It’s no secret that Calgary is a great place to reside. The city in the Canadian province of Alberta ranks fifth in the Economist Intelligence Unit’s 2019 Global Livability Index, ahead of any other city in North America. So, it makes sense that many students from different parts of Canada and outside the country think about moving to the city for higher education. Although Calgary doesn’t house any of the world’s top 100 universities, you will find several inexpensive but quality options here, at least by North American standards.
If you’re an incoming international student in Canada, you can try the universities in this city. They have a reputation for quality education and affordable tuition fees. In the article below, we listed the cheapest universities in Calgary.
Affordable Schools in Calgary for International Students
1. Mount Royal University
Mount Royal University began its journey over a hundred years ago in 1910. Its main campus is situated at Lincoln Park in southwest Calgary. At an approximate distance of 15 miles from the main campus, a second campus belongs to the rural community of Springbank. The public institution currently has a student population of 15,573, with 3.3% of them being international students.
MRU offers 12 degrees and 32 majors through its many academic faculties: arts, business and communication studies, science and technology, health, community & education, and more. Its interior design, communication, and nursing programs are a cut above the rest. To help students lower the cost of their education, the university annually disburses more than $3 million in scholarships and bursaries.
2. Alberta University of the Arts
Although this cheap institution in Calgary was founded in 1926, the Alberta University of the Arts didn’t earn university status until as recently as February 1, 2019. It is the only higher education institution in the province of Alberta dedicated to art, craft, and design. Its total enrolment is around 1,200, of whom 72 percent are female.
The Calgary-based public university has students from around 30 different countries. The faculty-to-student ratio is 1:16, while the average class size is 15. At AUArts, students can earn Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Design, and Master of Fine Arts degrees in a dozen areas of concentration.
3. University of Calgary
According to QS World University Rankings 2024 and multiple other rankings, the University of Calgary is one of the top 10 universities in Canada. It also ranks among the top 200 universities worldwide. Starting merely as a branch of the University of Alberta, it became a full-fledged institution in 1966.
The comprehensive research higher education school has four campuses in Calgary, with the main one occupying around 500 acres of land. A fifth campus is located in Doha, Qatar. UCalgary offers over 250 undergraduate and graduate programs to a student population of over 37,000. It has 15 faculties and employs over 1,800 academic staff.
This public university spends over $17 million annually on scholarships, bursaries, and awards. New students with an average of 95 percent or higher are awarded $5,000 scholarships.
4. St. Mary’s University
While the country’s more-renowned Saint Mary’s University is located in Nova Scotia’s Halifax, Alberta’s Calgary also has its own St. Mary’s (StMU). It is a small, private Catholic university with only 875 full-time and part-time students. Founded as St. Mary’s University College in 1986, it became an independent institution and earned its current name in 2014.
With an average class size of 25, StMU offers a Bachelor of Science degree, a Bachelor of Education after-degree, and eight Bachelor of Arts degrees in fields like general studies, liberal studies, English, and psychology. This cheap university in Calgary offers scholarships and bursaries ranging from $500 to $31,000 to its students.
5. University of Lethbridge
Although the University of Lethbridge has its main campus in Lethbridge, it also has a second campus in Calgary. Founded in 1967, the public institute currently has over 8,700 students enrolled, of whom around 670 study at the Calgary campus.
While the majority of ULeth’s 150-plus programs are based on its main campus, this campus hosts undergraduate and graduate management and health sciences programs. The university presents $1000-worth Calgary Campus Awards to the first 150 students enrolled in a program at the campus in the Fall semester.
6. Ambrose University
Next on our list of cheap universities in Calgary is Ambrose University. In 2007, a merger between Alliance University College and Nazarene University College gave birth to Ambrose University College, which earned university status in 2014 and became Ambrose University. It is a private Christian institution that claims to be more than just a bible college, with its 40-acre campus located in southwest Calgary.
Ambrose offers a handful of programs at undergraduate and graduate levels through its Faculty of Arts & Science, School of Education, School of Ministry, and Seminary. The university provides its students with scholarships ranging from $500 to $2,000. Its eight schools offer over a hundred career programs, including Bachelor’s in Business Administration, Hospitality and Tourism Management, and Construction Project Management. Annually, it awards over $5 million to students enrolled in almost all of its programs.
7. Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
Established in 1916, the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology is a Calgary-based polytechnic institute. It is the first publicly funded technical institute in the Great White North. The university has a student population north of 11,000, of whom around 1,600 are international students representing as many as 94 countries. Its three satellite campuses are located in the heart of Calgary: SAIT’s Art Smith Aero Centre, Point Trotter Campus, and The Tastemarket.
FAQs: Studying in Calgary
What is the Cheapest University in Calgary for International Students?
The cheapest institutions in Calgary are Ambrose University, the University of Calgary, and the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology. The tuition fees in these institutions range from CA$8,000 to CA$27,750. Compared to other universities, they are more affordable. However, please remember that you must also prepare for other expenses such as food, accommodation, and more during your studies.
Aside from the most prominent universities in Canada, there are cheaper institutions in Calgary you can consider enrolling in. The article above lists some examples with lower tuition fees, so definitely check them out if you want to pursue a degree in this city. Make sure to read more!
We hope this article about the cheap universities in Calgary was helpful. Make sure also to check out our Canada Page and the Available Programs in Canada for mor einformation about studying in Canada!
