The top universities in Canberra and ACT for 2022
As the Australia’s capital, it’s no surprise that the ACT offers study options in areas such as international relations, politics, law, journalism, security and public policy, specialised defence education and training through the Australian Defence Force Academy. In saying that, there’s a good range of undergraduate courses across all fields of study, from the traditional professions to specialties like aviation, design and sports management.
Canberra is a friendly, liveable city within easy reach of the mountains, the coast and the bustling metropolis of Sydney. As the seat of government and home to Australia’s public service, it combines the cultural variety of bigger cities with a relaxed pace you’d find in a smaller one.
There’s always something happening on or around campus. Locals are passionate rugby fans and turn out in droves to support their teams, the Canberra Raiders and ACT Brumbies. Lake Burley Griffin is a popular spot for students to relax and there are plenty of bars, nightclubs and live music venues.
Where to study in Canberra
Universities with campuses in the ACT include:
The best universities in Canberra for study in 2022
There is no one university that is best for all students, since different things matter to different people. The Good Universities Guide ratings provide a series of insights on Australian universities, helping those in the process of deciding where to study.
Courses and institutions differ in many ways and only the student can decide which differences really matter to them. Check out the ratings for universities in the ACT and filter by study level (undergraduate or postgraduate). Some ratings are also available to filter further by field of study.
In the tables below, we’ve listed the university that ranked highest in each rating category for the ACT in the 2022 edition of The Good Universities Guide ratings.
Characteristics
Rating type | Definition | Top university |
The proportion of domestic students enrolling at each university from low socioeconomic or disadvantaged backgrounds | Charles Sturt University – 23% | |
The proportion of staff who hold a masters or doctoral degree | ||
Where high-achieving students choose to study — compares the proportion of commencing students with high ATAR scores at each university | Australian National University (ANU) — Low: 0.35 Medium: 0.6 High: 0.05 | |
The number of students per teaching staff member | ||
The proportion of domestic students commencing a bachelor degree whose parents’ education is known and did not exceed Year 12 | Charles Sturt University — 44% |
The Student Experience
Rating type | Definition | Top university | Top university |
The proportion of students who felt they were engaged with learning in their institution | University of Canberra — 58.2% | ||
The proportion of students who were satisfied with the learning resources provided by their institution | University of Canberra — 79.8% | ||
The proportion of students who were satisfied with the overall quality of their educational experience | Charles Sturt University — 77.3% | ||
The proportion of students who were satisfied with the skill development they experienced through their studies | University of Canberra — 81% | ||
The proportion of students who were satisfied with the support they received from their institution | Charles Sturt University — 74.7% | Charles Sturt University — 77.9% | |
The proportion of students who were satisfied with the quality of teaching they experienced | University of Canberra — 80.8% | Charles Sturt University — 82.1% |
Graduate Outcomes
Rating type | Definition | Top university | Top university |
The median salary of graduates from different universities | Charles Sturt University —$66,800 | Charles Sturt University — $95,000 | |
The employment rates of graduates from different universities | Charles Sturt University — 86.3% |
Head to the Ratings tab to view our most recent ratings for ACT universities — filter by subject and level of study to find the one that suits.
Related resources
