Best Nursing Schools in Canada (2026): National Rankings and Province Guides

Canada has some of the best nursing schools in the world. Two Canadian universities are in the global top 10 for nursing, and a dozen appear in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026. This guide ranks Canada’s nursing schools nationally, compares costs across provinces, explains the different routes into nursing, and links to our detailed guide for every province and territory.

Imagine you have decided to become a nurse in Canada. You could study in Toronto at one of the top five nursing schools in the world, in a small Maritime town where your instructors know your name, or in Yellowknife or Iqaluit, training to serve the North. The choice is huge. This guide is your map.

How we ranked Canada’s nursing schools

Canada has no national dataset on nursing school outcomes such as graduation rates and graduate earnings, unlike the United States. The most widely used international comparison is the QS World University Rankings by Subject for nursing, which considers academic reputation, employer reputation, research citations and research impact. We used the QS 2026 nursing table to rank Canada’s schools nationally. Our province guides then review all approved programmes in each province, including excellent schools that are not in the QS table.

Canada’s top nursing schools (2026)

Rank in Canada	University	City	Province	QS Nursing 2026 (world)
1	University of Toronto	Toronto	Ontario	4th
2	University of Alberta	Edmonton	Alberta	9th
3	University of British Columbia	Vancouver	British Columbia	=22nd
4	McMaster University	Hamilton	Ontario	24th
5	McGill University	Montreal	Quebec	50th
=6	University of Calgary	Calgary	Alberta	51–100
=6	Queen’s University	Kingston	Ontario	51–100
=6	University of Ottawa	Ottawa	Ontario	51–100
=9	University of Victoria	Victoria	British Columbia	101–150
=9	Western University	London	Ontario	101–150
=11	Dalhousie University	Halifax	Nova Scotia	151–225
=11	Université de Montréal	Montreal	Quebec	151–225

1. University of Toronto

The Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing is ranked 4th in the world for nursing and is Canada’s highest-ranked nursing school. Its Bachelor of Science in Nursing is a two-year accelerated programme for students who have already completed at least two years of university study, and students train in Toronto’s large teaching hospitals.

2. University of Alberta

Ranked 9th in the world, the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Nursing in Edmonton offers the widest range of entry routes in western Canada, including a bilingual French-English programme at Campus Saint-Jean and collaborative delivery with partner colleges across Alberta.

3. University of British Columbia

UBC’s School of Nursing in Vancouver, ranked 22nd in the world, offers a highly competitive BSN for students with previous university study, with clinical training across the Lower Mainland. UBC’s Okanagan campus in Kelowna also offers a four-year BSN.

4. McMaster University

McMaster in Hamilton, ranked 24th, is known for its problem-based learning approach and its collaborative BScN delivered with Mohawk College and Conestoga College.

5. McGill University

McGill’s Ingram School of Nursing in Montreal is Quebec’s top-ranked nursing school and teaches in English. Its programmes are shaped by Quebec’s unique system, in which registered nurses are regulated by the Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec.

Best nursing schools by province and territory

Each guide below ranks or reviews every approved bachelor’s nursing programme in that province or territory, with costs, entry routes and tips.

• Ontario: 16 universities, collaborative college degrees and new college BScN programmes; home to Toronto and McMaster
• Alberta: the world-ranked University of Alberta and University of Calgary, plus Mount Royal, MacEwan and Lethbridge
• British Columbia: UBC, the University of Victoria and a dozen programmes across the province
• Quebec: McGill, Université de Montréal, Laval, Sherbrooke and the Université du Québec network, plus the CEGEP DEC-BAC route
• Manitoba: University of Manitoba, Brandon University, Red River College Polytechnic and Université de Saint-Boniface
• Saskatchewan: University of Saskatchewan, and the University of Regina with Saskatchewan Polytechnic
• Nova Scotia: Dalhousie, St. Francis Xavier and Cape Breton University
• New Brunswick: University of New Brunswick and Université de Moncton
• Newfoundland and Labrador: Memorial University with the Centre for Nursing Studies and Western Regional School of Nursing
• Prince Edward Island: the University of Prince Edward Island
• Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut: Aurora College, Arctic Nursing with Dalhousie, and Yukon’s practical nurse and virtual BN pathways

What does nursing school cost in Canada?

Statistics Canada puts average undergraduate tuition for Canadian students at about $7,734 a year in 2025/2026. Costs vary a lot by province:

Province	Average undergraduate tuition, Canadian students (2025/2026)
Nova Scotia	$9,988
New Brunswick	$9,938
Saskatchewan	$9,863
Ontario	$8,958
Prince Edward Island	$8,191
Alberta	$8,067
British Columbia	$6,862
Manitoba	$5,993
Quebec	$3,963 (mainly Quebec residents)
Newfoundland and Labrador	$3,746

International students pay much more: the national average for international undergraduates is about $41,746 a year. Nursing students also pay for uniforms, equipment, immunisations, police checks and travel to clinical placements, and living costs in Toronto and Vancouver are particularly high.

Routes into nursing in Canada

• Four-year bachelor’s degree (BScN or BN): the standard route to becoming a registered nurse (RN) in every province except Quebec, where a college diploma is still accepted.
• Collaborative programmes: a university degree taught partly or fully at a partner college, common in Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan.
• College degrees in Ontario: since 2024, Ontario colleges can offer their own standalone BScN degrees.
• Accelerated or after-degree programmes: for students who already have university credits or a degree in another subject, usually two years or less.
• Practical nursing diplomas: two-year college programmes leading to licensed practical nurse (LPN) or, in Ontario, registered practical nurse (RPN) status. Many provinces offer bridging programmes from practical nurse to RN.
• Registered psychiatric nursing: a distinct profession regulated in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and Yukon.
• Quebec’s DEC and DEC-BAC: a three-year CEGEP nursing diploma (DEC) can lead to registration, or students can continue to a university bachelor’s in a shortened DEC-BAC programme.

Getting in: admission tips

• Most programmes require Grade 12 English, Biology, Chemistry and Math, and some require Grade 12 Chemistry or Anatomy and Physiology. Requirements differ, so check each school.
• Admission averages are high and seats limited; competitive programmes often admit students with averages in the high 80s or 90s.
• Some schools use supplementary applications, interviews or situational judgement tests such as Casper.
• Many programmes reserve seats for Indigenous applicants and residents of rural or northern areas.
• Application deadlines are often early in the year, sometimes in January or February for September entry.
• Apply to several programmes, including smaller universities and collaborative college programmes.

After graduation: licensing and jobs

Graduates from approved programmes outside Quebec write the NCLEX-RN to become registered nurses; Quebec graduates write the OIIQ professional examination. Practical nurse graduates write the national practical nurse exam. Demand for nurses is strong across Canada, especially in rural, northern and long-term care settings, and many provinces offer signing bonuses, relocation support or tuition forgiveness for nurses who work in underserved areas.

International students

International students can apply to many Canadian nursing programmes, but seats are limited and fees much higher. Since 2024, the federal government has capped study permits, and some provinces prioritise programmes linked to labour shortages such as health care. Nurses already educated abroad usually follow the internationally educated nurse route through the National Nursing Assessment Service and provincial regulators rather than starting a new degree; see our guide to moving to Canada as a nurse.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best nursing school in Canada?

The University of Toronto is Canada’s highest-ranked nursing school in the QS 2026 rankings, at 4th in the world, followed by the University of Alberta at 9th.

Which province is cheapest for a nursing degree?

Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec (for Quebec residents) have the lowest average undergraduate tuition, followed by Manitoba and British Columbia.

How long does it take to become an RN in Canada?

Usually four years for a bachelor’s degree, then the licensing exam. Accelerated programmes for students with previous university study take about two years.

Can I become a nurse in Canada with a college diploma?

Yes, as a practical nurse in every province, and as a registered nurse in Quebec with a CEGEP DEC. Elsewhere, RNs need a bachelor’s degree.

But is a top-ranked school always the right choice?

World rankings mostly reflect research reputation. For many students, the best school is the one they can get into, afford, and where they will get strong clinical training close to the community where they want to work. Every approved Canadian nursing programme prepares you for the same licensing exam. Use the rankings as one tool, not the only one.

Related: Nurse salaries in Canada by province · Nursing regulators in Canada · Express Entry healthcare draws for nurses

Sources: QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 (Nursing), Statistics Canada Tuition and Living Accommodation Costs survey 2025/2026, provincial and territorial nursing regulators, Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing, school websites. Programmes and fees change; always confirm with the school.