Canadian University Rankings 2012

If you’re looking at college options, one of the best ways to compare schools is to see how they rank on major listings. This is just part of the equation when finding the best school for you, but it can be helpful, since these college lists typically take a number of factors into account. There are lists that cover all schools from around the world, as well as more specialized lists that rank just a certain type of school or just schools in one country.

If you’re looking for a college in Canada, the best source is the list complied by Maclean’s. For nearly two decades, this list has ranked Canadian colleges in three different categories. It is considered to be the most trustworthy source of Canadian college rankings available.

Maclean’s is a weekly news magazine based in Toronto. It was founded in 1905 and publishes the Maclean’s Guide to Canadian Universities every March. The rankings are also published in the magazine. Colleges ranked in this guide fall into one of three categories: Primarily Undergraduate, Comprehensive, or Medical Doctoral. In addition, over the past few years, they’ve also ranked Canadian law schools. Since 2006, they’ve also published an annual “University Student” issue, which features surveys results from recent graduations of all of the colleges in Canada.

Canadian schools are ranked by Maclean’s accounting to factors such as student-faculty ratio, number of students who’ve won national awards, number of faculty member who’ve won national awards, research grants, resources available for students, money spent on research, scholarship availability, library collection, and reputation among peers. These and other factors are weighted according to how important Maclean’s believe them to be in the overall scope of education.

Maclean’s is not the only source that ranks Canadian colleges. The website 4 International Colleges and Universities also has a listing of colleges from this country. The unique perspective this list takes is that they rank colleges by web popularity. So, the colleges highest on the list are those that are getting the most buzz around the Internet and the most visitors to their websites.

International and North American lists also typically include at least a few Canadian schools. For example, BusinessWeek has a special category for Non-U.S. MBA Programs, for which Canadian schools are eligible and often listed. Other listings provide a more comprehensive look at all programs around the world, so as a student, it is beneficial to see which Canadian colleges made the cut, as these spots are extremely prestigious.

Looking at college rankings can give you a good start at learning which schools are considered the best in the country. However, it is most important that you feel comfortable with the educational situation, which might mean that the best school for you isn’t necessarily the one at the top of the list. This is just a start for picking your college path.

The Top Online Universities in America

The Internet has revolutionized education so that now you can earn a degree entirely online from the comfort of your home. This is perfect for working professionals or anyone who wants to get ahead in a career without having to go to a physical campus everyday. Use the list of top schools below or the search form to find the right school for you.

	The University of Phoenix is world-renowned for being the largest online university. Phoenix boasts dozens of different degrees at all levels that students can choose from. In the last four years alone, the university produced 80,000 graduates in high-demand fields as nursing, health care, teaching and IT. In addition to its online access, the school has campus locations within 10 miles of 87 million Americans. Learn More About University of Phoenix
	In addition to a host of options for students needing to transfer existing bachelor's and master's coursework into one of its more-than three dozen degree programs, Post University also welcomes military personnel to join its student body. Post offers detailed opportunities for veterans, those participating in active duty, as well as military dependent students. Learn More About Post University
	Kaplan is organized into ten different academic schools, including Arts & Sciences, Business, Criminal Justice, Education, Health Sciences, IS & Technology, Legal Studies, Nursing, Continuing Education, and Concord Law School. All told, Kaplan offers more than 125 degrees and programs both off- and online, with more than 70 campus-based locations nationwide. Learn More About Kaplan University
	Ashford is a private liberal arts university based in Clinton, Iowa. But thanks to the World Wide Web, students from all over the world can access their online coursework. Originally founded in 1918 as Mount St. Clare College, Ashford has Catholic roots and today its NAIA-level athletic teams are known as The Saints, which compete in the Midwest Collegiate Conference in over a dozen sports. Learn More About Ashford University
	Liberty University has the reputation of being the largest online evangelical Christian university in the nation. Founded in 1971 by the late Reverend Jerry Falwell, Liberty's original name was Lynchburg Baptist College. Liberty obtained university status in 1984. In athletics, Liberty is a member of the Big South Conference for 18 sports, including football, hockey, and basketball. Academically, Liberty offers majors in over 70 subjects, including aeronautics, business, nursing, and more. Learn More About Liberty University
	For students looking for flexible and affordable online education, Walden University offers both. As a leading accredited online university for more than 40 years, Walden has more than 42,500 students, from all 50 states and more than 100 countries. Nearly 85 percent of Walden students are satisfied with their university, and would be likely to recommend Walden to others. Learn More About Walden University
	DeVry has dozens of campuses nationwide and delivers its coursework via the Web to thousands of online students studying for their degrees. At DeVry University, all degree programs are career-focused to ensure that proper training is given to students pursuing a specific job or career path. Learn More About DeVry University
	American InterContinental University, also known as AIU, is a private school accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association. Founded in 1970 as the American College of Applied Arts, AIU today has seven campuses in the US and UK and runs its online program out of its Chicago offices. AIU offers degree programs in several subjects, including healthcare, business, education, criminal justice, and more. Learn More About American InterContinental University
	Founded in 1839, Boston University is one of the oldest and most trusted universities that offers online education. At Boston Online, students can study liberal arts, business, science, criminal justice, health, music, nursing, and more to become well-rounded and productive individuals. Moreover, online programs offer a better sense of flexibility and convenience. Learn More About Boston University
	Capella University was founded in 1991 by Stephen Shank, the former CEO of Tonka, who felt that working adults were underserved by traditional brick-and-mortar universities. While their offices are located in downtown Minneapolis, being an online university, the majority of learning takes place outside of campus and instead via the Internet. Their motto: "Knowledge is solving problems no one else can." Learn More About Capella University
	In 1892, S. Irving Strayer founded Strayer's Business College. Today, this is known as Strayer University and has over 70 non-residential campuses with more than 50,000 students nationwide. Strayer is highly regarded as producing as many students with computer science degrees as any other school in the country. Learn More About Strayer University
	Grand Canyon University was founded in 1949 as Grand Canyon College, an Arizona Southern Baptist school. (It reached university status in 1989.) Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association, GCU is typically featured among the Top 10 online colleges as ranked by The Online Education Database (OEDb). Learn More About Grand Canyon University