Three RoutesGuides · 3 min read · updated 17 October 2026
Quebec and Montreal tuition: cégep, DEP and university
The cheapest system in Canada if you are a resident, and what it costs if you are not.
Short answer: for Quebec residents, Quebec has the cheapest post-secondary system in Canada: cégep is tuition-free (fees of a few hundred dollars a year), a DEP trade program is free, and university tuition averages $3,963 a year. For Canadians from other provinces, Quebec universities charge about $12,000 a year and cégeps about $1,900 to $4,000, which is why the advantage only exists if you are a resident.
Montreal college and university costs, 2025-26
| Level | Quebec resident | Canadian from another province | International |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cégep (pre-university DEC, 2 yrs, or technical DEC, 3 yrs) | $0 tuition; about $300 to $1,300 a year in fees | about $1,900 to $4,000 a year | $7,000 to $20,000 a year |
| DEP (vocational trade diploma, 1 to 2 yrs) | $0 tuition; materials only | varies by school board | $9,000+ |
| University (bachelor's, 3 yrs after cégep) | about $3,000 tuition + $1,200 fees a year | about $12,000 a year + fees | $25,000 to $60,000 a year |
Dawson, Vanier, John Abbott (English cégeps); McGill, Concordia, UQAM, Université de Montréal. Quebec rates set by the Ministère de l'Enseignement supérieur.
How the Quebec system is different
- Secondary school ends at Grade 11. Then cégep: two years pre-university or three years technical (the technical DEC is the equivalent of an Ontario college diploma and leads straight to work).
- University is three years for most bachelor's degrees because cégep covered first year; engineering is four.
- Trades run through DEP at a vocational centre, then the CCQ apprenticeship system for construction trades. A Quebec electrician DEP is about 1,800 hours and free for residents.
- English is possible but narrowing. English cégeps cap admissions, and McGill and Concordia face French-proficiency targets for graduates. Most programs outside Montreal are in French.
Total cost to a credential, resident rates
| Credential | Total tuition and fees |
|---|---|
| Technical DEC, 3 yrs (nursing, programming, business) | $1,900 to $3,400 |
| Pre-university DEC + 3-year bachelor's (arts, science, business) | about $16,000 |
| Pre-university DEC + 4-year engineering | about $21,000 |
| DEP electrician + apprenticeship | under $1,000 |
Institution fee pages 2025-26; the same programs cost $11,000 to $52,000 in Ontario.
Compare with Ontario, BC and Alberta on any pathway page using the province picker.
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 is college in Montreal?
For Quebec residents, cégep tuition is free and fees are about $300 to $1,300 a year, so a three-year technical DEC costs under $3,500 in total. Out-of-province Canadians pay about $1,900 to $4,000 a year; international students $7,000 to $20,000.
Is cégep free?
Tuition is free for Quebec residents. Students pay registration, student association and service fees of a few hundred to about $1,300 a year, plus books. Non-residents pay tuition.
How much does university cost in Quebec?
About $3,963 a year in tuition for residents (Statistics Canada 2025/26) plus roughly $1,200 in fees. Canadians from other provinces pay about $12,000 a year since 2024; international students $25,000 to $60,000 depending on program.
Can an Ontario student go to cégep?
Yes, but as a non-resident: tuition of roughly $1,900 to $4,000 a year, and English cégeps have enrolment caps that prioritise Quebec residents. After 12 months of living in Quebec not as a student you may qualify as a resident.
How much does McGill cost for Canadian students?
Quebec residents pay about $4,500 to $5,500 a year including fees for most programs. Canadians from other provinces pay about $12,000 in tuition plus fees under the rate in force since fall 2024. Check McGill's fee calculator for the program; deregulated programs differ.
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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.