10 Most Valuable Degrees In Canada

It is important to know some of the most valuable degrees in Canada. With this knowledge, you can make better-informed decisions on which degree to pursue in Canada whether you are an international student, a high school graduate, or someone seeking to switch careers.

Canada is among the top study hubs for international students and also one of the countries with world-class higher institutions offering high-quality academic programs in a wide range of disciplines. Any degree you get out of a Canadian university is highly recognized both in the country and in other parts of the world.

But you can agree with me that there are some degrees that are more valuable than others whether in Canada, the US, the UK, or any part of the world for that matter. However, this blog post is concentrated on the most valuable degrees in Canada to help you make a decision on which pathway to follow.

This blog post will be of great benefit to you if you recently graduated high school in Canada and still making a decision on which academic degree to pursue, if you want to switch careers, or if you are an international student who wants to study in Canada. Whichever of the categories you fall under, you can use this post as a guide to making a better-informed decision on the degree to get.

For a degree to be valuable in Canada, then the career associated with that degree has a high-paying income, it is an in-demand field that the world cannot live without, and it has high annual recruitment. Now that you know this, we can now get into the main topic without any further ado.

most valuable degrees in Canada

Top Most Valuable Degrees In Canada

The following are the top most valuable degrees in Canada that you can consider pursuing:

  • Nursing
  • Geosciences
  • Civil Engineering
  • Business
  • Pharmacology
  • Software Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Nuclear Engineering
  • Computer Engineering
  • Project Manager

1.     Nursing

It’s no surprise that nursing is on the list of most valuable degrees in Canada and I’m sure you were already expecting it to be. Nursing is a medical profession that is important across the world. They work in hospitals, clinics, and across other healthcare settings. To become a nurse, you will complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and become a registered nurse (RN).

From RN you can advance to another nursing field like pediatric nursing, clinical nurse specialist, or CRNA which require advanced education. Some of the best nursing schools in Canada include McGill University, the University of Toronto, UBC, Queen’s University, and the University of Alberta. It takes 4 years to become a nurse in Canada with fees between CAD 20,00 to CAD 40,000 per year. The estimated salary of a nurse in Canada is CAD 81,969 per year.

2.     Geosciences

Geoscience is the study of the earth and is a degree that can be studied at the bachelor’s level but if you want to focus on a path, you can then advance to master’s or doctorate programs. A bachelor’s degree in geoscience can get you working in the mining industry. Canada’s mining industry is weak according to reports thus geoscience graduates are in high demand.

Furthermore, there is a projected increase in mineral exploration by the Canadian Government to increase its annual revenue which will open up further opportunities for geosciences graduates. The best universities in Canada for geosciences include the University of Victoria, Dalhousie University, The University of Waterloo, and UBC. It takes 4 years to complete a bachelor’s degree in geosciences in Canada and it cost between $9,000 to $30,000 per year. They earn an average salary of $96,801 per year.

3.     Civil Engineering

Civil engineers are among the most important people in the world. Thanks to their expertise, we have infrastructures like bridges, schools, museums, hospitals, houses, and many others. They are involved in designing and building projects and constructions. Civil engineering is one of the most valuable degrees in Canada and one of the most lucrative professions in the world because they will forever be required.

Some of the best universities in Canada for civil engineering include the University of Alberta, Toronto Metropolitan University, Western University, and Concordia University. With a 4-year bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, you can kickstart a career in civil engineering. You can earn up to $96,334 per year as a civil engineer in Canada.

4.     Business

A degree in business will open countless opportunities for you because you can literally work in any sector or just set up entrepreneurship. Many people go on to earn an MBA in Canada so that they can land higher positions such as CEO, executive manager, or HR. Some of the top business schools in Canada include Ivey Business School, HEC Montreal, Smith School of Business, and Sobey School of Business.

MBA is 2 years in Canada but before that, you must complete a 4-year undergraduate degree in business, management, or a related degree. The average salary is between $110,000 to $115, 000 per year.

5.     Pharmacology

Pharmacologists study the effect of drugs on the body and is a lucrative field in Canada with an annual average salary of $137,551. With a bachelor’s degree in pharmacology, you can start working as a pharmacologist and work your way up by taking more education. Some of the best pharmacology in Canada include the University of Ottawa, the University of Manitoba, the University of Alberta, and the University of Saskatchewan.

6.     Software Engineering

Software engineers are professionals who design, develop, and test software they also maintain software systems. It is one of the most valuable degrees in Canada with annual earnings up to $102,214. The most significant advantage of this profession is that you can be working with as many clients as you can handle thus earning from multiple sources at the same time and the work schedule is flexible as you can totally work from home.

Some of the best universities for software engineering in Canada include UBC, McGill University, the University of Alberta, the University of Ottawa, and McMaster University. It can take anywhere from 3 months to 4 years to become a software engineer. The tuition can be anywhere between CAD 12,900 to CAD 39,000 per year.

7.     Chemical Engineering

 Chemical engineering is among the world’s toughest disciplines and a very important field in the manufacturing sector. Chemical engineers are in high demand in Canada with an expected rise in new job openings between the period of 2022-2031. With a 4-year bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering, you can kickstart a wonderful career in chemical engineering.

Some of the best universities in Canada for chemical engineering include the University of Ottawa, the University of Western Ontario, the University of Waterloo, and the University of Toronto. The cost can range between CAD 10,500 to CAD 61,500 per year. Chemical engineers in Canada earn up to $118,847 per year.

8.     Nuclear Engineering

nuclear engineering is a valuable degree to study in Canada and graduates have varieties of options on where to work. They can work in the research and academic sector, the medical industry, or with the government. Some of the best universities in Canada for nuclear engineering are the University of Waterloo, Ontario Tech University, Simon Fraser University, and Royal Military College of Canada.

Most nuclear engineering programs in Canada are 4 years in length, you can choose to advance by going for a master’s or doctoral degree that takes 2 and 7 years respectively to complete. The salary of a nuclear engineer in Canada is $103,651 per year.

9.     Computer Engineering

Computer engineering is one of Canada’s most highly-rated professions. According to Macleans, it is also one of the most demanding jobs in Canada, making it a valuable field to pursue. The great thing is that you only need a 4-year bachelor’s degree in computer science to kickstart a career in the field.

Some of the best universities in Canada for computer engineering include Simon Fraser University, the University of Ottawa, UBC, and McGill University. The average salary of a computer engineer in Canada is $92,000 per year.

10.  Project Manager

Project managers are one of the highest-paid professions in Canada with an annual salary of $90,445. Canadian universities such as Canadore College, UBC, Douglas College, and Royal Roads University offer courses at undergraduate and graduate levels. Project managers are in demand in Canada because of new start-ups that are being established and in need of project managers to ensure there is a smooth flow of operations.

Here are 10 options of valuable degrees in Canada to pursue, these are in-demand professions so expect them to be costly in terms of tuition but then, they are valuable investments as they earn high income annually.

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