John Abbott College is one of four English language CEGEPs in Quebec.  Named after Sir John Abbott, Canada's third prime minister, the College primarily serves the Greater Montreal region, though you can also meet students here from other parts of Quebec and the rest of Canada. The College also has a significant number of international students as part of its community.  In total, over 5,700 students are enrolled in the Day Division and about 2,000 in the Continuing Education Division.

The College was incorporated in 1970, merely two years after the Quebec CEGEP system was launched in 1968.  In September of 1971, John Abbott welcomed roughly 1200 young men and women as its first students.  By 1980, the CEGEP was well established on a permanent campus and had a student base of about 4000 daytime and 2000 evening students.  Since then, the College has grown by leaps and bounds, increasing attendance, adding and improving existing programs, and becoming one of the top rated English CEGEPs in Quebec.

Situated on the most western tip of the island of Montreal, in Ste-Anne de Bellevue, John Abbott enjoys a rural setting just a half hour drive from downtown Montreal. As one of 48 CEGEPs (collège d'enseignement général et professionnel) in Quebec, John Abbott offers two types of programs: Two-year pre-university programs that lead to university, and three-year career or professional programs designed to lead directly to the labour market.