3 programs, side by side

Rows marked with a dot are where these differ. Everything is each university’s own published wording; the “your average” row is yours, calculated the way each program does it.

	McMaster Honours Economics I OUAC MLE Remove	Waterloo Science and Financial Management (Co-op Only) OUAC WSA Remove	Waterloo Honours Science (Regular/Co-op) OUAC WS Remove
Your average, their wayrequired courses forced in
Published rangetheir exact wording	80–87%“Low-to-mid-80s”	80–87%“Low to mid-80s”	80–83%“Low 80s”
Required coursesforced into your top 6 — options are the row below	ENG4U MHF4U	ENG4U MCV4U MHF4U	ENG4U MCV4U MHF4U
Choose one ofany of these satisfies it	—	two of MDM4U, SBI4U, SCH4U, SES4U, SPH4U	two of MDM4U, SBI4U, SCH4U, SES4U, SPH4U
Prerequisitesas published	English 4U Advanced Functions 4U Calculus 4U	English (ENG4U – min. 70%) Advanced Functions (min. 70%) Calculus and Vectors (min. 70%) Any two of the following: Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Space Science, Mathematics of Data Management, or Physics	English (ENG4U – min. 70%) Advanced Functions (min. 70%) Calculus and Vectors (min. 70%) Any two of the following: Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Space Science, Mathematics of Data Management, or Physics
More than marks?supplementary application	Marks only	Marks only	Marks only
Co-op	Available	Available	Available
Degree	—	—	—
First-year intakewhere published	130	30	130
What you study	Economics	Accounting Biological Sciences Biology Chemistry	Biology Chemistry Materials Science Molecular Biology, Biochemistry
What it is	This program teaches you economic theory and quantitative analysis — how markets work, how people make financial decisions, and how to use data and math to test economic ideas. The co-op requirement means you'll alternate between classroom semesters and paid work terms at companies, government agencies, or research organizations, giving you real-world experience alongside your studies. It suits people who enjoy both math and thinking about how societies allocate resources, and who want to build practical skills before graduation.	You study science subjects like biology, chemistry, or physics alongside accounting and finance courses, learning how to apply scientific knowledge to financial decision-making and business problems. Unlike a straight science degree, you're required to complete paid work terms with employers throughout your studies, alternating between school and jobs. This suits people who want a science background but are drawn to business applications and need real-world work experience before graduating.	This program lets you study science broadly — chemistry, physics, biology, materials science, and related fields — at university level. Unlike a specialized honours program in a single science, this one gives you flexibility to explore multiple areas before focusing deeper. The co-op option lets you alternate study terms with paid work in science-related industries. It suits students who are strong in math and sciences but not yet sure which direction to specialize in, or who want practical work experience alongside their degree.
The door tomajors you reach through it	economics	Applied to directly	Applied to directly
Entrance awardsat this campus, by average	5 published, 3 with no applicationfrom 75%See them	4 published, 3 with no applicationfrom 80%See them	4 published, 3 with no applicationfrom 80%See them
Source	McMaster University on OUInfo	University of Waterloo on OUInfo	University of Waterloo on OUInfo

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Ranges are what each university publishes, not guaranteed cutoffs, and limited-enrolment programs often admit above them. Confirm anything you are about to act on with the university; each column links to its source.