Toronto’s main universities are the University of Toronto, founded by royal charter in 1827 as King’s College, York University, incorporated in 1959, Toronto Metropolitan University, which began as Ryerson Institute of Technology in 1948, and OCAD University, which traces its start to 1876. Ontario colleges such as Centennial, Seneca, and George Brown date from 1966 and 1967.
The institutions differ widely in age and origin. One grew out of a colonial charter, another from a postwar technical school, a third from an art school founded by working artists. The sections below give founding facts taken from the institutions’ own history pages or from the Canadian Encyclopedia, and send readers to the universities for current fees and programs.
Founding years at a glance
| Institution | Founding fact | Source type |
|---|---|---|
| University of Toronto | King’s College chartered 1827; University of Toronto from 1850 | Canadian Encyclopedia |
| Toronto Metropolitan University | Ryerson Institute of Technology 1948; university status 1993; renamed 2022 | University history page |
| York University | Incorporated 1959 | University history page |
| OCAD University | Ontario School of Art 1876; OCAD University 2010 | University history page |
| Centennial College | Founded 1966 | College site, via search summary |
| Seneca Polytechnic | Classes began 1967 | College history, via search summary |
| George Brown College | Provincial college system formed 1966 to 1967 | College history, via search summary |
University of Toronto
The Canadian Encyclopedia states that the university was founded as King’s College by royal charter in 1827. It was secularized in 1849 and became the nondenominational University of Toronto in 1850. The university archives add that King’s College did not open until 1843. The archives date the change precisely: King’s College ceased to exist on December 31, 1849, and the University of Toronto took its place the next day. The two dates for the new name (1849 and 1850) refer to the same transition.
Denominational colleges joined over time. Victoria College and St. Michael’s College federated in 1890 and Trinity College in 1904, according to the Canadian Encyclopedia. The university now has three campuses: the central St. George campus in downtown Toronto, Scarborough (built in 1964 as Scarborough College), and Mississauga (built in 1966 as Erindale College). The Encyclopedia reports about 97,600 students in 2022 to 2023. For the building-by-building story, see the separate history page of the university on this site.
Toronto Metropolitan University
The university’s history page gives 1948 as the year of Ryerson Institute of Technology, 1993 for official university status, and 2022 for the change to Toronto Metropolitan University. The page does not explain the reasons for the 2022 rename, and none are asserted here.
York University
York was incorporated in 1959. Its history page describes three original components, among them Glendon, a residential college, and the large Keele campus. Early projections expected about 7,000 students by 1980, but more than 25,000 were registered by then. The university today reports more than 53,000 students from over 160 countries.
OCAD University
OCAD University says it opened as the Ontario School of Art in 1876, founded by the Ontario Society of Artists with 14 registered students. It was incorporated as the Ontario College of Art in 1912, received university status and degree-granting power from the Government of Ontario in 2002, and took the name OCAD University in 2010. The claims that it is the first or oldest art school in Canada are the university’s own wording and were not independently checked.
Ontario colleges
Ontario’s public college system was announced by Education Minister William Davis in 1965. Centennial College describes itself as established in 1966 and as Ontario’s first public college, with its doors opening on October 17, 1966. Seneca opened in 1967, with early classes held at several sites including a former Woolworth store and a renovated factory, and began its first permanent campus at Finch Avenue East and Highway 404 in 1968. George Brown College states that it was formed in 1967 and named for the newspaper founder and Father of Confederation, a name Davis suggested. It grew from the Provincial Institute of Trades, opened on Nassau Street in 1952. Third-party sites give George Brown opening years from 1967 to 1969, so the official page should be consulted. Seneca and George Brown now use the Polytechnic branding.
What does it cost to study in Toronto?
Tuition changes every year and differs by program, level of study, and residency status, so no amounts are given here. Old posts on this site that quoted tuition for the University of Toronto and York University were unreliable and have been merged into this page. For current figures, use the fee pages of the institutions. The University of Toronto links its finances section to a University Fees page, and York University, Toronto Metropolitan University, OCAD University, and the colleges publish their own schedules.
Where is the University of Toronto?
The main St. George campus is in downtown Toronto,. The university’s own site lists the Scarborough and Mississauga campuses as separate locations.
Frequently asked questions
What is the oldest university in Toronto?
The University of Toronto, chartered as King’s College in 1827 and opened in 1843. OCAD University traces an older teaching start in 1876 only for art instruction, and it was not a university until 2002.
Did Ryerson University change its name?
Yes. Ryerson became Toronto Metropolitan University in 2022, according to the university’s history page.
How much is tuition at York University or the University of Toronto?
Fees change yearly and vary by program. The universities’ own fee pages give current figures.
Which Ontario colleges are in Toronto?
Centennial, Seneca, and George Brown are the largest in the city, founded in 1966 and 1967.
Last verified: October 2026
Sources
- The Canadian Encyclopedia, University of Toronto
- University of Toronto Archives, account of King’s College and the University
- Toronto Metropolitan University, history page
- York University, history page
- OCAD University, history page
- Centennial College, Seneca Polytechnic, and George Brown College history pages (read through search summaries)
- University of Toronto Future Students, Finances
Related reading
- University of Toronto: its history
- Queen’s Park and the Legislative Building
- How the neighborhoods grew
- The ROM and other museums
- Living in Toronto
Cite this page
APA: History of Toronto. (2026, October 23). Universities and Colleges in Toronto. https://historyoftoronto.ca/blog/list-of-universities-in-toronto-canada
MLA: “Universities and Colleges in Toronto.” History of Toronto, 23 Oct. 2026, https://historyoftoronto.ca/blog/list-of-universities-in-toronto-canada. Accessed .
Chicago: History of Toronto. “Universities and Colleges in Toronto.” Last modified October 23, 2026. https://historyoftoronto.ca/blog/list-of-universities-in-toronto-canada.
The pages have no named author, so the site is given as the author. Add the date you read the page if your style asks for it.