Nursing programs in Ontario
14 programs across 9 campuses, with published admission ranges starting at 70%. Sorted by the range each one publishes, lowest first, so you can see where you land.
Programs
14
Campuses
9
Lowest range
70%
What this leads to
The picture for nursing as of 2026-08-17, not a description of this particular program.
Registered nurses work in hospitals, clinics, long-term care homes and community health, assessing patients, administering medication, coordinating care, and monitoring health changes. Some specialize as nurse practitioners who diagnose and prescribe, or as critical care nurses, public health nurses, or mental health nurses in different settings.
In its favour
- The job market is severely short of nurses right now—12,000+ open positions in Canada and you'll be hired quickly
- Starting salary is $70K–$85K with growth to $90K–$110K mid-career; better in Alberta and Northern Territories
- You get pension, benefits, and job security that most graduates won't find
- Shift work means flexibility and time between shifts—useful if you're studying for further credentials
Worth knowing
- Long shifts (often 12 hours) and rotating nights/weekends are the norm, not occasional
- Physically and emotionally demanding work—patient death, injury, abuse, and understaffing create high burnout
- You need a provincial licence through the NCLEX-RN exam and registration with your nursing regulator, plus a four-year degree—not just any college diploma
- AI is automating documentation and some routine monitoring right now, which changes what the work feels like but won't eliminate nursing roles
How AI is changing this work
AI is already in Canadian hospitals, automating documentation and early-warning alerts, but it's not replacing bedside care. What's changing is that administrative work—charting, data entry—is being handled by AI, so nurses spend more time with patients but also need to learn new systems. The core work of assessment, decision-making under pressure, and talking to scared people cannot be automated. For someone starting a degree in 2027, expect to graduate into a workplace where using AI tools is routine, not optional.
Where this came from (6 sources)
- 1. Most In-Demand Jobs in Canada in 2026
- 2. Registered Nurse (R.N.) in Canada | Job prospects - Job Bank
- 3. 10,092 registered nurse Jobs in Canada, May 2026 | Glassdoor
- 4. Nursing Careers in Canada 2026: Salary, Roles & Opportunities
- 5. 12,329 registered nurse jobs in Canada, July 2026 | Glassdoor
- 6. 11,838 nursing Jobs in Canada, August 2026 | Glassdoor
All 14 programs
- 70–87%NipissingBachelor of Science in Nursing
- 70–80%LakeheadNursing (Thunder Bay)
- 75%LaurentianSciences infirmières
- 82–85%CarletonNursing with RN Prescribing
- 83–90%Ontario TechNursing - Collaborative
- 83–90%YorkNursing - Internationally Educated Nurses (BScN)
- 83–90%YorkNursing - Second-Degree Entry (BScN)
- 85–90%TMUNursing at Centennial College
- 85%McMasterNursing I (McMaster University Site)
- 85%McMasterNursing I (Mohawk College Site)
- 85%OttawaSciences infirmières (4 ans)
- 87–90%YorkNursing (Direct Entry) - BScN
- 90%OttawaNursing (4 years) – Ottawa campus (French Immersion Stream is available)
- 90%TMUNursing at TMU
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.