Most Affordable Colleges in Ontario

By Remitbee - Sep 27, 2021

Pursuing higher education is one of the reasons why many students from around the world immigrate to Canada each year. The high quality of education the country provides to their students is at the top of the reasons why most international students dream and strive to receive a degree from a Canadian college or university.

Ontario, the second largest province in the country, houses 24 colleges offering 900 programs that offer students holistic and professional expertise and opens doors to further their careers in Canada and all around the world. With a population of over 13.5 million, this province has a lot of job opportunities that students can apply to after graduation. Statistics show that 83 percent of college graduates in Ontario find employment within six months after graduation. And in the past five years, there has been a 40 percent increase of university graduates applying to college.

In 2019, Ontario hosted about 48 percent of Canada’s international student population which amounts to around 307,000 students. If you dream of stepping into Ontario’s soil to pursue academic training and education, don’t let the fear of high tuition fees stop you from pursuing your goal. We have compiled the 10 most affordable colleges in Ontario you can enroll in. So get your laptop ready and start searching for the application requirements of these affordable educational institutions in Ontario, Canada.

Fanshawe College

Fanshawe College of Applied Arts and Technology is a public college in Southwestern Ontario with campuses located in London, Simcoe, St. Thomas, and Woodstock. The college was established in 1967 and is home to around 43,000 students enrolled in their over 200 higher education programs. Fanshawe College is famous not only for being one of the most affordable colleges in Ontario but also for its hosting of the largest sports and recreation programs in Canada.

Application Fee: 100 CAD

Most affordable program:

Agri-Business Management - 2,411.16 CAD per term or 7,233.48 per year

St. Lawrence College

St. Lawrence College in Eastern Ontario, Canada has three campuses: Brockville, Cornwall, and Kingston, founded in 1968 to 1970. This College of Applied Arts and Technology offers over 100 academic programs. For students who want to experience small-city living which is more peaceful and conducive to learning, St. Lawrence College is an ideal option. The college’s location is also ideal since it will only require students a short journey going to major Canadian cities such as Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa.

Application Fee: 100 CAD

Most affordable program:

  • Business
  • Business Fundamentals
  • Fine Arts
  • Office Administration - Legal

All at 7,633.00 CAD 1 semester, 1 year.

Niagara College

Niagara College is home to around 10,500 full-time students, including over 1,000 international students coming from over 70 countries worldwide. Established in 1967, this affordable college in Southern Ontario has two campuses in Canada, Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake which are both recently renovated. With state-of-the-art technology facilities and a top-notch educational system, students will enjoy studying here without breaking the bank.

Application Fee: 100 CAD

Most affordable program:

  • Business - General
  • Business - International Business

Both at 7,669.45 CAD to 8,469.45 per year for two years.

Seneca College

Opening its doors to students since 1967, Seneca College in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario is hailed as Canada’s most vibrant college. Roughly 30,000 students are studying here, 10,000 of which are international students who came from about 130 countries. With over 180 programs and 500 career options, it is no wonder why a lot of international students pursue their education in this affordable college in Ontario.

Some of the programs they offer are in the areas of aviation, business, fashion and esthetics, and information technology.

Application Fee: 90 CAD

Most affordable program:

  • Honours Bachelor of Therapeutic Recreation
  • Honours Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies

Both at 9,416.55 CAD for the first semester in the academic year.

George Brown College

George Brown College was established in 1967 and is known as one of the top research colleges in Canada. It is known as the first college to start a distance education system and has over 15,000 distance education students around the globe. This college located in downtown Toronto has three main campuses, St. James Campus, Casa Loma Campus, and Waterfront Campus. At present, this college offers 160-career focused certificates, diplomas, postgraduate and degree programs. Most of these have a field education component so students have the opportunity of practicing in the real work set-up and their learnings in the classroom.

Application Fee: 95 CAD

Most affordable program:

Graduate Certificate Cyber Security (1-year program) - 17,415 CAD

  • Advanced Diploma Computer Programming and Analysis
  • Advanced Diploma Business Administration - Finance
  • Advanced Diploma Business Administration - Human Resources
  • Advanced Diploma Computer Programming and Analysis

All at 11,639 CAD per year for 3 years.

Sault College

Sault College is known as the largest provider of apprenticeship courses and training in the Northern Ontario area. Established in 1965, this publicly-funded college at present offers educational programs in the areas including Apprenticeship, Aviation, Business, Community Services, Culinary and Hospitality, Engineering Technology, Justice Studies, Language and Communication, Salon and Spa Services, and Marine Engine Training Programs.

Application Fee: 95 CAD

Most affordable program:

  • Global Business Management
  • Project Management

Both at 12,719 CAD per year.

Durham College

Durham College (DC) in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada was established in 1967. It is one of the first colleges established under the Ontario college system. At present, it offers over 140 full-time post-secondary programs in the fields of culinary management, farming and horticulture, business, art and design, media, IT, science, renewable technology, engineering, and justice among others.

Application Fee: 100 CAD

Most affordable program:

  • Crane Operation, Rigging and Construction Techniques
  • Data Analytics for Business Decision Making (Graduate Certificate)
  • Dental Reception and Admission

All at 13,852 CAD for 1 year.

Cambrian College

Cambrian College is located in Greater Sudbury, Ontario Canada and was established in 1967. This college has campuses in Sudbury, Espanola, and Little Current/Manitoulin Island. This college was a bilingual institution that offered courses in English and French. After 1995, the French programs of the college were transferred to Collège Boréal.

At present, this affordable learning institution in Ontario is home to 4,700 full-time students including over 1,100 international students representing over 40 countries worldwide. This college offers programs in the fields of

(1) Health Sciences, nursing, and Emergency Services, (2) Skills Trades Training, (3) Engineering Technology, (4) Creative Arts, Music, and Design, (5) Community Services, (6) Law and Justice, (7) Business and Information Technology, (8) Safety and Environmental Studies, and (9) General Studies.

Application Fee: 95 CAD

Most affordable program:

  • Workplace Safety and Prevention Technician - 13,968.65 CAD per year
  • Environmental Technician - 14,293.97 CAD per year

Centennial College

Centennial College is Toronto’s first Community College located in the eastern portion of the Greater Toronto Area. This college was established in 1966 and has earned the reputation of being in the top 5 percent of the world’s best universities. This affordable college is considered the oldest publicly funded college in Ontario with campuses located in Scarborough and other parts of the province. About 100 ethno-cultural groups are represented in this university and students speak about 80 languages on the campus.

This college offers over 260 programs in business, communication arts, applied computing, engineering technology, animation, music, design, theater, film, health sciences, and community and consumer services.

Application Fee: 95 CAD

Most affordable program:

  • School of Engineering Technology and Applied Science & School of Transportation Post-secondary Programs - 15,904.00 CAD to 16,377.00 CAD per year with 2 semesters each for 3 years.

Algonquin College

Home to almost 20,000 full-time students, one-fourth of which are international students representing over 130 countries, Algonquin College in Ottawa, Ontario Canada is one of the favoured colleges in the province due to its affordability and applied studies that expose students to practical experience in their field of interest.

Application Fee: 95 CAD

Most affordable program:

  • Professional Writing - 31,502.80 CAD (Estimated program total cost)
  • Business - 31,691.80 CAD (Estimated program total cost)
  • Recreational and Leisure Services - 31,836.06 CAD (Estimated program total cost)

Fees in this article may change without prior notice so it is best to inquire from the colleges directly if you are interested in enrolling in one of their affordable programs. May this information give you an idea of how much it will cost you to pursue studies in one of the most affordable colleges in Ontario, Canada. Note that the tuition fee is usually dependent on the program you wish to take and the location of the college you plan on attending.

Want to study in BC instead? Check out this article

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