Three RoutesGuides · 3 min read · updated 17 October 2026
In-province vs out-of-province tuition in Canada
Where the rate changes, where it doesn't, and the cost that always changes.
Short answer: in most of Canada there is no difference: a student from Ontario pays the same domestic tuition at UBC or Dalhousie as a local. The exception is Quebec, which charges Canadians from other provinces about $12,000 a year at its universities (since fall 2024) against about $3,963 for Quebec residents, and more at cégep too. A few universities elsewhere add small out-of-province differentials, and provincial grants only follow residents of that province. The bigger cost of studying out of province is living away from home.
Who charges more for out-of-province Canadians
| Province | Out-of-province Canadian undergraduate rate | Resident rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quebec | about $12,000 a year (minimum set by the province) | $3,963 average | McGill, Concordia and Bishop's affected most; French-language universities too. Cégep charges out-of-province students about $1,900 to $4,000 a year versus free for residents. |
| Nova Scotia | same tuition; some universities add a small out-of-province fee | $9,988 average | Dalhousie and others publish the differential on their fee pages |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Memorial charges non-NL Canadians more | $3,746 average (residents) | Memorial's rate for other Canadians is roughly double its resident rate |
| Everywhere else | same as residents | varies | Ontario, BC, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, PEI charge one domestic rate |
Statistics Canada 2025/26 averages and institution fee pages. International students pay separate, much higher rates everywhere.
What does follow your home province
- Grants and loans. You apply to your home province's aid program (OSAP, StudentAid BC, AFE), not the one where you study. Ontario students at UBC still use OSAP.
- Quebec residency. To pay the Quebec rate you generally need to have lived in Quebec for 12 months not primarily as a student, or have a parent living there. Moving the summer before does not count.
- Health coverage. OHIP covers Ontario students studying elsewhere in Canada; the same applies in reverse for most provinces. Keep your home address.
The real difference: living away
Out of province almost always means away from home, which adds $14,000 to $20,000 a year. Over four years that is the difference between a $60,000 degree and a $130,000 one, with tuition identical. If the reason to leave is a specific program, that can be worth it. If the reason is wanting to leave, a year of college at home and a transfer later costs a fraction.
Compare routes with the same numbers on the pathway library, with the province picker set to where you would study.
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
Do you pay more for university out of province in Canada?
Usually no. Ontario, BC, Alberta and the Prairies charge one domestic rate regardless of home province. Quebec is the big exception at about $12,000 a year for other Canadians; Memorial and some Nova Scotia universities charge a differential. The real extra cost is rent.
How much is university in Quebec for out-of-province students?
About $12,000 a year in tuition for Canadians from outside Quebec, the minimum set by the province since fall 2024, compared with roughly $4,000 for Quebec residents. McGill, Concordia and Bishop's are the universities most affected.
How do I qualify for in-province tuition in Quebec?
Generally by having lived in Quebec for at least 12 consecutive months without being a full-time student, by having a parent or sponsor resident in Quebec, or by having completed Quebec secondary school. Universities list the exact situations on their residency pages.
Can I use OSAP to study in another province?
Yes. OSAP funds full-time study at approved institutions anywhere in Canada; you apply with your Ontario address. The same is true of StudentAid BC and Alberta Student Aid for their residents.
Is it cheaper to study in Quebec if I am from Ontario?
Not since 2024. At $12,000 a year, Quebec universities now cost an Ontario student more than Ontario's own $8,958 average, and Montreal rent, while cheaper than Toronto, is not free. The old advantage was real and is gone.
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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.