One of the major differences between universities in the U.S. and Canada lies in their funding. In Canada, all of the major universities are publicly funded, although they retain institutional autonomy, with the ability to decide on their own admission policies and fees. In the U.S., the majority of the most prestigious universities are private organizations and tend to have higher fees than public universities. There are, however, some highly prestigious public universities, such as UCLA and the University of Michigan.
Universities in the U.S. are accredited by organizations authorized by the U.S. Department of Education to ensure that they meet minimum standards of quality in their academic programs. They can be accredited by more than one organization, and individual programs can also be accredited by specialized professional organizations. In Canada, the arrangement is different: there is no regional or national accreditation process, though universities instead can register with the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, which means they are committed to the provision of a high standard of academic learning.
There may be some variation across provinces in Canada when it comes to awarding degrees, and the western provinces tend to follow U.S. models. A bachelor 's degree in Canada traditionally took will either three or four years, with a three-year degree equaling a general degree and four-year equaling an honors degree. However, today most Canadian universities offer only four-year degrees. In the U.S., all bachelor's degrees are designed to take four years. Generally, degrees awarded in Canada are considered equivalent to those awarded in the United States and Commonwealth countries.
Studying at a private university in the U.S. can cost upwards of $40,000, though financial assistance and scholarships are available. In Canada, however, despite the fact that fees for international students can be three times more than for native students, the cost of going to university is generally much lower. St Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia, for example, charges the equivalent of $10,000 per year for international students. However, you must also factor in other expenses, such as traveling to and from Canada.