Oh, Canada?

Some reasons to consider going north for college

Photo by Hermes Rivera on Unsplash

As part of my son’s college search process, we’ve been talking A LOT about his various options and the pros/cons to staying in Minnesota versus going out-of-state. This is a conversation that has to include reckoning with the realities of out-of-state tuition, so we’ve also been talking about things like tuition reciprocity programs, which can allow students in one state to qualify for in-state tuition in another state, provided the states have an agreement in place. For Minnesota kids like mine, this means that they can save big money at schools in Wisconsin and North Dakota. And, as I explained to my son, it also includes an option even farther north: Manitoba, to exact.

(My son’s response: “Cool! Also, what’s the deal with Manitoba? Like, is there stuff to do there?” With no shade to Manitoba, I must confess I do not know the answer to that question.)

While Manitoba might not sound like the most exciting college destination for some students, Canada has become an increasingly popular destination for international students¹, including those from the United States. According to some estimates, somewhere between 15,000-17,000 American students will enroll in Canadian colleges and universities this year, many drawn by the prospect of a high quality education for a lower (in some cases) tuition cost.

Important note: I’m talking in this piece about students enrolling in Canadian schools as international students, with the intent of completing their whole degree there as opposed to doing a semester or even year of study abroad … that’s a whole separate conversation!

So, let’s dive into some of the reasons why some families might consider looking north for college and some of the key considerations to keep in mind before learning all the words to ‘O, Canada’²

Why Canada?

Canada can be an appealing option for families that are open to the idea of international study for their student. There are some top-notch programs, it’s comparatively close, language barriers aren’t generally an issue (with the exception of Quebec), it’s perceived as safe, and the cost of tuition can also be a draw.

With average tuition costs for colleges and vocational schools starting at about $7000 CAD (about $5000 US dollars, at current exchange rates) and universities at around $36,000 CAD (just over $26,000 US), that is comparable to or even cheaper than many US options. Even Canada’s most selective institutions are more affordable than their US equivalents. For example, McGill University in Montreal, which admits less than half of its applicants, costs about $45,000 a year (US dollars) for tuition, fees, housing, and meal plan. In contrast, an out-of-state student considering the University of Wisconsin Madison (which is a public university with a similar acceptance rate) would be looking at a bill closer to $60,000.

Another interesting comparison: the most expensive university in Canada for international students is likely the University of Toronto with tuition, fees, housing, and meals for about $65,000 per year. The most expensive universities in the US have much higher price tags, with schools like Columbia coming in at $93,417 this year. For families that are looking at paying the full price, that is a difference of well over $100,000 for a bachelor’s degree!

Obviously, this is comparing sticker prices and not factoring in financial aid, which is a key consideration. One of the drawbacks to studying in Canada is that American students don’t have access to all of the federal financial aid that they might qualify for if they stay in the US. While there are a good number of Canadian schools (including big names like McGill and University of Toronto), approved to accept federal student loans, American students enrolling in Canadian schools aren’t eligible for the Pell Grant or other federally supported grant programs. Student who are from states with their own financial aid programs while also find that those grants don’t cross state lines either. So, for lower income students, it will likely make more financial sense to stay in the US, even with the lower tuition costs in Canada. Some Canadian schools do have scholarship options for international students, but students will need to investigate the schools they are interested in to find out how to apply and how much that might bring down their costs.

One other fiscal consideration is that American students studying in Canada may have reduced options for off-campus employment as they are limited to working 24 hours a week or less while there on a student permit.

Other Things to Consider

In addition to the usual questions of finding the right fit and affordability, there are a few other factors families should when considering going international for college, whether to Canada or somewhere else:

• If the student is considering a major/program that generally leads to a professional licensure (like teaching or nursing) make sure to do some research on how that license will transfer back to the US if they plan to return to the States after college. Generally, their license should transfer but they may have to go through some additional paperwork that might take weeks to months to process, so that might delay their ability to start working when they get home.

• Students who are considering colleges in Quebec do need to have some French language skills, even at the colleges that operate primarily in English.

• Remember that the value of the US dollar compared to other currency can fluctuate over time, so if rates change dramatically at the wrong time, that could increase tuition costs (or decrease them, which would be a nice bonus!)

• Cost of living in some Canadian cities is very high, so students thinking about schools in Toronto or Vancouver will need to prepare for off-campus housing to be as or more expensive than most US metropolitan areas.

• Students who are on their parent’s health plans will want to check to find out about their coverage options outside of the US or if they’ll need to purchase an international student health plan. Some Canadian colleges will require international students to purchase a health plan administered by the institution, which will add some additional costs.

• While it is (hopefully) unlikely to happen again, there were some reports of US students who got stuck in Canada during the pandemic when boarders closed to non-essential travel. It’s a good idea to talk about what the plan would be in a circumstance like that or other kind of emergency.

• Students who are looking for a college experience that is all about Greek life and going to a big football game on the weekends might be disappointed to learn that while some campuses do have sports programs and Greek life, not all do and they may not be as high profile or active as US campuses. A campus visit is a very good idea to see if the campus culture feels like a fit.

• International students with disabilities are eligible for accommodations under Canadian law, but should recognize that the Canadian laws have some different standards than the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), so it will be important to connect with the disabilities support center on their chosen campus to find out more about the process and what accommodations might be available to them.

• Canadian colleges and universities are not on the Common App, so students will need to plan to apply to each of them individually, if they are considering multiple schools.

Given that my son wants to be a high school history teacher and to focus on US history, it probably won’t make a lot of sense for him to consider Canadian colleges but I do think it can be a good option for families that are already anticipating having to pay for most colleges costs out of pocket.

I’ll just have to figure out another excuse to get to go back to Montreal!

1. The Trump presidency was good for international student enrollment numbers in Canada for lots of pretty obvious reasons. International student enrollment in the US dropped by 7% in the US but grew by 52% in Canada from 2016-2019, according to some estimates.

2. At the risk of seeming unpatriotic, the Canadian national anthem is better than ours.