Prince George, B.C. – The University of Northern British Columbia retained its position in the top echelon of small Canadian universities in the latest edition of the Maclean’s magazine rankings.

UNBC placed second out of 19 post-secondary institutions in the Primarily Undergraduate tier, marking the 19th consecutive year UNBC finished in the top five in its category. 

“UNBC is among the best universities of its size in Canada because of our exceptional students and alumni who are making a difference in their communities, our phenomenal faculty who foster a stimulating learning environment and conduct cutting-edge research, and our dedicated staff who ensure our University continues to offer a top-notch experience,” says UNBC President Dr. Geoff Payne. “These rankings are the latest evidence that UNBC’s excellent academic programming and research culture are inspiring future leaders across northern B.C. and beyond.”  

UNBC received high marks across many categories, including a tie for first in student-faculty ratio and top three finishes in students who have won national awards and total research dollars. 

The University also saw its ranking increase in a handful of categories, most notably in the national reputational survey. UNBC finished fourth in its category, its best-ever finish in the metric that includes feedback from university faculty and administrators as well as business people from across the country. UNBC also scored better in the student services category, placing sixth, matching its best-ever result most recently achieved in 2012.  

Maclean’s university rankings come out every fall and rank Canadian universities in 12 categories related to research, student success and student services. It also includes two surveys, one focused on reputation and another on student satisfaction. 

UNBC placed first in its category in 2015, 2016 and 2021. This is the sixth time UNBC has placed second. It was also the runner-up in 2008, 2014, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Mount Allison placed first in the primarily undergraduate category. Simon Fraser was first in comprehensive and McGill topped the charts in medical/doctoral.