Living in Southern California has its perks as there are many university options to choose from through the Cal State, UC or private university system.
While it may seem that there are plenty of universities to choose from, many students are turning to international options such as Canada as the cost of tuition at American universities continues to rise. For many students, financial aid is either not enough or not an option to pay for school. Most students are left to apply for student loans.
A report done by the Citizens Financial Group states that it takes about 21 years for Americans with a bachelor’s degree to pay off their student loans. The United States currently has a total of 1.6 trillion dollars’ worth of student debt.
Many Canadian universities have a reputation for strong academics, even earning honors from college ranking sites like U.S. News and World Report. An estimated 10,000 Americans are pursuing degrees in Canada, according to the Canadian Embassy in Washington D.C.
Of course, the numbers do change for international students will be higher, but depending on the university that you choose it will still be substantially more affordable than what you would pay in the United States.
Canadian universities are more likely to offer financial aid or scholarships to international students, which is something very rare here in the United States. One year at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia, costs international students around $12,000 dollars to attend while the average U.S undergrad university fees can cost around $25,000 per year, according to Emily Wilson of the Huffington Post.
With the current political climate of the United States, many students are using college as a form of escape. For many, this is the only way out. According to The Best Schools, Canadian universities saw a spike of American student’s enrollment after the 2016 election. There was a 75% increase of American students at the University of Toronto and a 200% increase in applications alone. Escaping the US administration is a valid reason for many students to seek out international students. With Canada being one of the closer international options, students are seriously considering leaving.
The fear of students not being able to afford to pay for their education is a real one. In many cases, those who cannot afford to pay their debt are restricted from applying or withdrawn from their classes. High tuition fees and political climate are a few reasons why American students are making the move to Canadian universities. Universities in the United States may be the right move for some, but it does not hurt to open up your options and take a look to see what else is out there.
