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The Cost and Return Investment of Post-secondary Education

Last updated on December 10, 2024

See how much it costs to complete a post-secondary program, consider how much debt is left after graduation and see the long-term payoff in lifetime earnings.

An analysis in 2024 by the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills shows that graduates of post-secondary programs earn a higher income over a working lifetime than they would make with a high school diploma.

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Tuition Fees

 

Institutions

2023/24 Tuition Fees1

2024/25 Tuition Fees1

2024/25 Percent Over 2023/24

 

  
 

Colleges (C)

  

Camosun College

$3,771

$3,846

2.0%

  

Coast Mountain College

$3,085

$3,147

2.0%

  

College of New Caledonia

$3,003

$3,063

2.0%

  

College of the Rockies

$3,035

$3,095

2.0%

  

Douglas College

$3,431

$3,500

2.0%

  

Langara College

$3,229

$3,293

2.0%

  

North Island College

$3,269

$3,334

2.0%

  

Northern Lights College

$3,581

$3,653

2.0%

  

Okanagan College

$3,764

$3,839

2.0%

  

Selkirk College

$3,136

$3,200

2.0%

  

Vancouver Community College

$2,960

$3,019

2.0%

  

Simple Average2

$3,297

$3,363

2.0%

  

Weighted Average3

$3,389

$3,412

2.0%

  

Institutes (I)

  

British Columbia Institute of Technology4

$5,795

$5,911

2.0%

  

Justice Institute of British Columbia5

$5,633

$5,746

2.0%

  

Nicola Valley Institute of Technology

$2,839

$2,896

2.0%

  

Simple Average2

$4,756

$4,851

2.0%

  

Weighted Average3

$5,644

$5,766

2.0%

  

C & I Simple Average2

$3,609

$3,682

2.0%

  

C & I Weighted Average3

$4,134

$4,005

2.0%

  

Teaching-Intensive Universities (TIU)

  

Capilano University

$4,315

$4,401

2.0%

  

Emily Carr University of Art and Design

$4,439

$4,528

2.0%

  

Kwantlen Polytechnic University

$4,696

$4,790

2.0%

  

Royal Roads University6

$7,945

$8,104

2.0%

  

Thompson Rivers University

$4,668

$4,761

2.0%

  

University of the Fraser Valley

$4,804

$4,900

2.0%

  

Vancouver Island University

$4,894

$4,992

2.0%

  

Simple Average2

$5,109

$5,211

2.0%

  

Weighted Average3

$4,895

$4,936

2.0%

  

Research-Intensive Universities (RIU)

  

Simon Fraser University

$6,236

$6,361

2.0%

  

University of British Columbia

$5,843

$5,960

2.0%

  

University of Northern British Columbia

$5,872

$5,989

2.0%

  

University of Victoria

$6,166

$6,289

2.0%

  

Simple Average2

$6,029

$6,150

2.0%

  

Weighted Average3

$5,997

$6,122

2.0%

  

TIU & RIU Simple Average2

$5,443

$5,552

2.0%

  

TIU & RIU Weighted Average3

$5,701

$5,740

2.0%

  

System Simple Average2

$4,416

$4,505

2.0%

  

System Weighted Average3

$5,250

$5,152

2.0%

  
 
Source: BC Public Post-Secondary Institutions, fall 2024 tuition data submission
 
Notes: 
 
1. Tuition amounts reflect full-time studies over two semesters for a domestic undergraduate academic Arts student unless otherwise noted.
2. Simple averages for the year-over-year percent change column are calculated by averaging the percent change of each institution within a sector or sector grouping (e.g. college sector, TIU & RIU).
3. Weighted averages for tuition are derived by using institution size (i.e. student Full-Time Equivalents, or FTEs) to provide an average that more accurately reflects the average amounts paid. The current year uses the Funded FTEs; prior years are restated annually using Actual FTEs.
4. Tuition for British Columbia Institute of Technology is derived from the full-time Technology program.
5. Tuition for Justice Institute of British Columbia is derived from a Bachelor of Emergency and Security Management Studies.
6. Tuition for Royal Roads University is derived from a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science.
 

Mandatory Fees

Institutions

Fees Payable to the Institution1

Fees Payable to the Student Society2

Total Fees3

  
 

Colleges

 

Camosun College

$99

$780

$879

  

Coast Mountain College

$240

$394

$634

  

College of New Caledonia

$247

$542

$789

  

College of the Rockies

$725

$387

$1,112

  

Douglas College

$76

$811

$888

  

Langara College

$187

$1,009

$1,196

  

North Island College

$281

$489

$770

  

Northern Lights College

$213

$41

$253

  

Okanagan College

$416

$419

$834

  

Selkirk College

$551

$456

$1,007

  

Vancouver Community College

$208

$695

$903

  

Average

$295

$548

$842

  

Institutes

 

British Columbia Institute of Technology4

$230

$1,240

$1,469

  

Justice Institute of British Columbia5

$192

$423

$615

  

Nicola Valley Institute of Technology

$60

$763

$823

  

Average

$161

$808

$969

  

Teaching-Intensive Universities

  

Capilano University

$568

$1,296

$1,864

  

Emily Carr University of Art and Design

$332

$839

$1,171

  

Kwantlen Polytechnic University

$335

$1,043

$1,378

  

Royal Roads University6

$524

$775

$1,299

  

Thompson Rivers University

$796

$1,418

$2,214

  

University of the Fraser Valley

$588

$537

$1,125

  

Vancouver Island University

$336

$506

$842

  

Average

$497

$916

$1,413

  

Research-Intensive Universities

  

Simon Fraser University

$277

$984

$1,261

  

University of British Columbia

$250

$1,043

$1,293

  

University of Northern British Columbia

$523

$616

$1,138

  

University of Victoria

$196

$742

$938

  

Average

$312

$846

$1,158

  

System Average

$338

$730

$1,068

  

Source: BC Public Post-Secondary Institutions, fall 2024 tuition data submission

Notes:

  1. Fees payable to the institution include registration fees, technology and laboratory fees, library fees, learning resource fees, ancillary fees, athletic and recreation fees, etc. Fees payable to the institution have been subject to the 2% Tuition Limit Policy since 2007.
  2. Fees payable to the student society include Canadian Federation of Students fees, U-Pass fees, student union building fees, optional health and dental fees, etc. Student fee amounts must be approved by a majority of the student society. Any rate changes must be approved by student society referendum. Fees payable to the student society are not subject to the 2% Tuition Limit Policy.
  3. Fees are based on academic undergraduate Arts programs unless otherwise noted.
  4. Fees for British Columbia Institute of Technology are derived from the full-time Technology program.
  5. Fees for Justice Institute of British Columbia are derived from a Bachelor of Law Enforcement Studies.
  6. Fees for Royal Roads University are derived from a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science.
 

Government Student Loan Debt for Graduates

Find out how much debt students have once they graduate. Information is based on students who were surveyed after graduation.

Note: Percentages listed reflect the number of respondents who incurred government student loan debt and answered finance questions. Dollar amounts reflect the median debt of respondents who reported government student loan debt. Prior to 2018, the funding questions were asked of a 50% sample; starting in 2018, they were asked of all respondents.

Bachelor Degree Graduates

Diploma, Associate Degree & Certificate Graduates

 

2017

2018

2019

2017

2018

2019

 

Debt Overview

35%

35%

32%

26%

24%

23%

 

$25,000

$25,000

$27,000

$12,000

$14,000

$13,000

 

 

 

Make an informed decision about investing in post-secondary education – learn more about how much it will cost to go to school and what’s involved in paying off student debt.

Government policy limits tuition fee increases to 2% each year.