On October 14, Maclean's annual University Rankings revealed that St. Francis Xavier University has the best reputation of all primarily undergraduate universities in Canada. StFX also finished fourth overall within its category of 20.
"Having the best reputation in the country is an outcome directly related to the exceptional educational experience that StFX provides," said StFX President Dr. Andy Hakin. "It's wonderful for our university to be recognized for what we do. StFX's reputation is built on the foundation of what university is meant to be - faculty who are exceptional teachers and who perform outstanding research, students living in a vibrant community with the opportunity to work alongside faculty and develop real-world skills, and staff who care and play an active role in the success of students. It's a recipe that leads to outstanding leaders, both here on campus and within our communities.
"And, I would be remiss if I didn't mention that it's our graduates who continue to represent StFX well, impressing upon their respective communities the knowledge and values learned during their time at StFX University."
This latest recognition highlights the university's continued commitment to innovation in teaching, research, and student experience.
Maclean's, in partnership with Angus Reid Group, collected views on quality and innovation from employers and hiring managers from across the country as well as hundreds of university faculty and senior administrators, to determine this ranking.
StFX ranks fourth out of 20 overall in Canada
StFX had the largest improvement among all universities within the primarily undergraduate category, rising six spots to place fourth overall in Canada. Universities in this category specialize in undergraduate education and offer fewer graduate programs. The overall ranking is based on scores compiled from five key categories: Students, Faculty, Resources, Student Support and Reputation. Along with the reputational ranking, StFX fared well in several other areas such as Library Acquisitions (3rd), Student Awards (5th), Social Sciences and Humanities grants (6th), Faculty Awards (7th) and Student/Faculty ratio (7th).
StFX is also a member of the Maple League of Universities, which took home three of the top four spots in the overall rankings categories.
An Opportunity to Showcase Why StFX is ranked #1 - Join us for StFX's Open House October 19th
Prospective students and their supporters will have an opportunity to discover why StFX has the best reputation this weekend as StFX will host its annual Open House this Sunday, October 19, 2025. The day will be interactive and fun filled as participants will experience StFX in person, exploring campus and learning about academic programs, residence options, student services, scholarships and bursaries opportunities, and more.
