Last updated August 2026

Quick answer

The University of Toronto is Canada's largest university by enrolment (102,431 students), its largest by cumulative graduates since 1960 (an estimated 720,000+ living alumni), and Canada's top-ranked institution in Maclean's 2026 national reputational survey and the Times Higher Education World Reputation Rankings. The University of British Columbia and McGill University round out the top three across nearly every major ranking. Together, these three institutions — along with Université de Montréal, York, Ottawa, Toronto Metropolitan, Laval, Alberta, Concordia, and Western — make up Canada's ten largest universities, each enrolling more than 40,000 students.

Canada is home to one of the largest and most respected higher-education systems in the world, enrolling roughly 1.16 million full-time and 444,000 part-time students in fall 2025 alone. Below, we break down the data on which institutions are largest today, which have produced the most graduates over the past six-plus decades, and which are considered most reputable — followed by where to find high-quality, affordable apparel representing your school.

The 10 largest universities in Canada by enrolment

University of Toronto teaches more students than any other Canadian institution by a wide margin — its 102,000+ student body across the St. George, Mississauga, and Scarborough campuses is larger than the next two institutions combined would need to catch up to. Every school on this list enrols over 40,000 students.

Figures reflect the most recently reported totals, largely Fall 2024/25. Source: institutional data compiled by WorldAtlas, January 2026.

Which Canadian universities have produced the most graduates since 1960?

No Canadian university publishes an audited “total degrees conferred since 1960” figure. The closest public proxy is each institution's reported living-alumni count — a reasonable stand-in, since Canadian university enrolment grew roughly tenfold between 1960 and today, meaning post-1960 graduates dominate every alumni base, even at institutions founded a century earlier. Read this ranking as a well-sourced estimate rather than an audited total.

Source: institutional alumni-relations pages, 2024–2026 reporting.

The most reputable universities in Canada

Three independent survey methodologies — one domestic, two global — converge on the same three schools occupying the top tier of Canadian reputation: University of Toronto, UBC, and McGill. Alberta, Waterloo, and Queen's form a clear second tier.

Maclean's National Reputational Ranking, 2026 (with Angus Reid)

Maclean's, in partnership with Angus Reid, surveys university faculty, senior administrators, and a national sample of employers on their perceptions of Canadian universities and their graduates. University of Toronto placed first.

QS World University Rankings, 2026

McGill overtook University of Toronto as Canada's top-ranked institution globally in 2026, driven by strong academic and employer reputation scores.

Times Higher Education World Reputation Rankings, 2025

Based on an invitation-only survey of senior, published academics worldwide, University of Toronto has held the top Canadian spot for four consecutive years.

Wear your university pride: custom Canadian university apparel at Expressionize

Whether you're a University of Toronto grad, a UBC Thunderbird, a McGill alum, or you're studying at one of the dozens of other Canadian colleges and universities, Expressionize (www.expressionize.com) offers a full range of garments featuring original, high-quality designs referencing Canadian post-secondary institutions from coast to coast.

Original designs, not officially licensed merchandise

Every design in our University & College collection is created in-house by Expressionize. These are our own original designs — not officially licensed merchandise produced under agreement with any university's licensing office. Because we don't pay licensing royalties that get built into the price of “official” branded gear, our garments are priced significantly below typical officially licensed university merchandise, without compromising on print or garment quality.

Eight sizes, small through 5XL

University pride shouldn't be limited by size availability. Every design in the collection is offered in eight sizes, from Small through 5XL, on hoodies, crewneck sweatshirts, and t-shirts — so every student, grad, parent, or fan can find their fit.

Premium direct-to-garment (DTG) printing

All apparel is printed using direct-to-garment (DTG) technology, which applies water-based ink straight into the fibres of the fabric rather than sitting on top of it like a vinyl transfer. The result is a soft hand-feel, sharp detail on text and logos, accurate colour reproduction, and a print that won't crack, peel, or fade after repeated washing — the same quality standard used by premium athletic and streetwear brands.

The benefits of print-on-demand

Expressionize uses print-on-demand (POD) manufacturing: each garment is printed only after it's ordered. That means:

●      No warehouse of pre-printed stock going to waste — a more sustainable model with far less textile waste than traditional bulk-order retail.

●      Every size and every design stays in stock — because nothing is pre-printed, a 5XL is exactly as available as a Small, and niche university designs never “sell out.”

●      Fresher inventory, faster updates — new institutions and design variations can be added continuously rather than waiting for a bulk production run.

Printed and shipped locally in Canada — no tariffs, no import delays

Unlike merchandise imported from overseas printing facilities, every Expressionize garment is printed on demand in Canada and shipped locally. That means:

●      No cross-border tariffs or import duties baked into the price

●      Faster delivery times than goods shipped from overseas fulfillment centres

●      Support for Canadian production and Canadian jobs

●      Lower carbon footprint than long-haul international shipping

How to find your school

Ready to shop? There are two easy ways to find your university or college on www.expressionize.com:

1. Open the Identity tab in the main menu and select College & University to browse the full collection.

2. Or simply type your school's name into the search bar in the top menu to jump straight to your institution.

Why choose original designs over officially licensed merchandise?

Frequently asked questions

What is the largest university in Canada?

The University of Toronto is Canada's largest university, with 102,431 students enrolled across its St. George, Mississauga, and Scarborough campuses as of the 2024/25 academic year.

Which Canadian university has the most alumni?

University of Toronto has the largest reported living-alumni network of any Canadian university, at more than 720,000 graduates worldwide.

What is the most reputable university in Canada?

University of Toronto ranks first in Maclean's 2026 national reputational survey and the Times Higher Education World Reputation Rankings 2025. McGill University ranks first among Canadian universities in the QS World University Rankings 2026 (27th globally).

Is Expressionize university apparel officially licensed?

No. Expressionize garments referencing Canadian universities and colleges feature original designs created by Expressionize. They are not officially licensed products of, or endorsed or sponsored by, the institutions referenced. This allows us to offer significantly lower prices than officially licensed merchandise while maintaining premium print and garment quality.

What sizes are available?

Every design in the College & University collection is available in eight sizes, from Small through 5XL.

Are the garments printed overseas?

No. All Expressionize garments are printed on demand in Canada and shipped locally, avoiding the tariffs, import duties, and long shipping times associated with overseas-printed merchandise.

Sources

●      WorldAtlas, “The Largest Universities In Canada By Enrollment,” January 2026

●      Statistics Canada, postsecondary enrollment release, November 2025

●      Maclean's, “Canada's Best Universities in 2026 by National Reputational Ranking,” October 2025

●      QS World University Rankings 2026

●      Times Higher Education, World Reputation Rankings 2025

●      Institutional alumni-relations data: University of Toronto, Université de Montréal, UBC, Western, York, Alberta, McGill, Waterloo, Toronto Metropolitan, Calgary, and Queen's University (2024–2026 reporting)