Greater Sudbury's Post Secondary Schools - Positive Outlook in 2025

It's been a big week for our post-secondary schools, and what looks to be an even bigger 2025/26 school year.

1. Laurentian University Continues Steady Enrolment Growth

Laurentian University has released its preliminary enrolment figures for the Fall 2025 term, showing stability in its overall student population. The data reveals that the overall student headcount has remained consistent year-over-year.

This stability is driven largely by a resurgence of interest from domestic students. Domestic enrolment has risen by 8%, with gains seen across both undergraduate (+7%) and graduate (+11%) levels. Notably, the university is reporting a historic milestone in its bilingual mandate: 27% of the student population is now studying in a French language degree program, the highest proportion in the university’s history.

While the domestic growth is a positive indication of a recovering reputation and strong community ties, it is counterbalanced by shifting global trends. The university looks forward to building on this foundation, ensuring that student success and the quality of the bilingual and tricultural experience unique to Laurentian remain at the forefront of its mission.

2. Cambrian College Climbs Higher on National List of Canada’s Top 50 Research Colleges

Cambrian College has climbed the rankings of Canada’s research colleges and placed first in a specific category.

Every year, Re$earch Infosource Inc. compiles its list of Canada’s top 50 research colleges, according to research income. For 2025, Cambrian is ranked 32nd nationally, up six places from the previous year, with more than $4.55 million in applied research funding. It is the 14th year in a row that Cambrian has made the list.

Among medium-size colleges, Cambrian placed first overall for use of paid student researchers, with 231 student positions created for projects last year. Cambrian also placed third among medium-size colleges for growth of research income from industry partners, which increased year-over-year by 157%. Cambrian also ranked fifth among medium-size colleges for industry funding as a percentage of total research income, sixth for overall growth in research income, sixth for industry research income, and tenth for research partnerships in total, which numbered 61 last year.

Cambrian R&D works with industry partners in the fields of mining, heavy industry, heavy electric vehicle technology, manufacturing, agriculture, and social sciences.

3. Collège Boréal in the 2025 Ranking of Canada’s Top 50 Research Colleges

For the fourth consecutive year, Collège Boréal’s applied research projects stand out while actively contributing to the growth of Ontario's businesses and organizations.

Research and Innovation Boréal (RIB), Boréal’s research office, has once again been recognized as one of Canada’s Top 50 Research Colleges for 2025. This achievement highlights the institution’s role as a key partner for the communities and organizations it works with. In the 2024–2025 fiscal year, 11 major projects helped advance research in areas as diverse as agriculture, construction, immigration, social innovation, and mental health.

In collaboration with private and university partners, and with the support of funders such as the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Colleges and Institutes Canada, and the Consortium national de formation en santé (CNFS), RIB leads meaningful projects. These initiatives support food-waste management, soil rehabilitation, the socioeconomic integration of newcomers to Canada, access to health care for French-speaking communities, and efforts by Indigenous communities to reclaim the natural resources of their ancestral lands.