15 Best Business Schools in Canada – 2025

January 31, 2025

best business schools in canada

The best business schools in Canada are some of the finest worldwide, with many dating back to the late 18th and early 19th centuries. From Halifax to Toronto, Canada offers the culture of Europe with the spirit of the New World. Canada boasts such prestigious business schools as the Rotman School of Management, 脡cole des hautes 茅tudes commerciales, and McGill Desautels. These schools are at the global forefront of innovation, research, entrepreneurship and community-building. While in the past, business programs may have had the reputation of being fairly 鈥渃ut and dried,鈥 the best business schools in Canada represent innovation in the areas of finance, sales, marketing, management and accounting, as well as innovative learning as well, including hybrid programs, case-method and interdisciplinary learning.

What Are the Best Business Schools in Canada?

Following is a list of the top 15 best business schools in Canada, ranked from highest to lowest.

 1) University of Toronto

The University of Toronto is listed as the best university in Canada by both Times Higher Education and U.S. News and is ranked in the top 25 globally. Named for , who made several generous donations to the university in the 90鈥檚, the prestigious Joseph L. Rotman School of Management is located within the university. The school鈥檚 website 鈥淏y choosing the Rotman Full-Time MBA program, you鈥檒l become part of the largest, brightest, and most diverse MBA program in Canada and a core hiring destination for major global employers.鈥 A unique component of Rotman are the 鈥 programs [鈥 designed for ambitious professionals who want to push the limits of what they can achieve in their careers.鈥

2) University of British Columbia

For 7 years, the Sauder School of Business at UBC was ranked Canada鈥檚 #1 best business programs by Maclean鈥檚 Education Magazine. Completed in 2012, the Sauder School of Business (Henry Angus building) earned multiple awards. These include the 2010 Sustainable Architecture & Building Canadian Green Building . Dubbed one of the most 鈥渓ivable鈥 cities in the world because of its richly diverse landscape and 鈥淲est Coast spirit鈥濃 UBC is one of Canada鈥檚 oldest universities. It offers a Bachelor of Commerce degree as well as a wide range of master鈥檚 and dual degrees. For example, they offer a four-year Juris Doctor + MBA degree. Additionally, the university is dedicated to the 鈥渞ebuilding of indigenous economies,鈥 with the Ch’nook and M茅tis Nations.

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3) University of Montreal

While the 脡cole des hautes 茅tudes commerciales (HEC) has been affiliated with the Universit茅 de Montr茅al since 1915, it is an autonomous institution. A bilingual institution, the school was the first university-level business school in Canada, and one of the first in North America. It 鈥渘early 150 management programs, from bachelor’s degrees to PhD, as well as many continuing education options. Over 60 of these programs offer a combination of on-site and distance learning to help balance school, work, and personal life.鈥 As a French-language school, it offers students wanting to pursue their French language skills along with their primary studies exciting to study abroad, including full immersion summer schools and camps.

4) Western University

Known for its case-method learning approach, Western University (formerly University of Western Ontario) is home to the Ivey School of Business. In 1948, MBA program was officially launched. This development came about when 100 of Canada鈥檚 top CEOs and presidents convened to discuss how business education could be expanded and improved. Following the MBA program鈥檚 successful launch, Canada鈥檚 first doctorate program in business administration was launched in 1961. Between 2014-19 and 2022-23, Bloomberg Businessweek ranked Ivey the #1 MBA program in Canada. has more than 32,000 alumni and 15,000 Executive Education alumni in 101 countries.

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5) McGill University

Rated by Mclean鈥檚 Education Magazine as the university for more than 15 years, McGill University boasts a high percentage of international students. A quarter of its student body is comprised of students from 150 countries. Further, the university has also been ranked #1 for scholarships for more than 13 years. Founded in 1906, McGill Desautels, MU鈥檚 business school, offers an interdisciplinary learning model that combines research, practice and teaching. It offers numerous research centers, including the McGill Dobson Centre for Entrepreneurship and the Desmarais Global Finance Research Centre. McGill Desautel鈥檚 international alumni contribute to its program. Lastly, this program provides students not only with applied learning, but internships and job opportunities.

6) University of Alberta

Home to the Alberta School of Business (ASB), the University of Alberta houses the longest continuously business school in Canada. It started from 鈥渉umble beginnings鈥 in 1916, but now has more than 33,000 alumni living in 80 countries. ASB offers a Bachelor of Commerce, an Energy MBA, a Master of Financial Management and a PhD, among other business programs. ASB is ranked among the top 5 school in Canada. What’s more, in a recent year, it was ranked in the world by Shanghai Ranking. In 2023, ASB showed its commitment to Indigenous perspectives in business by hosting the Indigenous Business PhD Students鈥 Mini Conference and Gathering.

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7) York University

In a recent year, York University鈥檚 Schulich School of Business was ranked Canada. For the past five consecutive years, the Schulich School of Business has also been recognized as a global leader in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings. is part of the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, with its goal being 鈥渟upercharging student and alumni startups and careers.鈥 This program has 3,000 community members and has supported 150 ventures to date. The Schulich School of Business also has several Equity, Diversity and Inclusion initiatives, including the Black Youth Entrepreneurship initiative.

 8) University of Waterloo

The University of Waterloo was founded in 1957. However, its Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business School was not founded until 2002. A signature program at the school is the , allowing students to pursue 鈥渁n entrepreneurial co-op option in which students start their own business while earning a co-op credit.鈥 More than 120 of Waterloo’s undergraduate programs offer a co-op option. In 2022, Mclean鈥檚 ranked the Conrad School of Entrepreneurship #1 in Canada for 鈥渕ost innovative university鈥 and 鈥渆xperiential learning.鈥 In 2022, the business school was also ranked in the world for founders by PitchBook university rankings. Waterloo business alum have gone on to found unique startups such as Instacart, Super and Clearco.

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 9) McMaster University

Founded in 1887 and named for benefactor William McMaster, who willed the bulk of his estate to the school, the university has Baptist roots. It is located in Hamilton, Ontario, and is home to the DeGroote School of Business. In a recent year, McMaster University was ranked #5 for Best Global Universities in Canada. Additionally, the DeGroote School of Business Master of Finance is ranked #131-140 in World University Rankings. Formerly the McMaster eBusiness Research Center, the McMaster Digital Transformation Research was founded in 2017. Its aims at 鈥渂etter understanding how the digital revolution is impacting individuals and transforming organizations and society at large.鈥

10) University of Calgary

Known as the Faculty of Business at its inception, Calgary鈥檚 business school was founded just one year after the university itself, in 1967. Later known as the Faculty of Management, the school became the second Canadian University to be accredited by AACSB International in 1985. In 2002, the Haskayne School of Business was re-named 鈥渁fter legendary Canadian businessman 鈥 after the Haskayne鈥檚 donated $16 million and real estate to the university. In 2017, the school partnered with the Schulich School of Engineering to create western Canada鈥檚 only combined engineering and business degree program.

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11) Concordia University

The John Molson School of Business at Concordia University was established in 1974. Its are 鈥渞esponsibility, inclusiveness and engagement.鈥 Located in Montreal, the largest city in Quebec and the second-largest French-speaking city in the world after Paris, Concordia University offers students a smorgasbord of art, culture and study. It is one of the most diverse universities in Canada. In a recent year, Bloomberg Business Week ranked John Molson in best business schools in Canada. Also, CEO Magazine ranked its EMBA program #3 in Canada and #25 worldwide. The school offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, MBA and executive programs. It is also known for its excellent co-op education opportunities.

 12) University of Ottawa

In its 鈥淲hat Sets Us Apart鈥 statement, the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa 鈥淲e鈥檙e driven by a passion for delivering positive societal outcomes in line with what we value: people, the planet, and profit.鈥 Further, on its 鈥渁bout鈥 page, the school emphasizes 鈥済etting greener, getting heathier, getting happier and getting wealthier鈥 as the pillars of its community, dedicated to 鈥渂uilding a better Canada.鈥 The university is ranked #9 in Best Global Universities in Canada. It offers more than 10 interdisciplinary programs alongside its undergraduate, graduate and executive options. Lastly, in the news include Michelle Savoy and her work 鈥淥n Supporting Women in Capital Markets鈥.

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 13) Simon Fraser University

As a university whose research income has exceeded $141.1 million dollars, SFU鈥檚 Beedie School of Business is based in Canada鈥檚 Asia-Pacific Gateway, Metro Vancouver, BC. The school has consistently placed among the top 100 schools in the world for its research output. Maclean鈥檚 placed FSU first for innovation in Canada and second in the world for entrepreneurial spirit. Much like the University of Waterloo, SFU Beedie offers one of Canada鈥檚 largest , which 鈥渁llows our students to build hands-on experience throughout their educational journey.鈥 The first school in Canada to offer an Executive MBA in 1968, the school offers full and part-time MBAs as well as an .

 14) Dalhousie University

Located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, 鈥淒alhousie University is Atlantic Canada鈥檚 leading research-intensive university,鈥 resulting in in research funding each year. Dalhousie鈥檚 total enrollment is just over 21,000. However, its research are 鈥渂ig data, sustainable ocean and food security,鈥 just to name a few. It has over 300 partnerships with universities from 67 countries, and its 4,000 international students hail from 120 countries. The university鈥檚 founding history is especially colorful. Lord Dalhousie was able to fulfill his dream of founding a college 鈥渙pen to all, regardless of class or creeds鈥. He did this by investing his share of British Royal Navy treasure taken from American privateers during the War of 1812.

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 15) University of Guelph

Reestablished in 1964, the University of Guelph grew out of the Ontario Veterinary College, Ontario Agricultural College and McDonald Institute. It is home to the Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics. The school was renamed in 2019 for Stu and Kim Lang after they donated $21 million dollars to the institution. is 鈥渃ommitted to developing leaders with a social conscience, an environmental sensibility and a commitment to their communities.鈥 The school offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs that cover both traditional and unique topics. Examples include entrepreneurship, food and agribusiness, international business and sport and event management.

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