Western nudged up one spot, landing at No. 8 in the 24th annual Maclean’s University Rankings issue, released Nov. 10.
For the 10th year in a row, the self-professed “holy book for anyone planning their education in Canada” ranked McGill University first in the Medical Doctoral category, which boasts 15 schools, including Western. The University of Toronto, University of British Columbia (UBC), Queen’s University and University of Alberta rounded out the Top Five. In fact, only Toronto and UBC switching spots reflected any change in the Top 7.
At No. 8, Western was tied with the University of Ottawa, one spot ahead of Laval University.
Western peaked in the Maclean’s rankings at No. 3, where it sat for four straight years (2002-5). It has been no higher than No. 5 (2006) since.
This year, the Medical Doctoral category-by-category breakdown told a variety of stories.
Western ranked highest in library acquisitions, No. 2; students services, scholarships and bursaries and medical science grants, all at No. 5. Western ranked lowest in students awards, total research dollars, student/faculty ratio, faculty awards and social science and humanities grants, all at No. 11.
In a survey of high school guidance counselors, university officials and heads of organizations, as well as CEOs and recruiters at corporations across the country, Western was ranked No. 9 in national reputation against all schools. That is one spot down from last year. Waterloo, UBC, Toronto, McGill and Alberta topped that list; Western was one spot ahead of Simon Fraser.
That same group ranked Western No. 8 in quality, No. 10 in innovation and No. 12 in its ability to produce the leaders of tomorrow.
Among all universities, Western boasted the second highest entering average (89.3 per cent), third-highest first-year student retention rate (93.2 per cent) and third-highest graduation rate (84 per cent). Western was ranked No. 21 for percentage of graduate students from outside of Canada (20.7 per cent), No. 27 for first-year students from outside of the province (8.7 per cent) and No. 17 for first-year students from outside of Canada (11 per cent).
Also as part of the MacLean’s rankings, the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) portion yielded further interesting numbers for Western – although limited only to its affiliates, as the university itself did not participate in the survey.
When asked to evaluate their entire educational experience at their institution, 41 per cent of Brescia University College first-year students replied ‘excellent,’ 49 per cent ‘good.’ King’s University College followed at 36 per cent/49 per cent and Huron University College with 34 per cent/51 per cent.
NSSE average was 40 per cent responding ‘excellent,’ 48 per cent ‘good.’
Those numbers changed somewhat when the same question was asked of senior-year students.
Brescia again tops the affiliate list as 66 per cent of senior-year students replied ‘excellent,’ 23 per cent replied ‘good.’ Huron followed with 64 per cent/28 per cent, followed by King’s 45 per cent/47 per cent.
NSSE average was 44 per cent responding ‘excellent,’ 43 per cent ‘good.’
When asked if they would attend their current institution again if they had it to do all over again, Brescia saw 51 per cent of first-year students and 61 per cent of senior year students say they would definitely return, followed by Huron at 43 per cent/65 per cent and King’s at 43 per cent/50 per cent.
THROUGH THE YEARS
Western peaked in the Maclean’s rankings at No. 3, where it sat for four straight years (2002-5). It has been no higher than No. 5 (2006) since. It’s lowest rank, No. 11, came last year.
2014 – No. 8
2013 – No. 9
2012 – No. 11
2011 – No. 9
2010 – No. 9
2009 – No. 9 (tied with Ottawa and Saskatchewan)
2008 – No. 10 (tied with Ottawa)
2007 – No. 7
2006 – No. 5
2005 – No. 3
2004 – No. 3
2003 – No. 3 (tied with Queen’s)
2002 – No. 3 (tied with McGill)
2001 – No. 6
2000 – No. 5
1999 – No. 5
1998 – No. 5
1997 – No. 9
1996 – No. 6
1995 – No. 7
1994 – No. 8