Computer Engineering programs in Ontario
17 programs across 11 campuses, with published admission ranges starting at 65%. Sorted by the range each one publishes, lowest first, so you can see where you land.
Programs
17
Campuses
11
Lowest range
65%
What this leads to
The picture for computer engineering as of 2026-08-17, not a description of this particular program.
Most graduates work as embedded systems engineers, firmware developers, or hardware design engineers for companies building chips, IoT devices, or industrial control systems. Others move into software engineering roles, AI/machine learning engineering, or automation engineering positions.
In its favour
- Entry-level positions pay $68K–$90K CAD, with senior roles reaching $120K–$160K, and AI/ML specializations commanding $120K–$175K
- Strong Canadian job market with roughly 5,000 open positions across the country and deep 2026 hiring pipelines in Ontario, BC, and Alberta
- Semiconductor and hardware engineering roles earn premiums over pure software due to specialized knowledge
- Field combines hardware and software, giving you flexibility to pivot toward AI, embedded systems, or traditional software engineering
Worth knowing
- You will compete directly with software engineers on many jobs; CE graduates doing software work often earn the same despite more specialized training
- You need a Bachelor's degree minimum, and some roles now require AI/ML knowledge or a Master's to stand out—the field is becoming less entry-level friendly
- Hardware-focused roles are geographically concentrated in a few tech hubs (Toronto, Waterloo, Vancouver); other cities have fewer positions
- The degree is heavy on physics, circuits, and mathematics; if you struggle with those fundamentals, you will hit a wall early
How AI is changing this work
AI is not automating computer engineering work yet—instead it is reshaping what you will do. Design, simulation, and code generation tools powered by AI are becoming standard, and companies like Saltworks now expect engineers to use AI tools to boost productivity. The emerging skill premium is in applying AI to engineering problems, not in avoiding AI. However, traditional hardware design and embedded systems work remain labour-intensive and less vulnerable to automation than software. If you graduate in 2031, you will be expected to work alongside AI tools from day one, but the jobs themselves are not disappearing—they are shifting toward roles that combine hardware expertise with AI fluency.
Where this came from (6 sources)
- 1. 5,335 computer engineer Jobs in Canada, March 2026 | Glassdoor
- 2. 4,865 computer engineer jobs in Canada, July 2026 | Glassdoor
- 3. Salary: Computer Engineering (June, 2026) - Canada
- 4. 4,822 computer engineering Jobs in Canada | July 2026 | Adzuna.ca
- 5. Engineering Jobs in Canada 2026: NOC Codes, Wages, P.Eng Path
- 6. Computer Engineer Salary in Canada – 2026 Pay Guide
All 17 programs
- 65%AlgomaComputer Science - Mobile Software Engineering (BCOSC 4 Year)
- 73–77%Ontario TechArtificial Intelligence Engineering
- 73–77%Ontario TechArtificial Intelligence Engineering (Co-op)
- 74%WindsorElectrical Engineering
- 75–80%CarletonEngineering – Computer Systems
- 75–80%CarletonEngineering – Software
- 80%OttawaComputer Engineering (4 years)
- 80–85%CarletonEngineering – Mechatronics
- 80–87%YorkEngineering (BEng - Co-op available)
- 80–87%York (Markham)First Year Engineering
- 85–90%TMUComputer Engineering (Co-op Available)
- 85–90%TMUMechatronics Engineering (Co-op Available)
- 85–90%TrentSoftware Engineering - Co Op
- 87–93%WaterlooComputer Engineering (Co-op Only)
- 87–93%WaterlooElectrical Engineering (Co-op Only)
- 87%McMasterEngineering I - Computer Engineering
- 87–93%WaterlooMechatronics Engineering (Co-op Only)
Other subjects
- Business Studies 203
- Interdisciplinary Studies 187
- Computer Science 135
- Education Studies 117
- Environmental Studies 116
- Psychology 109
- General or Integrated Engineering 104
- Law & Criminology 101
- Media and Communication Studies 98
- Economics 95
- Biological Sciences 92
- Others in Subjects Related to Medicine 92
Ranges are what universities publish, not guaranteed cutoffs. Work out your top 6 to see which of these you actually clear.