McMaster admissions · Official Fact Book data
McMaster University Acceptance Rate: What Official Data Shows
McMaster does not publish an acceptance rate by program or for every applicant type. It does publish a university-wide “Admission Rate” for new Ontario high school applicants in its own Fact Book — 62% for the 2024 cycle. Every figure below comes from that Fact Book or from OUAC’s own statistics dashboard, with the exact year attached.
Reviewed August 25, 2026 · McMaster revises prior-year figures between Fact Book editions — always cite the edition year alongside the number
McMaster’s official Admission Rate, Ontario high school applicants
McMaster’s Fact Book defines “Admission” as the number of applicants who received an offer, and reports it as a rate against total applicants — university-wide, for new applicants direct from an Ontario high school. There is no separate row for Health Sciences, Engineering, or any other program.
| Year | Applicants | Offers | Admission rate | Confirmed | Registered |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 27,673 | 17,629 | 64% | 4,948 | 4,604 |
| 2016 | 28,078 | 18,411 | 66% | 5,795 | 5,407 |
| 2017 | 29,044 | 17,553 | 60% | 5,289 | 4,969 |
| 2018 | 30,385 | 17,810 | 59% | 5,478 | 5,182 |
| 2019 | 31,404 | 18,405 | 59% | 5,405 | 5,108 |
| 2020 | 30,404 | 20,792 | 68% | 6,168 | 5,880 |
| 2021 | 33,195 | 20,079 | 61% | 5,761 | 5,451 |
| 2022 | 33,726 | 19,067 | 57% | 5,138 | 5,026 |
| 2023 | 33,063 | 18,641 | 56% | 4,942 | 4,834 |
| 2024 | 34,082 | 21,072 | 62% | 5,420 | 5,322 |
2023’s rate was restated from 57% to 56% between Fact Book editions — McMaster revises prior years, so always cite the edition. Source: McMaster University Fact Book 2024|2025, Office of Institutional Research and Analysis.
McMaster’s Fact Book also reports, university-wide, that the share of undergraduates registering with an admission average of 90% or above rose from 21.9% in 2010 to 61.0% in 2024 — evidence of how much more competitive the applicant pool has become, separate from the admission rate itself.
Current OUAC application demand
OUAC’s own statistics dashboard publishes current-cycle application counts to McMaster by applicant category — OSSS (Ontario Secondary School Students) and AOA (All Other Applicants). OUAC’s public dashboard does not publish an offers figure, so these counts are demand context, not a ratio — dividing OUAC’s confirmation counts by applications would blend admission with a student’s later choice to enrol, which is a different measurement.
| Cycle | OSSS applications | AOA applications | Total applications |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 58,300 | 16,141 | 74,441 |
| 2026 | 60,196 | 17,993 | 78,189 |
Source: OUAC application statistics dashboard, current as of each cycle’s reporting date.
What actually determines McMaster admission
The Fact Book’s admission rate is a university-wide blend across every direct-entry Ontario high school program — it does not describe any single program’s difficulty. McMaster’s most selective program, the Bachelor of Health Sciences (Honours), publishes its own 90% minimum average for consideration plus a required supplementary application, which is a very different bar than the university-wide blend above.
For Health Sciences prerequisites, the supplementary application, and current deadlines, see our McMaster Health Sciences requirements guide. For McMaster’s other programs, gateways, and Level II selection, see the McMaster programs guide.
Official sources
Every figure on this page links back to the McMaster or OUAC source it came from.
- McMaster University Fact Book 2024|2025
McMaster's own "Admission Rate" table for new Ontario high school applicants, and the 90%-plus admission-average enrolment trend, both university-wide.
- McMaster University Fact Book 2023|2024
Prior edition, used to cross-check the 2023 admission rate, which McMaster revised between editions.
- OUAC application statistics dashboard
OUAC's own current-cycle application and confirmation counts for McMaster, by OSSS and AOA applicant category.
- McMaster Health Sciences (BHSc) Level I admission
McMaster's published 90% minimum-for-consideration for Health Sciences, cited on our McMaster Health Sciences pathway guide.
Frequently asked questions
Direct answers about McMaster's official Fact Book admission rate, current OUAC application demand, and what determines admission by program.
Planning a McMaster application?
A peer adviser who has been through McMaster admissions can help you plan your program choice and supplementary application. McMaster is the only official source for admission decisions.