What’s the cost of a University Education?
When I was a student, being low budget was a thing! Those days are gone, with 2 daughters in university, I can tell you the costs are through the roof, in the end will add up to a down payment on a house!
I learned (working for the Ministry of Advanced Education in the 90’s) that, in BC, 80% of the cost for university was government subsidized. I’m not sure what % is today, but the government contribution are why costs are lower than many US universities.
What are the costs?
The two biggest when a student goes to post secondary are:
1. Food and shelter (what I like to call that “living”)
2. Tuition
Starting with living costs, if your child lives at home, the costs are significantly less. But nothing beats experience of living away from home for the first time. I loved living in res!
FIRST YEAR RESIDENCE
Here are some sample costs, they all include a (delicious😉) meal plan:
| Institution | Type of Room | Annual Costs |
|---|---|---|
| UVIC | New dorm - single room | $12,667 |
| UVIC | Dorm double room | $10,879 |
| UBC Okanagan | Single traditional room | $11,469 |
| UBC | Totem shared room | $11,949 |
| UBC | Totem large single room | $13,027 |
| Western | Double room with meal plan | $15,540 |
| Queens | Single room with meal plan | $16,539 |
| McGill | Regular single room | $17,845 |
Sources:
https://www.uvic.ca/residence/future-residents/fees/index.php
https://okanagan.housing.ubc.ca/applications/fees-payments/
https://vancouver.housing.ubc.ca/applications/fees-payments/
https://residence.uwo.ca/applying/fees_and_payment
https://www.queensu.ca/residences/apply/residence-fees
https://www.mcgill.ca/students/housing/fees-applying/undergrad-downtown-fees
After first year most kids leave campus housing, and rents go anywhere from $600 to $1,000/month and typically come with a 1-year lease. Then food on top of that, hopefully you don’t need to feed a 250 pound football player!!
Rachel lives in a 4-bedroom place in Kingston that is $625/month. It’s a bit annoying to pay when she is not living there! Leah is moving to a house next year and that cost will be higher in London – we are planning for another $800/month.
TUITION
This can vary depending on the program and institution. Here are some sample costs:
| Institution | Faculty | Annual Costs |
|---|---|---|
| UVIC | Business | $7,780 |
| UVIC | Social Services | $6,920 |
| UBC (excludes student fees) | Commerce - Year 1 & Social Sciences | $5,729 |
| Thompson Rivers University | Undergrad | $5,542 |
| Queen's | Business | $18,483 |
| Queen's | Social Science | $7,727 |
| Western | Social Science | $7,798 |
| Western | Business | $27,157 |
Sources:
https://www.uvic.ca/undergraduate/finances/tuition-costs/index.php
https://students.ubc.ca/enrolment/finances/tuition-fees
https://www.tru.ca/future/tuition/details.html
https://www.queensu.ca/registrar/tuition-fees
https://registrar.uwo.ca/student_finances/fees_refunds/fee_refund_schedules.html
The costs were higher than when I was a student, they will vary a lot depending on the faculty as well as whether the child lives at home or on/near campus.
Let me know if you have any questions.
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