Ontario is the second-largest province in Canada and is also the most populous, housing one-third of the country’s population. Its capital, Toronto, is a major source of the country’s wealth. Most of its population is composed of immigrants even before World War II.
Canada’s higher education is one of the best in the world, with its nursing schools included in the world’s top nursing education. It offers a variety of nursing courses and is a country that is easy to migrate to if you decide to work there after graduation. This is due to the province’s aging workforce in the nursing profession and its growing population.
The duration of courses at the undergraduate level can range from two to four years depending on the type of program you are enrolled in. Master’s usually take two years and doctorate five years; specializations and diplomas in nursing take one year to complete. Listed below are some of the best nursing schools in the province!
Top Schools Offering Nursing Programs in Ontario
1. West Coast University
West Coast University is a leading school for nursing in Ontario that offers a quality education, coupled with excellent facilities, faculty, and student community. The university practices a student-centered approach to learning that drives its students to cultivate an analytic mind and hands-on experience that will hone their practical skills to solve future endeavors in their respective fields. The university has campuses in Texas, Miami, Los Angeles, Ontario, and Orange County.
The university’s program in nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and is one of the best programs it offers. The undergraduate program costs an estimated US$116,900 for the entire program, US$31,500 for a Master’s, and US$35,400 for a doctorate.
2. University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is another excellent nursing school in Ontario and is the top university in Canada that was founded in 1827. It is a research-intensive university that is at the forefront of an innovative educational approach. It has international partnerships with institutions and agencies that participate in student/faculty exchange programs, as well as educational tours. It has campuses in Mississauga, St. George, and Scarborough.
The university’s nursing program is offered in the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, which is ranked among the top nursing schools in all of Canada. The tuition fee for undergraduate nursing is estimated to be US$6,400 per year, US$9,600 for Master’s, and US$11,800 for Ph.D. The university is dedicated to providing education to all and has put in place a memorandum that allows students, even those without financial means, to pursue their vocation and continue their education via scholarships and other means.
3. University of Windsor
The University of Windsor is recognized for being a top institution for nursing in Ontario. It was founded as the Assumption College in 1857 and was officially the University of Windsor in 1963 with the incorporation of Essex College, Canterbury College, Iona College, and Holy Redeemer College into one.
The School of Nursing was established in 1954 and offered diploma certificates to its graduates. In 1963. The school started offering degree programs in nursing on top of its diploma and certificate courses. Its undergraduate in nursing is offered in collaboration with St. Clair College (Windsor and Thames/Chatham campuses) and Lambton College (Sarnia). The estimated tuition fee per semester is US$2,300 for local students and US$14,500 for international students.
The Master’s program has three specialization options: Advanced Clinical Practice Nursing Field, Nursing Leadership Field, and Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner Field. Its Ph.D. program is thesis-based and is assigned a supervising faculty. The estimated tuition for Master’s and Ph.D. per semester for local students is US$1,900 and US$6,000 for international students.
4. McMaster University
McMaster University was founded in Toronto in 1887 and moved its main campus to Hamilton in 1930. The university is highly ranked with the Times Higher Education Ranking the university in 2021 as 4th in Canada, and 16th in the world. Additionally, McMaster University is known for its world-class nursing programs in Ontario.
Its School of Nursing offered in the Faculty of Health Sciences was founded in 1934, with its graduate courses offered in 1973. It has now become a renowned nursing school ranked third in Canada and 15th in the world for its quality nursing education. Its undergraduate nursing program has operated in collaboration with the Mohawk and Conestoga Bachelor of Science in Nursing program since 2004, with its students receiving practical training through community healthcare agencies in Hamilton, Halton, Brantford, Niagara, and nearby areas.
The average tuition fee per year for local students is US$4,800, and US$34,200 for international students per year.
5. University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa was founded in 1848 as a Catholic College, offering courses in both French and English. Presently, the University of Ottawa is a prestigious nursing institution in Ontario, the biggest bilingual university in the world, and is ranked as the top university in Canada with a French immersion program.
The university’s nursing program is offered under the School of Nursing in the Faculty of Health Sciences. The nursing programs are offered in both French and English with English courses offered in collaboration with other colleges such as the Algonquin College (Woodroffe) and Algonquin College (Pembroke), and French courses with La Cites College. Students are given the opportunity for hands-on experience in the university’s various institutional partnerships with community agencies, primary hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and long-term care facilities among others.
The tuition fee for local students per semester is US$2,900 for undergraduate nursing, US$2,700 for Master’s, and US$2,200 for Ph.D. for international students, the estimated tuition fee per semester is US$17,600 for undergraduate nursing, US$8,900 for Master’s, and US$2,500 for Ph.D.
If Ontario is your dream town and nursing is your career choice, then this article has given you some direction. Do not think twice about kickstarting your nursing career here. You will not only gain a world-class nursing education but you will also come across numerous opportunities to grow in the field.
We hope this article on the Best Nursing Schools in Ontario was helpful. If you would like to learn more about this or about studying abroad, check out the Study in Canada and Available Programs for International Students pages.
