Statistics Canada · 2025

How much does it cost to study in Alberta?

International undergraduates pay a median CA$49,802 a year@if($gap), about × what a Canadian student pays@endif. That fee has risen 80% since 2015. These are the government's own figures, published annually.

International undergraduateCA$49,802per year, 2025
International postgraduateCA$28,624per year
Canadian undergraduatefor comparison
Ten-year rise+80%international undergraduate

What it cost, year by year Median annual tuition as reported by Statistics Canada.

YearInternational undergraduateInternational postgraduateCanadian undergraduate
2025 CA$49,802 CA$28,624
2024 CA$48,013 CA$27,929
2023 CA$46,297 CA$27,010
2022 CA$44,036 CA$27,086
2021 CA$41,744 CA$26,196
2020 CA$40,525 CA$25,521
2019 CA$38,108 CA$23,828
2018 CA$35,029 CA$22,527
2017 CA$32,380 CA$22,226
2016 CA$29,921 CA$21,263

Tuition is only part of the bill. A study permit application, health cover, and living costs sit on top, and provinces differ more on rent than on fees. Budget the fee as the floor, not the total.

Need student health insurance for studying in Alberta?

Most US universities require health cover before enrolment. Tell us your dates and country and we will come back with plans that meet your university’s requirement.

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Reading these numbers before you apply

Statistics Canada reports the median across institutions, so a well-known university in a big city will sit above it and a smaller regional one below. Use the provincial figure to shortlist, then confirm the exact fee on the university's own page — Canadian universities publish fees per programme, and professional degrees can cost several times the median.

The domestic figure is included on purpose. It shows how much of the price is the international premium rather than the cost of teaching, and it is the number to quote when you look for funding.

Studying in Alberta: common questions

How much is tuition in Alberta for international students?
International undergraduates pay a median CA$49,802 a year (2025), and international postgraduates CA$28,624. These are Statistics Canada figures, not university marketing.
Is tuition in Alberta rising?
Yes — the international undergraduate fee is up 80% since 2015, from CA$27,627 to CA$49,802.
How much more do international students pay than Canadians?
Not published for this province.
Which province is cheapest for international students?
Ontario at CA$6,804 a year, against CA$49,802 in Alberta.

Source: Statistics Canada, table 37-10-0045 — Canadian and international tuition fees by level of study, current dollars. Figures are medians across institutions and exclude living costs and compulsory fees.