List of private universities in Canada

Private universities in Canada are independent postsecondary institutions that have been granted the authority to confer academic degrees from a provincial authority. The oldest private universities in Canada operated as seminaries or as religiously-affiliated institutions, although several secular for-profit and not-for-profit private universities were established in Canada during the late-20th and early 21st century.[1] Although private universities have been established in several Canadian provinces, the majority of universities in the country remains publicly-funded.

Along with private universities based in Canada, several private universities based in the United States also operate satellite campuses in the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario.

List by province

Alberta

Post-secondary degree programs at private universities in Alberta are approved by the province's Minister of Advanced Education as reviewed by the Campus Alberta Quality Council.[2] The following are private universities based in Alberta that operate degree programs approved by Alberta's Minister of Advanced Education:[2]

Name City Language Established[note 1] Religious affiliation
Ambrose University Calgary English 1921 Christian and Missionary Alliance & Church of the Nazarene
Burman University Lacombe English 1907 Seventh-day Adventist
Concordia University of Edmonton Edmonton English 1921 —[note 2]
St. Mary's University Calgary English 1986 Catholic Church
The King's University Edmonton English 1979 Christian Reformed Church in North America

In addition to private universities that are based in Alberta, the cities of Calgary and Edmonton also hosts satellite campuses for private universities based in the United States, including the City University of Seattle, Gonzaga University, and the University of Portland.[3] Degree programs offered at these satellite campuses are approved by Alberta's Minister of Advanced Education.[4]

From 2002 to 2009, the Taylor University College and Seminary was authorized to confer undergraduate degrees. In 2009 the institution ceased operating an undergraduate program, and its authority to confer degrees was rescinded by the government of Alberta.[2]

British Columbia

Post-secondary degree programs at private universities in British Columbia are authorized under the provincial Degree Authorization Act.[5] The following are private universities based in British Columbia, whose degree-granting authority was authorized under the Degree Authorization Act:[5]

Name City Language Established[note 1] Religious affiliation
Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences[6] Port Alberni English 2007 —
Trinity Western University Langley English 1962 Evangelical Free Church of America
University Canada West Vancouver English 2005 —
Yorkville University Vancouver[note 3] English 2017[note 4] —

In addition to private universities based in British Columbia, several US-based private universities also operate a satellite campus in Vancouver; including Adler University, City University of Seattle, Fairleigh Dickinson University, and Northeastern University. Gonzaga University also operates a satellite campus in Kelowna.[3] The aforementioned universities that operate satellite campuses in British Columbia all operate degree programs authorized under the province's Degree Authorization Act.[5]

Manitoba

There exists several religious-affiliated private universities in Manitoba that operate degree programs approved by the provincial government. The following Manitoba-based private universities are provided the authority to accept international students under the province's International Education Act:[8]

Name City Language Established[note 1] Religious affiliation
Booth University College Winnipeg English 1982 Salvation Army
Canadian Mennonite University Winnipeg English 1999 Mennonite
Providence University College and Theological Seminary Otterburne English 1925 Evangelicalism

New Brunswick

There exists several private universities in New Brunswick which are either recognized under the province's Degree Granting Act, or as a privately chartered university. They include:[9]

Name City Language Established[note 1] Religious affiliation
Crandall University Moncton English 1949 Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada
Kingswood University Sussex English 1945 Wesleyan Church
St. Stephen's University St. Stephen English 1975 —[note 5]
University of Fredericton Fredericton English 2005 —
Yorkville University Fredericton[note 3] English 2003 —

Lansbridge University was a former private university in New Brunswick that ceased operations in 2010.[11]

Ontario

There are several private universities based in Ontario with partial degree-granting authority as authorized by an act of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. The majority of these institutions are faith-based.[12] The following are private universities based in Ontario, that were authorized to grant degrees in Ontario through ministerial consent:[12][13]

Name City Language Established[note 1] Religious affiliation
International Business University Toronto English 2021[14] —
Redeemer University Hamilton English 1982 Reformed Christian
Tyndale University Toronto English 1894 Evangelicalism
University of Niagara Falls Canada Niagara Falls English 2024 —
Yorkville University Toronto, Vaughan[note 3] English [note 6] —

In addition to private universities based in Ontario, the province also hosts satellite campuses for two US-based private universities, Niagara University and Northeastern University; the former in Vaughan and the latter in Toronto.[15][16][17] These institutions were granted the authority to confer academic degrees through ministerial consent.[13]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e The following year was when the institution was established, not when the institution became a university with the authority to confer academic degrees.
  2. ^ Concordia University of Edmonton was formerly affiliated with Lutheran Church–Canada until 2016, when the university ended its affiliation and became a secular institution.
  3. ^ a b c Yorkville University operates multiple campuses in British Columbia, Ontario, and New Brunswick.
  4. ^ The following year was when Yorkville University's Vancouver campus was opened to the public. However, the university has operated as an online university based in New Brunswick since 2003.[7]
  5. ^ St. Stephen's University was established as a Christian institution, although later became seclarized.[10]
  6. ^ Yorkville University's was established in New Brunswick in 2003. However, the university did not establish a campus in Ontario, or receive ministerial consent to confer degrees in the province until a later date.

References

  1. ^ "Why there are only a few private universities in Canada". The Globe and Mail. The Woodbridge Company. 2 November 2018. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "Recommendations for Alberta Institutions". caqc.alberta.ca. Campus Alberta Quality Council. 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Master of Counselling - Canada". www.gonzaga.edu. Gonzaga University. 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  4. ^ "Recommendations for Non-Resident Institutions". caqc.alberta.ca. Campus Alberta Quality Council. 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  5. ^ a b c "Find an Institution". www2.gov.bc.ca. Government of British Columbia. 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  6. ^ "Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences Act". BC Laws. King's Printer. 2007. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  7. ^ Hatfield, Erin (3 March 2017). "Yorkville University Celebrates Vancouver Campus Opening March 10". www.yorkvilleu.ca. Yorkville University. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  8. ^ "Universities and Colleges". www.edu.gov.mb.ca. Government of Manitoba. 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  9. ^ "Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour". www2.gnb.ca. Government of New Brunswick. 14 March 2021.
  10. ^ Wright, Julia (2 February 2019). "How a tiny St. Stephen university is offering a debt-free degree". Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  11. ^ "Lansbridge University". www2.gnb.ca. Government of New Brunswick. 14 March 2021.
  12. ^ a b "Private postsecondary schools". www.ontario.ca. Queen's Printer for Ontario. 3 September 2020.
  13. ^ a b "Degree Authority in Ontario". www.tcu.gov.on.ca. Queen's Printer for Ontario. 20 April 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  14. ^ Ministry of Colleges and Universities (31 May 2021). "Memorandum to International Business University Re: Ministerial Consent" (PDF). peqab.ca. Postsecondary Education Quality Assessment Board.
  15. ^ "Ontario's Government for the People Welcomes Niagara University to Vaughan". news.ontario.ca. Queen's Printer for Ontario. 22 January 2019.
  16. ^ Freeman, Joshua (3 November 2015). "Northeastern University to open Toronto campus". www.cp24.com. BellMedia.
  17. ^ McDonald, Matthew (2015-11-02). "Northeastern University to open regional campus in Toronto". Northeastern Global News. Retrieved 2024-10-15.