Acadia University

Founded 1838 | Wolfville, NS

At Acadia University, students spend less time commuting and more time community building: more than a third of the student body lives on campus. The 100-hectare site in the Annapolis Valley has ivy-covered walls and sloping lawns dotted with trees. A student-run farm, as well as a hydroponic vertical growing system housed in a shipping container, supplies healthy, sustainable veggies and greens. Many of Acadia’s research spaces have been modernized, including the Acadia Science Complex. Students can study birds on the university’s private island wildlife reserve and access specialized labs for biomechanics and food and beverage analysis.

“Acadia’s strength is the blending of community engagement with classroom learning,” says outgoing president Peter Ricketts. “Our students learn by immersing themselves in the world around them—but they get to define their world. From renewable energy to community development to social justice, our students graduate as leaders of change.”

A biology lab, originally created by a Mi’kmaw student to share traditional Mi’kmaw knowledge of plants, is now a component of a core first-year course. Students in most arts programs can acquire professional experience through co-op work placements. On average, 94 per cent of co-op students landed work terms throughout 2022. Students can connect with staff, alum and community members through the Acadia Café, an online networking program, or volunteer in the Sensory Motor Instructional and Leadership Experience (SMILE) program, which helps youth with disabilities participate in physical activities. At the end of the day, students can cheer on one of the school’s 11 varsity sports teams.

Standout Programs

• Computer Science: Students learn to design computer systems to solve real-world problems, with applications from game development to self-driving cars.

• Community Development: This program develops critical thinking as well as practical skills. Students gain experience working with community organizations.

• Law and Society: Students in this interdisciplinary program hone research and writing skills while exploring legal theory as well as the impact of law on society.

Tuition (includes compulsory ancillary fees)

$9,846 ($11,129 out-of-province students)

Minimum Entering Grades

Arts: 70% · Science: 70% · Business: 70% · Engineering: 70%

Student Body

Undergraduates: Full-time: 3,384 | Part-time: 158

Full-time: 141 | Part-time: 245

International Students: First-year: 7.2% | Graduate: 10.6%

Male-Female Ratio: 41 to 59

Housing Facts

Residence Spaces: 1,690 (912 reserved for first-year students)

Residence Costs: Double room: $5,735 to $6,835 | Single room: $6,630 to $9,495

Double room with meals: $10,807 to $12,511 | Single room with meals: $11,702 to $15,17

Cool Courses

• Unlocking the Archives: Visit local historical sites to practise research methods and analyze documents.

• Climate Change for Climate Change Professionals: Each week, lecturers from different research areas give their perspective.

Student Life on Campus

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