a high median salary, especially in research, medicine, and finance.
| Queen's University | McGill University | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 5 Out of 10 | 6.6 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 191 QS World University 2026 # 193 QS World University 2025 # 301 Times Higher Education 2025 | # 27 QS World University 2026 # 27 Center for World University Rankings 2025 # 29 QS World University 2025 |
| Subject Strength | # 207 for Engineering by QS World University 2025 # 197 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 # 101 for Law by Times Higher Education 2025 | # 45 for Engineering by QS World University 2025 # 30 for Data Science and Analytics by QS World University 2025 # 28 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 |
| Programs | UG Programs -48 PG Programs -62 Doctorate Programs -10 | UG Programs -50 PG Programs -74 Doctorate Programs -3 |
| Acceptance Rate | 42.0 % | 46.0 % |
| Exam Score | Duolingo-120 GMAT-600 GRE-315 IELTS-6.5 PTE-60 TOEFL-88 | GMAT-650 IELTS-6.5 PTE-65 TOEFL-86 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 18225 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 10283 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 19280 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 55389 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 19154 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 41020 Per Year |
| placement (average package) | Graduate Employability Ranking 2020: 101 – 110; Average annual salary is 49,000 USD. Highest paying degree and their per annum salaries are: MBA: 96,000 CAD; BA: 79,000 CAD; BS: 75,000 CAD | McGill University is one of the top public universities in Montreal, Canada. It is ranked #31 in QS World University Rankings 2023 and #42 in graduate employability ranking. McGill University Graduates & Alumni Salaries - By Degree
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| application requirements | Minimum 75% in bachelors for MBA and 60% for Masters in Engineering; Portfolio; Essays; Resume. | 4-year bachelors is required for pursuing for PG course. 3 year UG degree with A grade is also accepted |
| Campuses and B-Schools | Stephen J.R. Smith School of Business | Desautels Faculty of Management |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 7.6/10 Read 23 reviews | 7.3/10 Read 24 reviews |
Top Courses Comparison
| ranking | # 91 for Business by QS World University 2025 # 301 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 # 62 for Business by Financial Times 2024 | # 60 for Business by QS World University 2025 # 84 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 |
| application | - | - |
| exam scores | GMAT - 600/800GRE - 315/340IELTS - 7/9TOEFL - 100/120 | GMAT - 670/800IELTS - 7/9TOEFL - 100/120 |
| cost to study | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) - | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -127625 |
| Return on Investment/Average Package | #Average Salary101385 | #Average Salary |
| documents required | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose |
| application dates | - | Nov 1, 2025 (First Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) Jan 15, 2026 (Second Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) Mar 15, 2026 (Final Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | Queen's University | McGill University |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1841 | 1821 |
| Male:Female | 57% Male, 43% Female | 0% Male, 0% Female |
| Location Facts | Located in the heart of Kingston; Campus is divided into three major parts: Main, West and Isabel Campus located within 1.5 km of radius | Two Campuses: Downtown Campus, located between Montreal and Mount Royal Park; Macdonald Campus, located on the western tip of the island of Montreal |
| Library | Six campus libraries in five buildings; Over 3,000,000 images; 300,000 architectural drawings; 3,000,000 physical volumes; 80,000 e-journals | Printed books - 4,851,382; E-books: 2,707,183; Printed journals- 33,706 and E- journals - 1,15,228 |
| Campus Life | Over 400 student clubs such as Amnesty International, Oxfam, Urban Snowboarding, Musical Theatres, etc; Three dinning halls and 22 retail food outlets on campus | The campus offers Macappella, Happy Geet, MAC and MAC Agro Ecology group, Robotics, Food Science Association, CERES, Gorilla Composition, Happy Belly, and Judging Club.Join/attend/enjoy 700 musical performances each year, athletic competitions, art, theatre, and other extracurricular activities. |
| Hostel | #Room and Meal Plan - $16632 | #Double Room--Yearly - $16860 #Single Room--Yearly - $18360 |
| Famous Alumni | Arthur B. McDonald (Nobel Prize in Physics); Fraser Stoddart (Nobel Prize in Chemistry); Shirley Tilghman (President of Princeton University); Robert Borden (Prime Minister of Canada); Derek Burney (former Chairman and CEO of Bell Canada); Elon Musk (founder of SpaceX and Tesla) | Justin Trudeau (Prime minister of Canada), Daliso Chaponda (Comedian), William Osler (world renowned physician), Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (American Football player), Mackenzie Davis (Actress), Ken Dryden (Former member of parliament), and Leonard Cohen (Singer). |
| City Life | Kingston is located in eastern Ontario; Listed among top 5 university towns of the world by BBC; Ranked as 6th best place to retire by moneysense.ca; Unemployment rate in December 2019 was 4.7%; Popularly known as “Limestone city” as many historical buildings situated here are constructed using limestone | Main industries of Quebec are mining, manufacturing. Water is one of the significant natural resources of Quebec. Therefore a lot of industries around hydroelectric power raised around the city. Montreal has cheap rents, various parks and cycling lanes, affordable public transit, and more. For the flourishing industry, the unemployment rate is slightly higher than Canada. Women are financially independent as compared to 3/4th of men. |
| Weather |
Queen’s University vs McGill University
Subject Strength & World Rankings (2025/2026)
Queen's University Ranked approximately 191 in the world (QS 2026), Queen's excels in Business, Law, Engineering, Health Sciences, and Social Sciences. It is particularly renowned for undergraduate instruction and professional programs, with a reputation in Canada for academic excellence.McGill University Ranked approximately 27 in the world (QS 2026), McGill is among Canada's best research-intensive universities, leading in Medicine, Law, Business, Arts & Humanities, and Life Sciences. McGill has a good international standing for research activity, innovation, and scholarly intensity.
General Information
Queen's, established in 1841 and based in Kingston, Ontario, has ~25,000 students, offering a traditional campus lifestyle with intimate student communities. McGill, established in 1821 in Montreal, Quebec, has ~45,000 students, with an energetic, urban campus lifestyle including global diversity and rich research facilities.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Queen's is very competitive in admissions, particularly in the case of courses such as Commerce, Engineering, and Health Sciences. McGill is equally so, with a competitive entry for Medicine, Law, and Engineering, admitting high-performing students internationally.
Research Impact & Facilities
Queen's has robust research schools in business, engineering, and health sciences, with a focus on applied research and professional training. McGill is an intensive research university, featuring top-rate facilities like Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University Health Centre, and state-of-the-art engineering and science labs.
Cost & Financial Aid
Both are public Canadian universities, with domestic students undertaking lower tuition and international students paying higher tuition. Queen's and McGill provide merit scholarships, need-based financial assistance, and international student awards. McGill's bigger endowment financially supports extensive research funding opportunities.
Career Outcomes & Alumni Success
Queen's graduates are successful in business, law, politics, and public service with a reputation that is strong in Canada. McGill graduates gain international recognition in medicine, science, law, business, and academia with a global network and high job placement overseas.
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