Private universities in Canada are independent postsecondary institutions that have been granted the authority to confer academic degrees from a provincial authority. The oldest private universities in Canada operated as seminaries or as religiously-affiliated institutions, although several secular for-profit and not-for-profit private universities were established in Canada during the late-20th and early 21st century.[1] Although private universities have been established in several Canadian provinces, the majority of universities in the country remains publicly-funded.
Along with private universities based in Canada, several private universities based in the United States also operate satellite campuses in the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario.
Post-secondary degree programs at private universities in Alberta are approved by the province's Minister of Advanced Education as reviewed by the Campus Alberta Quality Council.[2] The following are private universities based in Alberta that operate degree programs approved by Alberta's Minister of Advanced Education:[2]
| Name | City | Language | Established | Religious affiliation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ambrose University | Calgary | English | 1921 | Christian and Missionary Alliance & Church of the Nazarene | |
| Burman University | Lacombe | English | 1907 | Seventh-day Adventist | |
| Concordia University of Edmonton | Edmonton | English | 1921 | ||
| St. Mary's University | Calgary | English | 1986 | Catholic Church | |
| The King's University | Edmonton | English | 1979 | Christian Reformed Church in North America |
From 2002 to 2009, the Taylor University College and Seminary was authorized to confer undergraduate degrees. In 2009 the institution ceased operating an undergraduate program, and its authority to confer degrees was rescinded by the government of Alberta.[2]
Post-secondary degree programs at private universities in British Columbia are authorized under the provincial Degree Authorization Act.[5] The following are private universities based in British Columbia, whose degree-granting authority was authorized under the Degree Authorization Act:[5]
| Name | City | Language | Established | Religious affiliation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences | Port Alberni | English | 2007 | ||
| Quest University | Squamish | English | 2007 | ||
| Trinity Western University | Langley | English | 1962 | Evangelical Free Church of America | |
| University Canada West | Vancouver | English | 2005 | ||
| Yorkville University | Vancouver | English | 2017 |
There exists several religious-affiliated private universities in Manitoba that operate degree programs approved by the provincial government. The following Manitoba-based private universities are provided the authority to accept international students under the province's International Education Act:[6]
| Name | City | Language | Established | Religious affiliation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Booth University College | Winnipeg | English | 1982 | Salvation Army | |
| Canadian Mennonite University | Winnipeg | English | 1999 | Mennonite | |
| Providence University College and Theological Seminary | Otterburne | English | 1925 | Evangelicalism |
There exists several private universities in New Brunswick which are either recognized under the province's Degree Granting Act, or as a privately chartered university. They include:[7]
| Name | City | Language | Established | Religious affiliation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crandall University | Moncton | English | 1949 | Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada | |
| Kingswood University | Sussex | English | 1945 | Wesleyan Church | |
| St. Stephen's University | St. Stephen | English | 1975 | ||
| University of Fredericton | Fredericton | English | 2005 | ||
| Yorkville University | Fredericton | English | 2003 |
There are several private universities based in Ontario with partial degree-granting authority as authorized by an act of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. The majority of these institutions are faith-based.[9] The following are private universities based in Ontario, that were authorized to grant degrees in Ontario through ministerial consent:[9] [10]
| Name | City | Language | Established | Religious affiliation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Business University | Toronto | English | 2021[11] | ||
| Redeemer University | Hamilton | English | 1982 | Reformed Christian | |
| Tyndale University | Toronto | English | 1894 | Evangelicalism | |
| University of Niagara Falls Canada | Niagara Falls | English | 2024 | ||
| Yorkville University | Toronto, Vaughan | English |