Smart Business. Strong Community.

Facts & Figures

Subscribe to our e-newsletter today

Home > Facts & Figures > Educated workforce
Educated workforce

The working-age population of Halifax has the highest proportion of graduates from a trade school, college, or university in Canada.

Educational Attainment

Number

%

University

73,020

34.1

College 

47,125

22.0

Trades 

24,395

11.4

High School 

43,210

20.2

Less than High School 

26,445

12.3

------
All trades, college, & university

144,540

67.5

------
Population 25 - 64 

214,195

100.0

Source: Statistics Canada, Census 2006


Greater Halifax is home to six degree granting (4-year) universities providing a full range of high-quality post-secondary options to almost 30,000 students.

Preliminary Survey of Enrolments (2007/2008)

Undergraduate

Graduate

Total

Dalhousie

10,336

2,803

13,139

SMU

5,887

346 

6,233

MSVU

2,046

77

2,123

King's

1,092

1,092

NSCAD

837

32

869

AST

56

56

Source: Atlantic Association of Universities, 2008

Dalhousie University - the leading comprehensive research and teaching university serving Atlantic Canada. The University provides nearly 15,000 students with a first class post-secondary education in more than 175 undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs. In addition to arts, social science, science, management, and computer science degree programs, the university provides professional and specialized training in a variety of health professions, medicine, dentistry, architecture, engineering, and law.

Saint Mary's University (SMU) - offering undergraduate and graduate programs in business administration, arts, and science, Saint Mary's prides itself on being student focused while providing quality research opportunities. With a strong focus on business administration, the university is the only institution in Atlantic Canada offering a PhD in Business Administration.

Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU) - offers 35 undergraduate and 13 graduate degrees in liberal arts and sciences and an array of professional programs including Business Administration, Education, Information Technology, Public Relations, and Tourism and Hospitality Management. The university is committed to providing accessible education through its innovative distance learning and continuing education programs.

University of King's College (King's) - focusing entirely on undergraduate education, King's offers a unique first year experience for students with its Foundation Year Program. King's is also well-known in the region for its outstanding Bachelor of Journalism program. 

NSCAD University - offers four-year undergraduate programs leading to the Bachelor of Fine Arts, the Bachelor of Design (Honours), the Bachelor of Design, and the Bachelor of Arts in Visual Arts: Major in Art History. In addition, NSCAD also offers two graduate degree programs: a Master of Fine Arts degree and a Master of Arts degree in art education.

Atlantic School of Theology (AST) - this Graduate School was created through the amalgamation of three faculties – Anglican, Roman Catholic, and the United Church of Canada – into one ecumenical school to serve the Atlantic Region. Other Christian denominations including Lutheran, Presbyterian, and the Salvation Army are also represented.

In addition, the Nova Scotia Community College has three campuses in Halifax providing training to more than 10,000 students.

« Back