About
Carleton University is an English-language public research university in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1942 as Carleton College, the institution originally operated as a private, non-denominational evening college to serve returning World War II veterans. Carleton was chartered as a university by the provincial government in 1952 through The Carleton University Act, which was then amended in...
Carleton University is an English-language public research university in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1942 as Carleton College, the institution originally operated as a private, non-denominational evening college to serve returning World War II veterans. Carleton was chartered as a university by the provincial government in 1952 through The Carleton University Act, which was then amended in 1957, giving the institution its current name. The university is named after the now-dissolved Carleton County, which included the city of Ottawa at the time the university was founded.
Ranking Overview
Ranked Top 501 worldwide across 4 major ranking systems
Ranked in 56 subject rankings
QS World University Rankings
Academic Ranking of World Universities
U.S. News Best Global Universities Rankings
Key Facts
- Students
- 27,612
- Student-Staff Ratio
- 27.0 : 1
- Int'l Students
- 22%
- Female : Male
- 49 : 51
- Staff
- 3,055
Historical Trend
Longitudinal View
QS
ARWU
US News
Top Subjects
Best-performing areasSubject Rankings
Detailed breakdownARWU
30 subjectsQS
21 subjects|
Subject
|
Rank
|
Score
|
Year
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Library & Information Management | 51-70 | - | 2023 |
| Geography | 151-200 | - | 2023 |
| Politics | 151-200 | - | 2026 |
| Architecture | 201-260 | - | 2026 |
| Communication & Media Studies | 201-250 | - | 2025 |
| Linguistics | 251-300 | - | 2025 |
| Electrical & Electronic Engineering | 251-300 | - | 2026 |
| Psychology | 251-300 | - | 2026 |
| English Language & Literature | 301-350 | - | 2026 |
| Mechanical, Aeronautical & Manufacturing Engineering | 301-350 | - | 2026 |
| Law & Legal Studies | 301-350 | - | 2025 |
| Computer Science | 351-400 | - | 2026 |
| Environmental Sciences | 351-400 | - | 2021 |
| Engineering & Technology | 451-500 | - | 2026 |
| Mathematics | 451-500 | - | 2026 |
| Physics & Astronomy | 451-500 | - | 2026 |
| Arts & Humanities | 501-550 | - | 2026 |
| Natural Sciences | 501-550 | - | 2024 |
| Social Sciences & Management | 501-550 | - | 2025 |
| Business & Management Studies | 501-550 | - | 2025 |
| Economics & Econometrics | 551-700 | - | 2026 |
US News
12 subjects|
Subject
|
Rank
|
Score
|
Year
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering | =99 | 49.1 | 2026 |
| Ecology | =151 | 49.1 | 2026 |
| Civil Engineering | =188 | 49.1 | 2026 |
| Environment/Ecology | =240 | 49.1 | 2026 |
| Psychiatry/Psychology | 293 | 49.1 | 2026 |
| Physics & Astronomy | 314 | 49.1 | 2026 |
| Computer Science | =317 | 49.1 | 2026 |
| Engineering | =361 | 49.1 | 2026 |
| Plant and Animal Science | =426 | 49.1 | 2026 |
| Social Sciences and Public Health | =474 | 49.1 | 2026 |
| Geosciences | 475 | 49.1 | 2026 |
| Biology and Biochemistry | =698 | 49.1 | 2026 |
THE
9 subjects|
Subject
|
Rank
|
Score
|
Year
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 201–250 | 45.3 | 2026 |
| Computer Science | 251–300 | 45.3 | 2026 |
| Law & Legal Studies | 251–300 | 34.7 | 2026 |
| Engineering & Technology | 301–400 | 41.5 | 2026 |
| Life Sciences | 301–400 | 42.4 | 2026 |
| Arts & Humanities | 301–400 | 31.0 | 2026 |
| Social Sciences | 401–500 | 34.6 | 2026 |
| Physical Sciences | 501–600 | 37.4 | 2026 |
| Business & Economics | 601–800 | 28.8 | 2026 |
Organization Structure
Related unitsHigher education institute in Canada
View DetailsFrequently Asked Questions
What is the ranking of Carleton University?
Carleton University's performance in the latest university rankings: QS Rank 781-790, THE Rank 501–600, ARWU Rank 501-600, US News Rank =616.
When was Carleton University founded?
Carleton University was founded in 1942.
What are the top subjects at Carleton University?
Top subjects at Carleton University include: Telecommunication Engineering, Library & Information Management, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Electrical & Electronic Engineering.
Where is Carleton University located?
Carleton University is located in Ottawa, Canada.