Laurier (Waterloo) Economics
Wilfrid Laurier University — Waterloo
The published admission average for Economics at Wilfrid Laurier University — Waterloo is 80–83% for September 2027 entry, under OUAC code UZE.
You study how people, businesses, and governments make decisions about money, resources, and trade. Economics teaches you to analyze real-world problems — from inflation and unemployment to company strategy — using data and mathematical tools. This program includes co-op work terms, so you alternate between classroom learning and paid jobs in government, finance, or business, giving you practical experience alongside theory.
Plain-English summary. The universities publish requirements but not an explanation of the program, so this one is written for you and checked against the official listing above. Read the university’s own page before you decide.
Admission average
80–83%
OUAC code
UZE
Study options
Co-op
Wilfrid Laurier University — Waterloo publishes this as “Low-80s”
What’s the Laurier (Waterloo) Economics acceptance rate?
Wilfrid Laurier University — Waterloo doesn't publish an acceptance rate for Economics, and no Ontario university publishes one for any program. What it publishes is the admission average: 80–83% for September 2027 entry. Laurier (Waterloo) acceptance rate, program by program
Admission requirements
- Required
- ENG4U, MHF4U
- Choose one of
- MCV4U, MDM4U
Laurier (Waterloo)’s own wording
- English at 70%
- Advanced Functions at 70%
- One of Calculus and Vectors or Data Management at 60%
- Prerequisite courses are calculated in the admission average.
- See Ontario high school course codes.
How many other programs require these outright:
Also required
- Visit our
- admission requirements section
- to find specific requirements for transfer students, indigenous applicants, mature learners, homeschooled applicants, senior citizens, refugees, and more.
What it costs
First-year tuition at Laurier (Waterloo) is $6,180 for an Ontario student in arts and science in 2026–27. BBA and Computer Science double degree ($13,128) and Bachelor of Business Administration ($10,564) cost more. Laurier (Waterloo) tuition, program by program
Source: Wilfrid Laurier University — Waterloo on Ontario Universities’ Info. Grade ranges change year to year and are not guarantees — confirm with the university before you apply.
What this leads to
The picture for economics as of 2026-08-17, not a description of this particular program.
The job market for economists is limited in Ontario, and recent graduates typically move into financial services positions. Realistic entry roles include financial analyst, business analyst, or economic consultant in banks and government agencies. Most people doing serious economics work hold a master's degree.
In its favour
- Median wage for 2019 graduates was $46,100 after two years, with 10-year average reaching $81,000, solid middle-class returns for a four-year degree
- Strong demand in financial services, especially for people who can analyze markets and data
- Understanding economics is genuinely useful for almost any career in business, policy, or finance
Worth knowing
- Ontario's employment outlook for economists is Limited, with moderate numbers of unemployed workers already in this field—competition is real
- Many entry jobs now require a master's degree in economics and 2+ years of related experience, so the bachelor's degree alone may not get you to the work you want
- Large language models can now analyze economic text at scale and minimal cost, which is automating parts of the research and forecasting work
- You need strong math and programming skills. Pure theory won't be enough—employers want people who can code and handle data.
How AI is changing this work
Job postings now explicitly require experience applying AI and large language models to economic analysis. LLMs can automate measurement and forecasting tasks, though they still need validation by human economists. The routine work of data collection and preliminary analysis is being automated. What's not automated yet: deciding which questions matter, designing research, communicating findings to non-technical audiences, and making actual policy decisions. If you're starting a degree in 2027, you'll need to be comfortable treating LLMs as a tool, not a competitor—and you'll need skills in math, coding, and critical thinking that AI can't replace.
Where this came from (6 sources)
- 1. 39 economist jobs in Canada, July 2026 | Glassdoor
- 2. 19 entry level economics jobs in Canada, March 2026 | Glassdoor
- 3. Canadian Economics Association - Employment
- 4. $41k-$155k Economist Graduate Jobs in Ontario (NOW HIRING)
- 5. Economist in Ontario | Job prospects - Job Bank
- 6. Graduate School and Employment Opportunities — Department of Economics
Deadline reminders
Application dates move, and supplementary deadlines land before the January OUAC one. We’ll email you before the ones that apply to Economics.
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