Cost of University in Canada vs. USA

“It’s not enough for us to simply encourage more people to study abroad. We also need to make sure that they can actually afford it” – Michelle Obama

There is often a state of confusion among families and their children while selecting institutions for their education. For children, education is one of the most pivotal things, and getting one needs to be inexpensive.

The United States and Canada have been top choices for the international students. There are plenty of reasons such as excellent education, renowned professors, flexible programs, post-degree job prospects, and high living standards. However, there is a stark difference in the meaning of attending a college in the USA vs Canada.

All Americans refer to attending college as ‘College’ when they are in the US. The main distinction between a college and a university in the United States is the size of the student body; many colleges are just as distinguished and excellent as universities, they just have a smaller student body. On the other hand, a college is not the same as a university in Canada. While they could have comparable student bodies, they provide distinct course offerings compared to universities.

A thorough explanation of the price variations between Canadian and American institutions may be found below.

Cost of Public vs. Private Universities

As per the recent report for the year 2022, average university tuition fees for international students studying in Canada were $36,100. The final cost is directly proportional to one’s major. Tuition fees at private Canadian universities may vary between $10,000 and $30,000 a year.

As per U.S. News & World Report, the mean cost of tuition and fees at a public institution in the United States is $10,662. Whether a non-resident is an international student or simply resides in a different US state, they will still be required to pay the out-of-state tuition. In the US, the average private university tuition is $42,162.

Cost of In-State Tuition (USA) Vs Out of State Tuition (USA) and In-Province Tuition (Canada) VS Out of Province Tuition (Canada)

At the top American universities (many of which are non-profit), tuition and living costs can extend up to $60,000 per year, but it is possible to study in the US at a reasonable cost. .

Those looking for a more affordable option may find it cheaper than public universities in the United States. Most of these are run as state university systems—a collection of colleges within the state, which share some administrative units while operating as independent institutions. Public universities in the United States have two tuition fees: one for in-state residents and one for out-of-state residents. The second category (more expensive) applies to applicants from other US states and other countries. Private universities are smaller than public universities and have larger student populations (from different states and countries) because they charge the same for all students.

College-type in the US (2023-24)	Tuition and Fees in the US
Public two-year colleges	USD 3,990
Public four-year colleges (out-of-state fees)	USD 29,150
Private non-profit four-year colleges	USD 41,540

A similar position is seen for Canadian universities for both in-country and out-of-state colleges. The average tuition and additional compulsory fees in the year 2022-2023 were $7,873 in Canada and varied as per the provinces, Newfoundland and Labrador ($4,262), Prince Edward Island ($7,753), Nova Scotia ($10,368), New Brunswick ($8,978), Quebec ($4,409), Ontario ($9,001), Manitoba ($6,270), Saskatchewan ($9,401), Alberta ($8,507), British Columbia ($7,062), and Yukon ($4,590).

Province	International Undergraduate Tuition	International Graduate Tuition
Ontario	$42,185	$26,236
British Columbia	$30,903	$20,295
Alberta	$28,014	$15,167
Quebec	$27,406	$18,557
Saskatchewan	$22,197	$7,583
Prince Edward Island	$20,417	$10,564
Nova Scotia	$20,397	$23,048
Manitoba	$17,786	$11,887
New Brunswick	$16,458	$13,123
Newfoundland and Labrador	$12,037	$4,082

Cost of getting a Bachelor’s Degree in Canada

Tuition fees at Canadian universities are lower than those in countries like the USA. University fees may vary yearly, and the differences may arise based on the city or degree programme. For example- In Newfoundland, you can find some of the cheapest universities in Canada, while Ontario has the most expensive universities here.

Tuition Costs for Popular Disciplines:

Check the cost of getting a bachelor’s degree in Canada:

Bachelors in Business & Management: 550 – 56,000 CAD/year
Bachelors in Computer Science & IT: 1,535 – 55,500 CAD/year
Bachelors in Engineering & Technology: 1,350 – 55,000 CAD/year
Bachelors in Social Sciences: 1,025 – 56,000 CAD/year
Bachelors in Natural Sciences: 1,780 – 53,000 CAD/year

Cost of getting a Master’s Degree in Canada

Check the cost of getting a master’s degree in Canada:

Tuition Costs for Popular Disciplines:

Masters in Business & Management: 2,150 – 52,700 CAD/year
Masters in Computer Science & IT: 2,150 – 52,500 CAD/year
Masters in Engineering & Technology: 2,150 – 52,500 CAD/year
Masters in Medicine & Health: 2,150 – 58,300 CAD/year
Masters in Social Sciences: 2,150 – 37,000 CAD/year

Affordable Universities in Canada

Check this list of affordable universities in Canada:

Memorial University of Newfoundland – tuition fees: 2,150 – 11,460 CAD/year
University of Regina – tuition fees: 1,715 – 20,050 CAD/year
Royal Roads University – tuition fees: 3,750 – 27,600 CAD/year
University of Saskatchewan – tuition fees: 4,110 – 24,000 CAD/year
Athabasca University – tuition fees: 1,625 – 17,250 CAD/year

Universities recommended in Canada

Check this list of universities recommended in Canada:

University Canada West-17,500 CAD
Centennial College- CAD 32,600 to CAD 47,800
University of Toronto-CAD 29,740 to CAD 65,077
Thompson River University-14,831.6 CAD

Tuition Fees at Top-Ranked Universities

Here is a list with tuition fees at top-ranked Canada universities:

University of British Columbia-CAD 16,248 to CAD 17,754
University of Ottawa- CAD 17,478 to 31,507 CAD
University of Alberta- CAD 20,000 to CAD 25,000
Dalhousie University-CAD 15,000 to CAD 40,000
York University- CAD 20,000
University of Manitoba-CAD 18,000 – CAD 29,000
McGill University-can exceed 808.15 CAD per year

Cost of getting a Bachelor’s Degree in USA

The average tuition fee for a bachelor’s degree of four years for international students at public institutions was $41,920 for the academic year 2023-24. Additionally, the average cost of a four-year Bachelor’s college education for an overseas student is $30,000. Some of the most popular undergraduate degrees in the United States are the Bachelor of Science (BS) degrees, Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA). Overall, the tuition fees can vary depending on various factors like chosen course, university, intake, etc

Cost of getting a Master’s Degree in USA

A Master’s degree in the United States typically costs between $20,000 and $35,000. This range is based on the number of colleges that offer the degree and the cost of the individual program being pursued. When it comes to master’s degree programs in the United States, many international students are drawn to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) related subjects. Furthermore, these programs provide additional practical training as well as a two-year stay-back option.

Tuition Costs for Popular Disciplines:

Here is a list of tuition costs for popular disciplines that we recommend:

Masters in Business with tuition between 5,000 USD/year to over 70,000 USD/year
Masters in Engineering with tuition between 5,000 USD/year to over 47,000 USD/year
Masters in Medicine with tuition between 5,000 USD/year to over 64,000 USD/year
Computer Science & IT with tuition between 5,000 USD/year to over 55,000 USD/year
Humanities with tuition between 5,000 USD/year to over 50,000 USD/year

Universities recommended in the USA

Here is a list of U.S. universities that we recommend:

University of California, Berkeley (UCB) – tuition between 19,900 – 26,545 USD/year
University of San Francisco – tuition between 14,210 – 53,280 USD/year
Northeastern University – tuition between 19,700 – 64,625 USD/year
Drexel University – tuition between 0 – 60,975 USD/year
Florida Atlantic University – tuition between 12,290 – 43,010 USD/year

Tuition Fees at Top-Ranked Universities

Here is a list with tuition fees at top-ranked U.S. universities:

Princeton University – average tuition of 44,000 USD/year
Harvard University – tuition between 5,500 – 33,000 USD/year
University of Chicago – tuition between 13,500 – 39,500 USD/year
Yale University – tuition between 22,000 – 46,000 USD/year
Columbia University – tuition between 23,000 – 59,000 USD/year

Estimated Cost of University and Living in Canada vs USA

Program	Tuition Fees in the US per year (in USD)	Tuition Fees in Canada per year (in CAD)


Graduate Degree	20,000 – 45,000	10,000 – 35,000
Doctorate Programs	28,000- 55,000	6,000 – 16,000
Courses Offered by Community Colleges	16000 – 18000	10,000-15,000
Undergraduate Bachelor Degree	25,000 – 80,000	15,000- 65,000

Private Accommodation	6,000-14,000	8,000-9,000


On-campus accommodation	5,304 – 8,161	3,000 – 7,500


Public Transport	1,200	960-1,320


Books and Academic Supplies	1,170	1,500
Household & Other Bills	600	800
Internet	360-720	600
Entertainment	2,000	1,800

*Note: Please note that the cost may vary based on one’s lifestyle and location.

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Cost of University in Canada vs. USA