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.

Overview Comparison
York UniversityMcMaster University
Collegedunia Score4.3 Out of 105.5 Out of 10
ranking (overall)# 351 Times Higher Education 2024
# 353 QS World University 2024
# 401 Times Higher Education 2023
# 103 Times Higher Education 2024
# 189 QS World University 2024
# 85 Times Higher Education 2023
Subject Strength# 401 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2024
# 401 for Medicine by Academy Ranking of World Universities 2022
# 96 for Law by Times Higher Education 2024
# 176 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2024
# 48 for Medicine by QS World University 2023
ProgramsUG Programs -58
PG Programs -41
Doctorate Programs -6
UG Programs -44
PG Programs -43
Doctorate Programs -6
Acceptance Rate80.0 %42.0 %
Exam ScoreGMAT - 550
GRE updated - 320
IELTS - 6.5
TOEFL - 83
IELTS - 6.5
PTE - 60
TOEFL - 86
Cost to StudyAverage Tuition Fees   24861
[For UG Program]
Average Tuition Fees  10033
[For PG Program]
Hostel + Meal - 38900 Per Year
Average Tuition Fees   33407
[For UG Program]
Average Tuition Fees  8548
[For PG Program]
Hostel + Meal - 28865 Per Year
placement (average package)

Graduate Employability Rankings (QS 2023)- #301-500

Degree               Average Salary

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


application requirements

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 Reviews7.4/10 Read 22 reviews7.9/10 Read 21 reviews
General Facts Comparison
General FactsYork UniversityMcMaster University
Type of UniversityUniversity
University
Established1959
1887
Student:Faculty Ratio47:1
21:1
Male:Female43% Male, 57% Female45% Male, 0% Female
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#Shared Bathroom and Board - $7040
#Ensuite Room and board - $8960
#Triple Residence Room - $7000
#Double Residence Room - $8025
#Single Residence Room - $8965
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)


Weather
Comparison Notes

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.