Universities in Canada are established and operate under provincial and territorial government charters or are directed by First Nations bands or by federal legislation. Most public universities in the country are members of Universities Canada, a non-profit organization. The title "university" is protected under federal regulation.
As of September 2025, there are 155 universities with the legal status of "recognized". A university with such legal status has been given authority to grant degrees by formal legislative act(s) of the applicable provincial or territorial legislature. The total includes 41 theological schools and 13 affiliated colleges of larger universities with their own independent recognition (such as Saint Paul University and University of Trinity College, affiliated colleges of the University of Ottawa and the University of Toronto respectively). The universities offer education in English and French. Most French-speaking universities are located in Quebec, though outside the province are either francophone or bilingual. 1.8 million students are enrolled in university. Programs are offered to graduating high school students through choice; however, students must maintain specific entering averages, which generally range from 65 to 85%, depending on criteria set by the chosen university. On campus residences are available at 95% of universities in Canada.
List of public universities
There are many public universities in Canada that are authorized to issue degrees. Degrees from Affiliated institutions and seminaries are typically awarded by the affiliate's parent institution.
{|class="wikitable sortable sticky-header-multi sort-under col6right col7right col8right col9right col10right"
!rowspan="2" scope="col"| Name
!rowspan="2" scope="col"| Province/territory
!rowspan="2" scope="col"| City/cities
!rowspan="2" scope="col"|
!rowspan="2" scope="col"|
!colspan="2" scope="col"| Undergraduate students
!colspan="2" scope="col"| Graduate students
| 1827
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| Ontario
| Waterloo,<br />Cambridge,<br />Kitchener,<br />Stratford
| English
| 1957
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| Ontario
| London
| English
| 1878
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| Ontario
| Windsor
| English
| 1857
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| Wilfrid Laurier University
| Ontario
| Waterloo,<br />Brantford,<br />Milton,<br />Toronto,<br />Kitchener
| English
| 1911
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| York University
| Ontario
| Toronto,<br />Markham
| English