Three RoutesGuides · 3 min read · updated 17 October 2026
How much does a bachelor's degree cost in Canada?
Four-year totals for six degrees in four provinces, the all-in number with rent, and the costs nobody writes down.
Short answer: four years of tuition and fees for a domestic bachelor's degree in Canada runs $30,000 to $55,000 depending on province and program: about $32,000 for arts or science in Ontario, $52,000 for Ontario engineering, $28,000 to $40,000 in BC, $35,000 to $51,000 in Alberta, and $16,000 to $21,000 in Quebec for residents (three years after cégep). Living away from home roughly doubles or triples the total: a four-year degree away from home is typically $110,000 to $140,000 all in.
Four-year totals, tuition and fees only
| Degree | Ontario | British Columbia | Alberta | Quebec (resident, incl. cégep) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arts and humanities | $32,000 | $30,300 | $35,152 | $16,000 |
| Psychology / science | $32,000 | $30,300 | $35,152 | $16,000 |
| Nursing (RN) | $36,000 | $25,700 | $35,152 | $3,300 (3-year DEC route) |
| Business / commerce | $40,000 | $40,400 | $43,600 | $16,000 |
| Computer science | $50,000 | $30,300 | $35,152 | $16,000 |
| Engineering | $52,000 | $37,700 | $50,900 | $21,000 |
Institution fee schedules 2025-26, most common university in each province; others differ by a few thousand. Quebec: two years of pre-university cégep (fees only) plus a three-year degree at resident tuition.
The all-in number
| Four years, Ontario arts degree | Living at home | Away from home |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition and fees | $32,000 | $32,000 |
| Books | $4,800 | $4,800 |
| Rent, food, transit | $10,000 | $60,000 to $80,000 |
| Phone, clothes, misc | $8,000 | $10,000 |
| Total | about $55,000 | $107,000 to $127,000 |
Four years of earnings not received while studying are the other cost nobody writes down: at $38,000 a year that is $150,000, which is why the pathway pages show net earnings by year 10, not just salary.
How it compares with the other routes
Four years of nursing costs $36,000 and starts at about $75,000; an electrician apprenticeship costs about $2,000, pays during the five years, and reaches $66,000 by year five; a practical nursing diploma is $9,900 and two years. None of these is the right answer for everyone; the point is that the numbers can sit next to each other. That is what the quiz does with your own answers.
Three things that change the total more than the university you pick
- Home or away. $50,000 to $70,000 over four years.
- Grants. Run your province's estimator; for many families the grant covers a third to all of tuition.
- Finishing in four. About a third of students take five or six years. Each extra year is another $10,000 in fees and another year of rent.
Average tuition figures: Statistics Canada, Tuition and living accommodation costs survey, 2025/2026 (table 37-10-0045-01), domestic full-time undergraduates, tuition only. Program totals: institution fee pages, 2025-26 and 2026-27, tuition plus mandatory fees. Quebec out-of-province rate: Government of Quebec, in force since fall 2024.
Quick answers
How much does a bachelor's degree cost in Canada?
Between $30,000 and $55,000 in tuition and fees over four years for a domestic student, depending on province and program. Arts and science are at the low end, engineering and computer science at the high end, and Quebec residents pay about half. With rent and food away from home, $110,000 to $140,000.
How much is 4 years of university in Canada?
Tuition of about $31,000 at the Canadian average ($7,734 a year) before mandatory fees; $32,000 to $52,000 in Ontario by program; $28,000 to $40,000 in BC; $35,000 to $51,000 in Alberta. Living away from home adds $60,000 to $80,000.
What is the total cost of university in Canada for 4 years including living?
Roughly $55,000 living at home and $107,000 to $140,000 away from home for an Ontario arts or science degree, including tuition, fees, books, rent, food and transit. Toronto and Vancouver sit at the top of that range.
How much does university cost per year in Canada?
Average domestic undergraduate tuition is $7,734 for 2025/26 (Statistics Canada), plus $1,000 to $2,000 in mandatory fees. By province: Ontario $8,958, Nova Scotia $9,988, Alberta $8,067, BC $6,862, Manitoba $5,993, Quebec $3,963.
Is a degree worth the cost in Canada?
It depends on the program, not the credential. Nursing, engineering and computer science repay their cost quickly; general arts degrees often do not within ten years once the four years of lost earnings are counted. The pathway pages show net earnings by year 10 for each route so you can see which is which.
See your own three options
Seven questions, five minutes, no sign-up. The same numbers as this page, ranked for your answers.
Figures are medians and typical costs from Job Bank, Statistics Canada, provincial wage surveys and institution fee pages, verified in 2026; the data page lists every source. Your own numbers will differ by employer, region and overtime.