Education in the United States vs Canada

Between Canada and the United States (U.S.), there are an estimated 1.57 million international students, and more and more people are expected to immigrate to the region each year to pursue higher education.

Many of these students will have to choose between studying in the US or Canada. While the two countries educational systems and career prospects after graduation are identical, there are important distinctions in tuition, financial aid, and post-graduate immigration chances that have made Canada a popular choice among international students.

Education Quality

There are considerable analogies that can be drawn between higher education in Canada and the United States, despite the fact that the quality of education is frequently distinctive to individual academic institutions (and programmes of study).

The top student cities worldwide were ranked in 2023 by QS, a highly regarded higher education analytics firm. The top 20 cities were represented by three Canadian cities (Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver), and two American cities (Boston and New York City). This is a general sign that the level of education in both nations is comparable, at least in the major cities that serve as respective centres for postsecondary education.

This is useful, but what happens if we examine the data by individual nations?

According to a recent study by the IDP (International Development Project), a global education organization that specializes in placing students in Canada, Australia, and the US, Canada is by far the most popular study destination among international students, with 27% of respondents choosing it as their top choice. Just 15% of respondents chose the United States, placing it fourth overall, after Australia and the United Kingdom (UK).

Price

Where to study abroad is heavily influenced by the expense of the academic program. Depending on whether one attends a public or private college and what degree of study one is pursuing, the average cost of education in the US ranges from $20,000 to $60,000 USD.

In contrast, depending on the institution and level of study, the average cost of post-secondary education in Canada ranges from $20,000 to $40,000 CAD. But take note of the exchange rate. Particularly when compared to the U.S., Canada is a desirable location for international students due to its better exchange rate with other currencies and cheaper average tuition expenses.

Financial Aid

Considerations for scholarships and bursaries for international students are also possible. While there are state-supported and institution-specific scholarships available in the United States for overseas students, there are no nationally financed initiatives to provide financial help to these students. Foreign students studying in the United States are also eligible for student loans, but they will require a co-signer who is an American citizen or lawful permanent resident and has good credit.

In contrast, Canadian university, provincial, and federal scholarships, and bursaries for international students are frequently far more accessible than analogous initiatives in the United States. International students may decide to take out a private loan with a Canadian bank instead, depending on their eligibility for the previous financial aid alternatives. International students may find it easier to repay these loans because they frequently offer interest rates that are tailored to students.

Employment opportunities for international students

For international students, work outcomes were mostly similar in Canada and the U.S., with notable differences between the two.

For instance, 62% of 1,095 international alumni respondents to a poll by World Education News + Review (WENR) reported finding full-time employment after graduating. Around 23% of master’s degree recipients found employment in their state of study, according to data from the National Bureau of Economic Research.

Comparatively, a 2022 research by Statistics Canada revealed that the average full-time employment rate for graduates from all levels of overseas education was 73%.

In conclusion, job results are substantially equal even though Canada has a far higher percentage of international graduates participating in the workforce.

Options for immigration

But, for many people, employment offers more than simply financial stability; it also offers a chance to settle down permanently in the nation in which they were educated.

While it can be challenging to obtain a green card for permanent residence (PR) in the United States, international students in Canada find it much easier to stay there permanently because there are well-defined avenues to PR available after graduation.

After graduating as an international student in the U.S., one of three routes typically leads to a green card:

• Apply as an economic immigrant (immigrant working) under one of five “preference” categories, or submit an application for the same visa as someone with exceptional ability
• Apply as an immigrant investor
• Apply as the partner or fiancé of a citizen of the United States

There are several ways for international students to temporarily prolong their stay in the United States as foreign workers, but there are fewer ways to eventually get a green card. It should be noted that only 140,000 economic immigrants per year (across all three “preference” streams) are eligible for a green card; spouses and children of accepted immigrants also count against this total. Actual admissions to this stream of immigration typically fall below the specified maximum.

In contrast, immigration to Canada is typically much easier for foreign students. Students may apply for a Post Graduate Work Permit after completing an approved program at a Designated Learning Institute (DLI) for at least one year (PGWP). With an open work permit, graduates can work in practically all sectors of the economy and for just about any firm. International students can pursue any of the following routes to permanent residence after accumulating at least one year of Canadian work experience:

• The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) track, which is part of Express Entry and is intended to help newcomers with Canadian work experience becomes permanent citizens
• The Provincial Nominee Program, which enables particular provinces to nominate immigrants to settle in their province and which frequently has specialized streams for international graduates
• Quebec immigration (which operates independently); the Quebec Experience Program, which is intended for newcomers who have work and educational experience in Quebec
• Spousal sponsorship for immigrants who have married a Canadian citizen or permanent resident

Canada is one of the most popular study abroad locations because of its immigration chances, internationally recognized educational institutions, affordable costs, plentiful financial aid options, and successful employment outcomes. Many people see education as a route to a better life, and Canada is ideally positioned to provide this opportunity to overseas students through its immigration options.

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