Lakehead University is a 60-year-old Ontario university with campuses in Thunder Bay and Orillia, serving over 8,500 students.
Lakehead University has been operating for 60 years. It has two campus locations, in Thunder Bay and Orillia, Ontario. The university's stated mission is advancing research, scholarly and creative work, and providing transformative learning experiences that position graduates for success.
The Thunder Bay campus is located at 955 Oliver Rd, Thunder Bay, ON, P7B 5E1. The Orillia campus is located at 500 University Avenue, Orillia, ON, L3V 0B9. Facilities listed on the university's website include the C.J. Sanders Fieldhouse, The Hangar, Wolf Den, Thunderwolves Icefield, Bartley Kitchenette, the Orillia on-campus fitness room, and several residence amenities such as a tennis court, basketball court, ice rink, and front desk.
Over 8,500 students study at Lakehead University across a range of undergraduate and graduate programs, with over 65 programs to choose from. The university describes its approach as student-focused, with smaller class sizes. Lakehead also hosts 11 Canada Research Chairs, along with the Paleo-DNA Laboratory and the Biorefining Research Institute.
Lakehead University was ranked 90th overall in the 2025 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, out of 2,318 participating institutions worldwide. It was ranked the top university with under 10,000 students in Canada and North America in the same rankings. In SDG rankings, it placed 2nd in Canada and 23rd in the World for SDG 1: No Poverty, and 5th in Canada and 26th in the World for SDG 14: Life Below Water.
Admission routes include undergraduate application (general, based on applicant type), Post Diploma (College Transfer) Engineering, Nursing Transfer, and graduate admission for Masters and Doctorate programs.