On average, Canadian universities are less expensive than their American counterparts. American students who do not want to attend a college within their state could save a lot of money attending a Canadian university. British Columbia has Canada's most expensive universities, while American university tuition ranges widely. Private universities are more costly than state schools, even if you do not attend the state school of your own state. Living expenses depend on the location, school and individual student needs. Living costs in the U.S. or Canada may be higher or lower, depending on the specific location.
According to the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, Canada offers world-class, internationally recognized universities known for having diverse and accepting student bodies. The financial recession of 2008 did not have as much of an impact on the Canadian economy as it did on the U.S. economy. Canadian universities also have a reputation for having excellent work-placement programs. Most Canadian universities are funded by the government, although they have institutional autonomy, with the ability to create their own admission policies and fees. This makes all Canadian universities more equal in quality and prestige, eliminating the competitive atmosphere found in the states.
According to the Independent Educational Consultants Association, there are only 10 highly prestigious private universities in Canada to choose from. And though Canadian universities are generally less expensive, American students cannot apply for need-based financial aid at Canadian universities as they can at American universities. Moreover, in spite of increased student enrollments, Canadian universities have not been keeping pace in faculty hiring.
Many Canadian universities, like American universities, have four-year bachelor's degree programs. Some Canadian universities, however, have three-year degree programs. In general, students taking four-year degrees in Canada obtain "honors degrees." These are different from a bachelor's degree with honors, which is equivalent to the American cum laude: An honors bachelor's degree in Canada is a prerequisite to attending graduate school. Canadian students generally obtain a bachelor's degree with honors by writing a thesis.
American graduate degrees generally require one to two years to complete. Canadian graduate degrees tend to take only one year. American graduate classes tend to focus on coursework, while Canadian graduate classes focus more on writing a thesis or a research paper. It generally takes three years to obtain a Ph.D. in Canada, whereas it can take five years or longer and require students to live on campus for at least the first year in America.