The Cost of Education

You have been trying to decide between two academic programs. You compare the costs involved in each program to plan your financial needs and, if necessary, find the right way to pay for your education so you can pursue your dream.

Tuition and school fees vary according to the program you choose, the level of education (vocational, college, university) and the location of the school. The government covers tuition fees for vocational and college education in certain situations.

Did you know that attending a school outside Quebec, in another province like Ontario or Alberta, can cost up to twice as much? However, studying outside of Quebec can also be a valuable learning experience, enabling you to acquire new skills, such as fluency in a second language. Considering the benefits (expertise) and disadvantages (high costs) is the best way to make an informed decision.

Interesting fact: Some Quebec universities offer opportunities for student exchanges, as well as practical or research internships. For more information, visit the government’s website and the website of the university you want to attend.

If you choose a private college or vocational school, you will have to pay tuition fees, which is not the case for a public institution.

Your friend Joseph wants to take a course in building design so he can get a diploma of vocational studies (DVS). Before applying, he wants to know how much the program he is interested in will actually cost. What does vocational training involve?

Good news! Joseph was told that he would not have to pay the tuition fees for building design. An academic advisor explains that, because he is over 18, he has to meet the following criteria to be eligible for free tuition (students under 18 never pay tuition fees):

• Be enrolled in at least 15 hours of classes per week

• Complete his education within six months to two years for a DVS

Even though Joseph does not have to pay any tuition fees, he still has to buy textbooks, an agenda and workbooks. In short, everything he needs to take notes. Good thing he saved up some money!

Mahélie, another of your friends, has always been interested in languages and cultures all over the world. She is thinking of enrolling in a language and culture program at a local CEGEP. With her Diploma of Collegial Studies (DCS), she can pursue her studies in translation at a university. Since her college program is a pre-university program, Mahélie will also have to factor in the costs of then getting a bachelor’s degree into her long-term budget. 

Like Joseph, Mahélie will not have to pay any tuition fees because she is enrolled in her program full time. However, she should expect to pay admission and other fees, which include:

• Course registration fees

• Instructional service fees, for things like a student card, orientation and integration services

• Sociocultural and sports fees, as well as health services or group insurance

These costs can be as much as $500 per academic year. Since a DCS in languages and cultures takes two years, Mahélie might have to pay around $1000 for her program. She also has to pay for clothing, housing, food and other things that cannot be left out when planning for her years of study.

In your case, you eventually decide to enroll in a bachelor’s degree in computer science. Having learned how to prepare a personal budget, you would like to include the costs of your university education. Unlike Joseph and Mahélie, you will have to pay tuition fees and also buy textbooks, but you are not sure what else there is. Nothing else comes to mind when you think about the costs of your education.

You plan to take 10 courses per year (5 courses per term), which is 30 credits per year since each course is worth 3 credits. Each credit costs $80, which works out to about $2400 per year. On top of this, there are other fees for administration and technology services, student associations, possibly group insurance depending on the program and public transit costs, if applicable. This means that more than $1000 could be added to the base cost of $2400 for a year of education.

Here is an example of how much a 30-credit or two-semester academic year will cost.

Types of fees	Amount
Tuition	$2,400
Administration	$220
Related expenses	$300
Modernization fees for education management	$50
Technology	$55
Public transit	$250
Total	$3,275

After comparing the costs of your future education with those of your friends, you realize that the amount you pay for your education is greatly influenced by the level of education pursued. The same applies to the program you choose. For example, if you are a finance student, you will need to buy accounting software. The place where you decide to study also influences your expenses, because the cost of living varies from city to city, province to province and country to country.

Now that you understand the expenses directly related to your education, you still have to consider other expenses such as school supplies (laptop, compulsory books, lecture notes, software) and expenses related to transportation, housing and food. 

Are you going to stay with your parents while going to school or live in an apartment? Considering that the monthly cost of a 2.5-room apartment is around $600, this will increase your annual expenses considerably. To that, you have to add apartment-related expenses like buying furniture for your first place.

In an ideal world, you would save on rent and groceries by living with your parents, but the university you choose is more than 200 kilometres from home. This means you have to find an apartment and share the cost with your friend Frédérique. Your monthly rent is $750, which includes electricity and tenant insurance. Your share is $375 a month

Having worked out the cost of your education and rent, you can now estimate your overall yearly expenses. Here is what your budget might look like.

	Types of annual expenses	Amount
	School and tuition fees (including public transportation costs)	$3,275
	School supplies	$600
	Housing (including electricity and insurance)	$4,500
	Food	$1,800
	Communications (phone, internet)	$1,200
	Activities	$600
	Clothing	$660
	Miscellaneous	$840
	Total	$13,475

You are beginning to realize the total expenses for a year of school can be quite high. You may have to find a way to finance your education to help you pay your bills. In the meantime, here are some ways to save money.

For starters, you could buy used textbooks that are advertised on bulletin boards or on sale in a specific room at the beginning of the semester. You could also borrow them from your local library or university library. There are many ways to get books for a cheaper price. Here are some places to look for them:

• Used bookstores

• Social media

• Classified ads

• Swap sites

As for travel, using public transit is certainly cheaper and more environmentally friendly than owning a car. However, if driving is your only option because no regular public transit service is available, carpooling enables you to share the cost of gas and other related expenses. 

Housing is an important part of a budget. To keep the cost of your rent down, you may want to consider finding a roommate. Universities and colleges might also have student residences on campus that are much cheaper than renting your own place. You should check with your educational institution. A good way to save money if you have to furnish your place is to buy used furniture from classified ads.

To reduce the cost of buying clothes, visit thrift stores or look on social media.

Finally, when you do your grocery shopping, look at flyers for deals on food and only buy what you can actually cook and eat to limit waste. Here are some apps and websites created to help you reduce the cost of your groceries: