For the second year in a row, Acadia University has moved up a spot in Maclean’s Magazine’s annual rankings of Canadian universities. This year, we landed in third place among the country’s best primarily undergraduate universities, and first amongst Nova Scotian institutions. 

This is a proud moment for Acadia as we recognize the result of the tireless work put in by students, faculty, staff, and our wider community to make Acadia a top-tier institution, and an Acadia education a transformative experience. 

“Acadia University is committed to cultivating innovative thinkers, effective problem solvers and leaders through an applied liberal education and experiential learning approach,” says Dr. Jeff Hennessy, President and Vice-Chancellor, in the Maclean’s profile. “We emphasize intellectual growth, inclusivity, and a supportive community.” 

Since the rankings were first published in 1991, Acadia has consistently placed in the top five. This year, Maclean’s profile of Acadia gave a special shout out to our outstanding co-op program, strong alumni network, and volunteer opportunities with the Sensory Motor Instructional and Leadership Experience (SMILE) program. 

Acadia earned especially high marks in two key areas: Faculty Awards and Reputation, ranking second in Canada for both. That means our professors are being recognized for their teaching, research, and innovation. Also, people across the country know Acadia as a place where meaningful learning and discovery happen every day. 

All of this is easy to see in the stories coming out of our campus lately. On the research side, we recently reported on new federal funding for our tidal research institution and our researchers who are bringing data science to apple breeding for a more sustainable industry. Academics are one part of a university experience. Our community and “Acadia spirit” are what really makes us one of a kind. For example, our students are making history on a national stage with social innovation projects, and our women’s soccer team is considering Truth & Reconciliation through community art. 

From award-winning professors to community-driven students, Acadia continues to prove that a small university can have a big impact.