Key takeaways
- 2025/2026 average undergraduate tuition: $41,746 for international students, $7,734 for Canadians
- 2025/2026 average graduate tuition: $24,028 for international students, $7,978 for Canadians
- Ontario is the most expensive province for international undergraduates ($49,802); Newfoundland and Labrador is the cheapest ($18,867)
- International undergraduate tuition rose 2.5% in 2025/2026; Statistics Canada reports a further 4% rise for 2026/2027
- Colleges cost much less: for example $15,477 for two terms of a Conestoga diploma in 2026/2027
Average tuition in Canada, 2025/2026
These are Statistics Canada’s averages for full-time students in degree programs at Canadian universities, published September 10, 2025. They are tuition only. Compulsory extra fees, health insurance, books and living costs are not included.
| Level | Canadian students | International students | International vs Canadian |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | $7,734 (+1.4%) | $41,746 (+2.5%) | 5.4 times |
| Graduate | $7,978 (+0.9%) | $24,028 (+1.5%) | 3.0 times |
Changes are from 2024/2025. Statistics Canada says the international undergraduate gap is now “more than 5.0 times”, up from 3.6 times a decade earlier.
2026/2027 update. Statistics Canada released 2026/2027 figures on September 16, 2026 (table 37-10-0045-01). Academica, an education research firm, reports from that release that international tuition and compulsory fees rose 4% nationally, from 0% in Newfoundland and Labrador to 8.6% in Saskatchewan. We could not open the full 2026/2027 table when we checked, so the tables on this page use 2025/2026, the latest year we could read in full.
Undergraduate tuition by province, 2025/2026
| Province | Canadian students | International students | Times higher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $3,746 | $18,867 | 5.0 |
| Prince Edward Island | $8,191 | $21,157 | 2.6 |
| Nova Scotia | $9,988 | $29,893 | 3.0 |
| New Brunswick | $9,938 | $19,278 | 1.9 |
| Quebec | $3,963 | $36,279 | 9.2 |
| Ontario | $8,958 | $49,802 | 5.6 |
| Manitoba | $5,993 | $21,424 | 3.6 |
| Saskatchewan | $9,863 | $33,064 | 3.4 |
| Alberta | $8,067 | $34,880 | 4.3 |
| British Columbia | $6,862 | $39,851 | 5.8 |
| Canada | $7,734 | $41,746 | 5.4 |
Yukon’s Canadian undergraduate average was $4,470; no international figure was published.
Graduate tuition by province, 2025/2026
| Province | Canadian students | International students |
|---|---|---|
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $4,081 | $6,964 |
| Prince Edward Island | $6,563 | $13,262 |
| Nova Scotia | $10,923 | $24,948 |
| New Brunswick | $8,270 | $17,868 |
| Quebec | $4,307 | $23,587 |
| Ontario | $9,930 | $28,624 |
| Manitoba | $6,087 | $13,556 |
| Saskatchewan | $5,753 | $10,360 |
| Alberta | $6,804 | $16,990 |
| British Columbia | $11,195 | $26,607 |
| Canada | $7,978 | $24,028 |
Graduate fees for international students are often much closer to Canadian fees than undergraduate fees are, especially for research master’s and PhD programs. Many research students also get funding that covers part of their tuition.
How international tuition has changed in 10 years
Statistics Canada’s charts show averages adjusted for inflation (constant dollars), so years can be compared fairly.
| Year | International undergraduate | International graduate | Canadian undergraduate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015/2016 | $28,881 | $18,766 | $8,014 |
| 2019/2020 | $36,044 | $21,631 | $7,801 |
| 2022/2023 | $38,531 | $22,746 | $7,388 |
| 2024/2025 | $40,717 | $23,679 | $7,624 |
| 2025/2026 | $41,746 | $24,028 | $7,734 |
After inflation, international undergraduate tuition rose about 45% in 10 years, while Canadian undergraduate tuition fell slightly. Many provinces freeze or cap fees for Canadian students but let schools set international fees.
Tuition by field of study
Field of study matters as much as province. Statistics Canada publishes international fees by field in separate tables (37-10-0005-01 for undergraduates). Engineering, computer science and business are usually the most expensive undergraduate fields for international students, and humanities and education are usually cheaper. Professional programs such as dentistry, medicine and law can cost more again, and many have few or no seats for international students.
Real 2026/2027 examples from university fee pages:
- University of Toronto: Arts & Science $66,110; Engineering $72,860
- UBC Vancouver: Arts $51,530; Science $53,082; Engineering $66,200
- University of Waterloo: Engineering $75,000 (first year, including incidental fees)
See the full comparison in engineering tuition compared.
What about colleges?
Statistics Canada’s tuition survey covers degree programs, mostly at universities. College diplomas and certificates usually cost much less. For example, Conestoga College lists $15,477 for two terms of a diploma or certificate program, and $16,809 for a graduate certificate, for 2026/2027 (tuition only; ancillary fees are extra). Compare the two routes in college vs university for international students.
About this data
- Source: Statistics Canada, Tuition and Living Accommodation Costs survey, The Daily (September 10, 2025) and charts 3 and 4; table 37-10-0045-01.
- What it covers: average tuition for full-time students in degree programs. It is weighted by enrolment and excludes compulsory extra fees, which Statistics Canada reports separately.
- Not included: student health insurance, residence, books and living costs. Use the cost of studying calculator for a full budget.
- Your fee may differ. Each school sets its own fees by program and year of entry. Always check your school’s official fee page.
- Last checked: October 5, 2026. We will update the tables with 2026/2027 once we can read the full release.
Common questions
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Does tuition go up every year?
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Tuition in Canada, 2025/2026 (The Daily, September 10, 2025)
- Statistics Canada: Average undergraduate tuition by province, 2025/2026 (chart 3)
- Statistics Canada: Average graduate tuition by province, 2025/2026 (chart 4)
- Statistics Canada: Table 37-10-0045-01, Canadian and international tuition fees by level of study
- Statistics Canada: Tuition fees for degree programs, 2026/2027 (September 16, 2026)
- Academica: StatCan releases tuition fee data for 2026/2027
- University of Toronto: Tuition fee schedules 2026-27
- UBC: Undergraduate tuition fees 2026/27
- University of Waterloo: First-year tuition fees
- Conestoga College: International fees and payment