The best cities for students in Canada in 2023, according to one report

People have their picture taken in front of Queen's University signage in Kingston, Ont., Friday, Aug. 14, 2020. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg)

A new report details the best student cities in Canada, with Kingston, Ont. taking top spot followed by Montreal and Vancouver.

The 2023 study by finance company HelloSAFE was published March 9 and included quality of student life, academic excellence and cost of studying among its considerations for the ranking.

The team compared four categories which were divided into subcategories to rank 47 cities across Canada.

Each category winner earned 50 points with the final score being marked out of 200. According to HelloSAFE, the methodology was inspired by similar rankings of student cities in European countries.

Kingston earned 152 points and took the top spot from Sherbrooke, Quebec, which placed fourth. According to the company, Kingston edged out close competition Montreal (with 144 points) and Vancouver (143 points) due to its ranking of university reputation and large student population.

"With nearly 17 per cent of students in the city and a diverse cultural and festive offer, Kingston offers a dynamic and varied student life," HelloSAFE's website reads. "Similarly, with its temperate climate, its preserved environment and easy access to nature, Kingston offers a very healthy living environment for studying."

Second-placed Montreal is the best city for students in the academic excellence category, the report says. The category heavily relies on the ranking from MacLean's top universities, the price of tuition and the academic diversity.

"Montreal, with its seven universities, its nearly 200,000 students and its offer of cultural and festive outings," is the reason for the high score, the report says.

Vancouver placed third overall but ranked consistently fourth in the attractiveness, student life and excellence categories. In the quality of life category, the city did not place in the top 10.

Making up the rest of the best top 10 cities for students, Sherbrooke came fourth, followed by Calgary, Edmonton, Quebec City, St. John's, Hamilton, Ont. and Toronto.

Best cities in Canada for students:

11. Ottawa

12. Guelph, Ont.

13. Winnipeg

14.Waterloo, Ont.

15. Burnaby, B.C.

16. London, Ont.

17. Surrey, B.C.

18. Trois-Rivieres, Que.

19. Saint Catharines, Ont.

20. Victoria, B.C.

21. Halifax

22. Windsor, Ont.

23. Nanaimo, B.C.

24. Lethbridge, Alta.

25. Abbotsford, B.C.

26. Kamloops, B.C.

27. Peterborough, Ont.

28. Saskatoon

29. Sudbury, Ont.

30. Thunder Bay, Ont.

31. Gatineau, Que.

32 Moncton, N.B.

33. Fredericton, N.B.

34. Regina

35. North Bay, Ont.

36. Chicoutimi, Que.

37. Brandon, Man.

38. Prince George, B.C.

39. Oshawa, Ont.

40. Rimouski, Que.

41. Rouyn Noranda, Que.

42. Sackville, N.B.

43. Wolfville, N.S.

45. Sault Ste Marie, Ont.

46. Sydney, N.S.

47. Antigonish, N.S.