Carleton Engineering admission requirements: cut-off ranges by major, courses, co-op and tuition

Carleton needs an Ontario Secondary School Diploma with six Grade 12 courses at the 4U or 4M level. Every engineering major needs MHF4U (Advanced Functions), MCV4U (Calculus and Vectors), SCH4U (Chemistry) and SPH4U (Physics).

Each prerequisite must be a 4U course with no grade below 60%. Carleton recommends English 4U for every degree but doesn't list it as an engineering prerequisite. Co-op credits don't count toward your six courses. Plan your courses with our course planner.

Carleton sets courses by school system. From British Columbia you need Pre-Calculus 12, Calculus 12, Chemistry 12 and Physics 12. From Alberta you need Math 30-1, Math 31, Chemistry 30 and Physics 30. In both, prerequisites need at least 60%, and Grade 12 English is recommended.

IB (International Baccalaureate) students need the full diploma with at least 28 points, though Carleton says competitive programs need more. Engineering needs Chemistry and Physics at SL or HL, plus Analysis and Approaches (SL or HL) or Applications and Interpretation HL. Each prerequisite needs a 4 or better.

HL subjects with a 5 or better may earn up to 3.0 credits of advanced standing, at the faculty's discretion.

Carleton calls these minimum cut-off ranges, and they apply to both your overall average and your prerequisite average. You apply to a specific major, so the range that matters is the one for your major.

Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering have the highest range, 88-90%. Software and Computer Systems Engineering sit in the 75-80% group. Carleton sets the overall average each year, program by program, and says every program has limited enrolment.

Carleton doesn't publish an engineering acceptance rate. See our Carleton acceptance rate page for what it does publish, and check your average with our Top 6 average calculator.

Carleton's cut-off chart lists 16 majors: Aerospace, Architectural Conservation and Sustainability, Biomedical and Electrical, Biomedical and Mechanical, Civil, Computer Systems, Electrical, Engineering Physics, Environmental, Mechanical, Mechatronics, Software, Sustainable Electric Power, Sustainable Energy, Systems Security and Telecommunications.

Carleton says its engineering programs have a long history of accreditation, which matters for a professional engineering licence. Every program offers an optional minor in Business for engineers, among other minors.

Because you apply to a major, the cut-off can steer your choice. Biomedical and Mechanical sits in the 80-85% group, while Biomedical and Electrical sits at 75-80%. Pick the major you want first, then check its range.

In first year, the faculty runs an advising team for first-year engineering students. Advisers help with course changes, reduced course loads and the prerequisites you need to move into second year.

Ontario high school students apply through OUAC by January 15, 2027. There's no supplementary application, essay or interview for engineering.

Carleton also has a January intake with a November 15, 2026 deadline, but only a limited number of programs accept students in the winter term. Plan on a fall start unless Carleton's January admissions list includes your major.

Within five days of applying, Carleton emails your applicant number and MyCarletonOne username. You use Carleton360 to track your status and see any missing documents. Upload requested documents there as PDFs.

Carleton's Faculty of Engineering and Design says each of its undergraduate programs offers co-op. It's optional. If you select the co-op option when you apply, Carleton checks your eligibility before your program's first entry point and emails you a decision. If you don't, you can apply later through mySuccess. Either way, there's a minimum CGPA you must keep throughout your degree.

Carleton's co-op fee rose to $541 a term from summer 2026. You need three or four work terms, depending on your program, for the co-op designation. Carleton says four work terms cost $4,328 in total. Engineering co-op students have worked at Amazon, the Canadian Space Agency and the National Research Council.

For 2026-27, Carleton lists first-year Engineering at $12,290.12 for Ontario students, including compulsory fees and the U-Pass. Mechatronics is $14,511.68. International tuition is $55,000 a year, frozen through 2028-29. Carleton's 2027-28 domestic fees aren't posted yet.

Carleton's renewable entrance scholarships for 2027-28 are automatic for students admitted with 85% or more: $1,000 a year at 85% to 89.9%, $2,000 at 90% to 94.9% and $3,000 at 95% or more. You keep them with an annual GPA of 10.0 (A- standing). With 90% or more you can also apply for a Prestige Scholarship by March 1. Carleton lists Prestige values of $5,000 to $14,178 a year, and the 2027-28 application opens in October 2026.

Carleton says more than 12,600 scholarships and bursaries worth over $26.5 million went to undergraduates last year. Bursaries are based on financial need rather than grades.

Work out your average on our Top 6 average calculator, and compare costs on our Carleton financial aid page.

Carleton is unusually open about cut-offs by major. A student in the low 80s may have a realistic shot at Software or Civil Engineering but not at Aerospace.

Residence matters to the budget too. Carleton lists a guaranteed traditional double room with dining at $14,010.36 for 2026-27. See our Carleton residence guide.