Province job rate
85.8% at 6 months
Province grad rate
65.0%
Top job rate on this list
Conestoga, 90.0%
Dean’s advice
Look past the price tag
Most “best trade school” lists rank colleges by reputation or by how nice the shops look on a tour. As a college dean, I’d rather you look at two numbers every Ontario public college has to report: how many students finish, and how many graduates are working six months later.
From the dean’s desk
When you compare trade schools, look beyond cost. Look at completion rates and job placement rates.
— Lester Burkes, Dean of Trades, Transportation & Apprenticeship
The two numbers that matter
- Graduation rate tells you how many students who start a program actually finish it. A low rate can point to programs that are hard to schedule, poorly supported, or a bad fit for working adults.
- Graduate employment rate tells you how many graduates were working six months after finishing. It’s the closest thing to proof that employers value the training.
Ontario publishes both for every public college as part of its Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). The figures below are the most recent published results, for students who graduated in 2021–22.
10 Ontario trade schools compared
Ranked by graduate employment rate. Figures are college-wide, not specific to trades programs, so ask each school for program-level results too.
| College | Main location | Grads employed at 6 months | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conestoga College | Kitchener | 90.0% | 72.9% |
| Fanshawe College | London | 89.7% | 66.4% |
| Niagara College | Welland | 89.4% | 66.4% |
| Durham College | Oshawa | 88.6% | 65.8% |
| Mohawk College | Hamilton | 86.3% | 65.9% |
| George Brown College | Toronto | 83.6% | 67.0% |
| Humber College | Toronto | 83.6% | 63.9% |
| Sheridan College | Oakville and Brampton | 82.2% | 65.4% |
| Centennial College | Toronto (Scarborough) | 80.5% | 61.2% |
| Seneca College | Toronto | 79.1% | 62.8% |
| Ontario average | — | 85.8% | 65.0% |
What the numbers show
- Conestoga stands out on both measures. It had the highest employment rate and the highest graduation rate of the ten, well above the provincial averages.
- Mid-size colleges outside Toronto did well. Fanshawe, Niagara and Durham all beat the provincial employment average.
- The big Toronto colleges trailed the average on employment. George Brown, Humber, Sheridan, Centennial and Seneca all came in below 85.8%. That doesn’t make them bad choices, but it’s worth asking why.
- Don’t overlook smaller colleges. Northern College (94.4%) and St. Lawrence College (93.2%) had the highest employment rates in the province.
Questions to ask before you enroll
1
What are the completion and job rates for my program?
College-wide numbers are a starting point. Ask for the results for the specific trade you want.
2
Does the program lead to an apprenticeship?
Find out whether the program counts toward an apprenticeship and a Certificate of Qualification through Skilled Trades Ontario.
3
How much hands-on time will I get?
Ask how many hours you’ll spend in the shop or lab compared with the classroom.
4
Which employers hire your graduates?
A strong program can name the companies that hire its students.
5
What does it really cost?
Add up tuition, tools, books and fees, then ask about OSAP and other funding.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best trade school in Ontario?
It depends on the program you want, but Conestoga College had both the highest graduate employment rate (90.0%) and highest graduation rate (72.9%) of the ten large colleges on this list in Ontario’s latest published KPIs.
How do I compare Ontario colleges?
Use Ontario’s Key Performance Indicators, which report each public college’s graduate employment rate, graduation rate, graduate satisfaction and employer satisfaction.
What is a good graduation rate for a college?
The Ontario average was 65.0%. A college or program above that is finishing more of its students than most.
Sources
Related: Ontario Apprenticeship Programs Explained · Highest Paying Trades in Ontario · All Ontario guides
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