Ontario's universities and colleges produce 29,000 graduates a year in math, engineering and sciences.

Ontario has an excellent, highly-developed standardized public education system. There are two publicly funded school systems -- public and Roman Catholic -- in addition to private and independent elementary and secondary schools throughout the province. Schooling is compulsory for all children between the ages of six and sixteen.

Ontario has a three-tiered system consisting of elementary (to grade 8), secondary (grades 9 to 12), and postsecondary levels. English as a Second Language (ESL) programs are offered at all levels, to students whose first language is not English

Elementary schools provide Junior Kindergarten and Kindergarten programs for children aged 4 and 5, and programs for Grades 1 through 8. Secondary schools offer Grades 9 through 12.

Private schools provide the same educational offerings, following a provincially-approved curriculum, but operate under a different monitoring system. They are independently operated and do not receive government funding.

Ontario's postsecondary education system consists of a network of publicly funded colleges and universities. All degree-granting institutions require operating approval from the Ministry of Education, and the quality of their programs is regularly reviewed by the Postsecondary Education Quality Assurance Board. An OSSD (Ontario Secondary School Diploma, Grade 12) is the usual requirement for admission to a postsecondary program.

Colleges
There are 24 colleges of applied arts and technology, 3 agricultural colleges, and the Michener Institute for Applied Health Sciences, amounting to more than 70 campuses throughout the province. Colleges prepare students for careers in business, applied arts, technology and health sciences. They also offer an extensive range of part-time and continuing education courses, apprenticeships and skills training programs. In 2004/05, a total of 59,419 students graduated from Ontario colleges.

The Ontario College Quality Assurance Service oversees the quality of education at Ontario colleges.

Universities
Admission to university requires six Grade 12 university entry-level credits. Ontario's universities and university-related institutions offer a complete range of programs in the arts and sciences, as well as graduate and professional programs. Affiliated services of the Council of Ontario Universities help to ensure the high quality of university programs by conducting periodic reviews of the universities’ educational and research activities. Total graduates in 2002/03 at all levels (Bachelor, First Professional, Masters, and Doctoral) numbered over 68,632.

Co-op programs, offered at several universities, provide alternating terms of academic study and work experience. The University of Waterloo was a pioneer, and is today one of the premier institutions in the world offering postsecondary co-op programs.

Ontario's postsecondary education system attracts students from all over the world. In 2004, there were close to 23,500 international students registered at Ontario universities. English as a Second Language (ESL) programs are available for students who need to increase their English language skills.

Ontario's colleges and universities are largely publicly-funded. University tuition fees for a two-semester full-time program in arts and sciences was approximately C$4,350.00 in 2006/07. Tuition fees for college postsecondary programs were about C$1,820.00 for the 2005/06 academic year. Foreign students pay additional international student fees.

Private career colleges
In addition to the publicly-funded colleges and universities, private career colleges offer vocationally-oriented training in over 500 locations across the province. Though privately funded, they are registered with and regulated by the Ministry of Education.

Apprenticeship training is a partnership: employers bear the cost of workplace training, the apprentice invests time and effort, and government pays for administration and the in-school cost of the program. Apprenticeship programs apply to over 140 occupations in Ontario. Apprenticeship and Client Services Offices throughout the province assist individuals and firms with all aspects of apprenticeship training.

Typically, programs range from 2 to 5 years, with a combination of on-the-job training and formal study in one of the colleges of applied arts and technology. Apprentices attend school either full-time for a few months, or for one day a week during the year. In some cases, night school and correspondence courses are available.

To successfully complete an apprenticeship, individuals must pass a Certificate of Qualification examination. In certain regulated occupations, certification is compulsory (e.g. electrician); only holders of a Certificate of Qualification or registered apprentices can work in these occupations. Although regulated occupations with voluntary certification (e.g. carpenter) do not require Certificates of Qualification or Apprenticeship, these indicate a level of acquired skill, and some employers and unions require this confirmation.

The Ontario Youth Program gives participants a chance to combine work experience and a secondary school program, earning both academic and apprenticeship credits.