McGill University has placed first among Canada’s ‘Large’ universities in Maclean’s magazine’s annual rankings, published Oct. 14. Despite a change in methodology and new category types, this marks the 22nd consecutive year the University has ranked first or tied for first.
Maclean’s evaluates universities using 15 indicators across four categories: student experience and success, faculty quality, student resources and support, and reputation. Four of those indicators are new this year; retention rate, graduation rate, research volume and research impact. Total research dollars are no longer considered. The rankings now classify universities according to size; Large (more than 30,000 full-time students), Mid-Size (10,000-30,000 full-time students) and Small (less than 10,000 full-time students).
“McGill’s sustained achievement is owed to the excellence of our entire community: our faculty, students and staff, as well as our alumni around the world,” said McGill President Deep Saini. “Together, their contributions enrich teaching and learning, advance research and innovation and strengthen the society we serve.”
Strong results in student success
This year, McGill ranked first nationally in five performance indicators, more than any other university. This included in all four Student Experience and Success indicators: retention rate, graduation rate, student-faculty ratio and student awards.
The University has ranked first nationally in student awards for 10 consecutive years. This indicator recognizes students who earn prestigious honours, awards from professional associations and funding from Canada’s three federal granting agencies.
“We are especially proud of the University’s performance in student success and experience, an outcome that reflects our shared commitment to providing an enriching and supportive learning environment where students can pursue their ambitions and reach their full potential,” said Saini.
Library acquisitions lead the way
For the 12th consecutive year, McGill ranked first nationally in library acquisitions, which measures the share of a library’s budget devoted to expanding its collections, including digital resources.
The University placed second in Canada in four other indicators: faculty awards, research impact, library expenses and scholarships and bursaries.