Higher education in Canada is often less expensive than many U.S. options, particularly private U.S. universities, although exact costs vary by university, program, student status, and province. At the same time, Canada’s universities remain attractive for students seeking internationally recognized degrees.
In this article, we will look at the 2025–2026 undergraduate tuition fees for eight universities in Canada. The figures below use full-time arts and humanities undergraduate tuition from Universities Canada and Statistics Canada as a comparable baseline. Program-specific fees, ancillary fees, residence, books, health insurance, and scholarships can change the final cost.
Tuition Costs in Canada
1. University of Toronto
Toronto is Canada’s largest city and a major destination for students from around the world. The University of Toronto is Canada’s largest university, with more than 100,000 students and hundreds of undergraduate and graduate programs across three urban campuses.
Students come to Toronto to experience the city’s energy, make new friends, and earn a degree from one of Canada’s best-known universities. U of T offers programs across arts, science, commerce, engineering, computer science, music, architecture, kinesiology, and many other fields. Exact tuition can vary significantly by program and campus, so students should check their program’s official fee schedule before applying.
2. Ryerson University
Ryerson University is now Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). Located in downtown Toronto, TMU is a public university known for career-focused programs and urban learning opportunities.
Students can choose from programs in areas such as engineering, science, business, community services, and the creative industries. Since tuition differs by residency and program, applicants should check TMU’s current program fee pages before budgeting.
3. University of Saint Mary’s
The atmosphere at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax is highly international, with students from Canada and abroad. Notable academic strengths include business, entrepreneurship, arts, and science.
Saint Mary’s offers a Bachelor of Arts in Entrepreneurship and is home to the Sobey School of Business. Students interested in entrepreneurship can also find support through the university’s entrepreneurship-focused resources and experiential learning opportunities.
4. University of Montreal
First and foremost, all undergraduate programs at this university are given in French. Université de Montréal is one of Canada’s major French-language universities and offers undergraduate programs across fields such as law, humanities, social sciences, arts, science, health, and many others.
International students who choose to study at the University of Montreal should plan their immigration steps early. After receiving the required admission documents, they generally need a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) and a Canadian study permit before enrolling.
5. University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a major public research university in Edmonton. It is known for broad academic strengths across engineering, science, business, arts, agricultural, life and environmental sciences, and health-related fields.
For students interested in sustainability, UAlberta has a Sustainability Council that works across faculties and has been recognized in global sustainability-impact rankings. Tuition for international undergraduates can also be affected by the university’s tuition-guarantee model, so applicants should review the program-specific estimate before applying.
6. McMaster University
This university was founded in 1887 in Toronto, and in 1930 it was relocated to Hamilton, Ontario. McMaster University has a large undergraduate community and attracts students from Canada and abroad.
McMaster is a strong choice for students interested in Health Sciences, Engineering, and Business. In the 2026 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, it ranked 116th overall and fourth in Canada, replacing the older 154th-place reference.
7. University of Calgary
The University of Calgary is a research-intensive university in Alberta. Current ranking information places it near the global top 200 depending on the ranking system: for example, UCalgary reports 211th in the QS World University Rankings 2025–2026 and 202nd in the Center for World University Rankings 2024–2025.
The university offers programs across many fields, including arts, science, engineering, business, kinesiology, and health-related disciplines. It is also home to research centers and institutes, including resources that support microbiome research. Because tuition is assessed by course load and program, students should check the registrar’s fee tools before applying.
8. University of Ottawa
This university in Canada’s capital, Ottawa, is a strong option for students who want a bilingual university experience. Courses at the University of Ottawa are offered in English, French, or both languages, and applicants must meet the language requirements for their chosen program.
uOttawa describes itself as the largest English-French bilingual university in the world. Many students choose it for programs in areas such as health, public affairs, social sciences, business, engineering, entrepreneurship, and social innovation.
We hope that this article on tuition fees in Canada was helpful! For more information about studying abroad, check out the Open Courses for International Students.
