University of Alberta
Canada's fifth-ranked university - world-class in energy, AI, and health sciences.
The University of Alberta is consistently one of Canada's top five universities and ranks among the top 120 in the world. It is a comprehensive research powerhouse with particular strengths in energy and petroleum engineering, artificial intelligence, health sciences, and agriculture. Edmonton has a low cost of living relative to Vancouver or Toronto.
What average do you need to get into U of A?
There is no single U of A acceptance rate - admission is program-by-program. Top competitive programs like Medicine (MD) require high 90s + MCAT + interview, while programs at the more accessible end admit students with averages around mid 80s. A competitive overall average for most U of A programs is roughly the mid-80s and up. Check the per-program admission averages below to find your target.
Key Facts
- Location: Edmonton, AB
- Founded: 1908
- Students: 46,000
- Maclean's ranking: #6
- QS World ranking: #94
- Approximate domestic tuition: $9000/year
- Co-op available: Yes
Top Strengths
- Engineering
- Medicine
- AI & Computing Science
- Business (Alberta School of Business)
- Education
- Agriculture
- Law
Admission Averages by Program
Real admission average ranges for U of A programs, from most accessible to most competitive:
- Medicine (MD) — admission average: high 90s + MCAT + interview (Competitive, strong Alberta health system connections.)
- Dentistry (DMD) — admission average: high 90s + DAT (One of a small number of Canadian dental schools.)
- Pharmacy (BSc Pharm) — admission average: high 80s-low 90s (Strong program, good Alberta health sector placement.)
- Nursing (BScN) — admission average: high 80s-low 90s (Competitive, strong Edmonton hospital network.)
- Computing Science — admission average: high 80s-low 90s (Strong AI research - Amii on campus is a genuine global advantage.)
- Electrical Engineering — admission average: high 80s (Strong research, good Alberta energy sector co-op.)
- Chemical Engineering — admission average: high 80s (Strong petroleum and process engineering connections.)
- Civil Engineering — admission average: high 80s (Strong infrastructure and construction sector placements.)
- Mechanical Engineering — admission average: high 80s (Good co-op outcomes in Alberta energy and manufacturing.)
- Petroleum Engineering — admission average: high 80s (One of Canada's best petroleum engineering programs.)
- Business (BCom) — admission average: high 80s (Well-regarded nationally. Accounting and finance are strong.)
- Law (JD) — admission average: LSAT + GPA dependent (Solid law school, particularly strong for natural resources law.)
- Agricultural Sciences — admission average: mid-to-high 80s (One of Canada's best and most comprehensive agriculture programs.)
- Kinesiology — admission average: mid-to-high 80s (Strong sports science and rehabilitation pathway.)
- Psychology — admission average: mid-to-high 80s (Large program with strong research infrastructure.)
- Education (BEd) — admission average: mid 80s (Large, well-regarded Alberta teacher training program.)
Things to Know
- The University of Alberta is significantly underrated nationally - its QS world ranking (top 120) is higher than most Canadians realise.
- Edmonton's cost of living is among the lowest of any major Canadian university city.
- U of A's AI research credentials are genuine - the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute is world-class.
- The engineering faculty is one of Canada's largest and most comprehensive.
Notable Alumni
- Lois Hole
- Grant MacEwan
- Kiefer Sutherland (attended)