List of Top-Rated Cheap Universities in Ontario In 2023

Ontario, Ontario, if you’re looking for cheap or affordable or a list of the cheapest or low tuition universities in this city in Canada, you’re sure going to find a handful.

If you are a student hoping to pursue higher education in Canada, doing so in Ontario would definitely be a good move. 

When it comes to education in Canada, Ontario is one of the top three performers according to the Conference Board of Canada’s Education and Skills report card.

In Ontario, you will find about 22 public universities, 24 public colleges and 17 private colleges. 

The cost of tuition differs from each tuition and it’s largely dependent on your preferred course of study.

Because the cost of tuition in Ontario is on the high side, there is a large need for most international students to study in the cheapest and most affordable universities so as to accommodate their cheap budget.

Studying at the cheapest universities or colleges in Ontario simply means you get to study at a relatively low cost.

Sometimes the school foots the tuition fee while you take up other administrative or book-buying expenses.

On the other hand, you get to pay just tuition while these affordable universities foot other bills.

So below we have crafted a list for you of the best seven schools whose cost is pretty affordable.

Some of these schools are the best business schools in Canada.

The good news is that it’s for both Canadian and international students.

Welcome scholar!!!

What’s the Average Cost of Studying in Ontario?

Because Canada is one of the most popular study abroad destinations, it’s likely for most of her universities to receive many admission applications.

Although there are few Universities with the Highest Acceptance Rate in Canada, if you’re accepted you have to pay your bills.

The average cost for international students to study in Ontario in a year is about $7,262 to $26,909 (CAD 10,169 to 37,680). 

Of course, this excludes other fees for books and lodging. 

In place of cheap universities, some students go for tuition-free universities in Canada.

What are the Requirements to Apply to Ontario Universities?

Here are the requirements to study in low tuition Ontario universities;

Undergraduates

• Proof of senior/Grade 12 equivalent studies. 
• An English proficiency test such as IELTS or TOEFL
• Proof of financial strength
• Other school specific documents

For graduate programs, the documents differ by department and university. 

Therefore, look up the information on the school website you are interested in.

What Are The Most Popular Programs in Ontario for International Students?

There are many great programs that are available for international students. 

However, here are some popular programs in Canada:

• Law
• Medicine
• Nursing
• Business

List of 7 Cheap Universities in Ontario

Not only have we listed the affordable or low tuition universities in Ontario, we have also made available the scholarship propositions of each university.

What this means is that you can take advantage of the affordable universities scholarships to study for free in Ontario as an international student.

The list of cheap universities in Ontario include;

#1. University of Windsor

• Founded: 1963
• School Status: Public
• Student Population: 16,000
• Available Scholarship Amount: $10 million
• Tuition Fees: $7,550 (Domestic), $20,500 (International)

The University of Windsor (UWindsor) is one of the cheap universities in Ontario located in the Great White North. 

This cheap university in Ontario welcomes international students from all over the globe with about 3,600 of her students from nearly 100 countries.

In Canada, the University of Windsor is recognized as one of the top 30 universities in the country.

UWindsor has 190 undergraduate programs and 65 graduate programs in its archives. 

However, the leading major courses are Kinesiology and Aeronautics Leadership programs.

With its high professional system of education and curriculum, the University of Windsor offers her courses at a cheap cost despite its high ranking portfolio.

#2. Algoma University

• Founded: 1965
• School Status: Public
• Student Population: 1,400
• Available Scholarship Amount: $500 to $16,000.
• Tuition Fees: $6,900 (Domestic), $19,315 (International)

Since its inception in 1965, Algoma University has established its ground in Ontario.

It gained its status quo and current name in 2008. 

Algoma University is one of the cheapest universities in Ontario with campus extensions in Sault Ste. Marie, Timmins, and Brampton.

Although they have a small student population, 20% of the first-year students are international students.

The reason for their small population can be traced to the fact that Algoma University is just a university for undergraduate studies.

At Algoma, students only have 20 programs to choose from which lasts for just 3 years and are taught in the indigenous North American language of Anishinaabemowin.

#3. Dominican University College

• Founded: 1900
• School Status: Public
• Student Population: 250
• Available Scholarship Amount: Not Specified
• Tuition Fees: $4,365 (Domestic), $12,500 (International)

Dominican University College (DUC) is sited in the Canadian capital; Ottawa. 

It’s a small university with just a student population of 250 both full-time and part-time students.

This college is a Christian university that has been affiliated with Carleton University since 2012.

It might interest you to know that DUC claims to be the best in the fields of Philosophy and Theology. 

And those two are actually the only fields in which it offers undergraduate and graduate programs. 

You learn both in English and French. 

Dominican University College remains one of the most affordable universities in Ontario for international students and residents as well.

#4. Centennial College of Applied Arts and Technology

• Founded: 1966
• School Status: Public
• Student Population: 44,300
• Available Scholarship Amount: $3.5 million
• Tuition Fees: $5,520 (Domestic), $18,770 (International)

Centennial College of Applied Arts and Technology is Ontario’s first publicly-funded college.

The college has 5 campuses spread across Toronto but its administrative division is sited in Scarborough.

In a bid to extend its tentacles, the college also has a campus in Suzhou, a Chinese city.

Each campus has its own specialization and acceptance rate.

Therefore, depending on the campus that offers your preferred course of choice, the acceptance rate might differ.

If you’re wondering if Centennial College accepts international students, the answer is Yes.

Around 11,000 of the student enrollment are international and exchange students from 137 nationalities.

Through its 7 schools, Centennial offers nearly 100 full-time programs and about 150 part-time programs. 

#5. Cambrian College of Applied Arts and Technology

• Founded: 1967
• School Status: Public
• Student Population: 11,000
• Available Scholarship Amount: $500,000
• Tuition Fees: $4,275 (Domestic), $14,500 (International)

If you’re an art student looking for cheap or low tuition universities in Ontario, Cambrian College of Applied Arts and Technology should be your first consideration.

Cambrian college specializes in applied arts and technology. 

This college is not just one of the cheapest universities, it is also the largest college in Northern Ontario. 

Cambrian College draws students from over 20 countries and teaches them in its three campuses sited in Sudbury, Espanola, and Little Current.

Furthermore, Cambrian has more than 80 full-time programs and nearly 900 part-time courses and programs in its archives. 

#6. Lakehead University

• Founded: 1965
• School Status: Public
• Student Population: 8,500+
• Available Scholarship Amount: $11 million
• Tuition Fees: $6,000 (Domestic), $23,750 (International)

Lakehead University is one of the cheapest universities in Ontario.

This university came about as a merger between Lakehead Technical Institute and Lakehead College of Arts, Science, and Technology.

Currently, it runs 2 campuses in Thunder Bay and Orillia.

More of her students study at the Thunder Bay campus, while only 1450 are enrolled at the Orillia campus. 

Lakehead offers about 57 programs for undergraduate and graduate studies. 

Her engineering and computer science programs are more reputable than the other ones.

#7. Ryerson University

• Founded: 1948
• School Status: Public
• Student Population: 38,500+
• Available Scholarship Amount:  $4 million
• Tuition Fees: $8,350 (Domestic), $28,900 (International)

According to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2020, Ryerson University is one of the top 30 universities in Canada.

It also ranked in the top 800 in the world. 

Just 5% of the student population at Ryerson are international students. 

You can find Ryerson university near Yonge-Dundas Square in downtown Toronto.

Although Ryerson University has a lot of programs in its archives, the university’s Creative Industries, Aerospace Engineering, and Biomedical Sciences programs are considered its best all at a cheap price.

At Ryerson University, the curriculum is committed to furnishing students to become the best in their chosen field of work.

All these at little or no cost.

Hence why it is considered among the cheap universities in Ontario.

Summary

At this point, I believe your dreams to study at an Ontario university are still valid.

Taking advantage of these cheap universities in Ontario, many international students can study at their preferred choice in their dream state, Ontario.

I hope that this article on the cheapest universities in Ontario was helpful.

Good luck, scholar!!!

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