2021 Best Affordable Colleges in the United States for Students from Canada
It's not easy to decide which college to attend when there are so many options available for international students. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students ranking - to help you make that decision.
Our analysis looked at 677 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for Canadian students. Our ranking is based on several objective factors, including the school's overall value and the total number of international students at the school. We steer clear of subjective measures since they don't give a clear picture when determining how one school compares to another.
Learn more about our ranking methodology.
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Top Value Colleges in the U.S. for Students from Canada
See which schools came out on top of our ranking:
Brigham Young University - Provo tops this year’s ranking as the best value school for Canadian students. BYU is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Provo, Utah. It awarded 7,007 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.
Around 3.8% of the total student population at the school is international. Students from as far away as Canada, South Korea, and China come to BYU to study. Out-of-state tuition and fees for undergraduates at BYU is about $5,790 a year, on average. Graduate students pay around $7,290 a year in average tuition and fees.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. BYU not only placed well in this ranking, but it is also #2 on our overall value list.
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The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Brigham Young University - Idaho helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools for Canadian students. BYU - I is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Rexburg, Idaho. It awarded 5,537 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.
Around 15.5% of the total student population at the school is international. The top three countries sending students to study at BYU - I are Canada, Mexico, and Brazil. Out-of-state tuition and fees for undergraduates at BYU - I is about $4,208 a year, on average.
BYU - I excels when it comes to value. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our overall best for the money list.
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Brigham Young University - Hawaii. It ranked #3 on our 2021 Best Colleges for Canadian students list. Located in Laie, Hawaii, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 623 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2018-2019.
Around 40.8% of the total student population at the school is international. Students from as far away as Japan, Hong Kong, and South Korea come to BYU - H to study. International students at BYU - H can expect to pay, on average, about $5,720 a year to attend the school.
BYU - H also claimed a spot on our overall value list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category.
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The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at University of Wyoming helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools for Canadian students. UW is a public institution located in Laramie, Wyoming. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2,387 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.
Of the total number of students at the school, 5.7% are international. Students studying at UW come from such countries as China, India, and Canada. Yearly tuition and fees (out-of-state) for undergraduates at UW runs, on average, about $14,803. Graduate students pay around $16,009 a year in average tuition and fees.
UW excels when it comes to value. It’s ranked in the top 5% of all schools on our overall best for the money list.
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Out of the 677 schools in the United States that were part of this year’s ranking, Minot State University landed the #5 spot on the list. This small public school is located in Minot, North Dakota, and it awarded 607 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.
International students make up 9.8% of the total student body at the school. Students from as far away as Canada, Nigeria, and South Korea come to MSU to study. International students at MSU can expect to pay, on average, about $7,592 a year to attend the school. Graduate students pay around $9,553 a year in average tuition and fees.
On top of its placing in this ranking, MSU also did well on our overall best for the money list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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University of South Florida - Main Campus came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students ranking. USF Tampa is a public institution located in Tampa, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 8,684 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.
International students make up 10.8% of the total student body at the school. The top three countries sending students to study at USF Tampa are India, China, and Saudi Arabia. Yearly tuition and fees (out-of-state) for undergraduates at USF Tampa runs, on average, about $17,324. The average tuition and fees for graduate programs is $21,126 per year.
With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. USF Tampa also claimed a spot on our overall value list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools in this category.
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Lake Superior State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students ranking. Located in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan, the small public school awarded 393 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2018-2019.
Of the total number of students at the school, 4.4% are international. Students studying at Lake Superior State University come from such countries as Canada, China, and United Kingdom. International students at Lake Superior State University can expect to pay, on average, about $12,255 a year to attend the school.
Lake Superior State University also claimed a spot on our overall value list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools in this category.
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With a ranking of #8, South Dakota State University did quite well on the 2021 Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students. This fairly large public school is located in Brookings, South Dakota, and it awarded 2,026 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.
Of the total number of students at the school, 6.7% are international. Students studying at South Dakota State come from such countries as India, Saudi Arabia, and Nepal. International students at South Dakota State can expect to pay, on average, about $12,589 a year to attend the school. The average tuition and fees for graduate programs is $16,675 per year.
South Dakota State also claimed a spot on our overall value list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools in this category.
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University of Minnesota - Morris landed the #9 spot on the 2021 Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students. Morris, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 385 students in 2018-2019.
Around 10.5% of the total student population at the school is international. Students studying at UMN Morris come from such countries as China, India, and South Korea. Out-of-state tuition and fees for undergraduates at UMN Morris is about $15,632 a year, on average.
UMN Morris also claimed a spot on our overall value list. It’s in the top 1% of all schools in this category.
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Western Michigan University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students list. Located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the large public school awarded 3,824 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2018-2019.
International students make up 8.3% of the total student body at the school. Students studying at WMU come from such countries as Saudi Arabia, India, and China. International students at WMU can expect to pay, on average, about $16,041 a year to attend the school. The average tuition and fees for graduate programs is $31,355 per year.
On top of its placing in this ranking, WMU also did well on our overall best for the money list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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Iowa State University did quite well in the 2021 Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students ranking, coming in at #11. Iowa State is a large public school situated in Ames, Iowa. It awarded 7,380 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.
International students make up 10.5% of the total student body at the school. Students studying at Iowa State come from such countries as China, India, and Malaysia. Out-of-state tuition and fees for undergraduates at Iowa State is about $24,508 a year, on average. Graduate students pay around $25,952 a year in average tuition and fees.
With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. As a testament to the value of education it offers, Iowa State also is in the top 10% of our overall best for the money ranking.
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With a ranking of #12, University of North Dakota did quite well on the 2021 Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students. This fairly large public school is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and it awarded 2,231 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.
Of the total number of students at the school, 6.8% are international. Students from as far away as China, Canada, and Japan come to UND to study. Out-of-state tuition and fees for undergraduates at UND is about $15,895 a year, on average. The average tuition and fees for graduate programs is $19,958 per year.
UND also claimed a spot on our overall value list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category.
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University of South Dakota did quite well in the 2021 Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students ranking, coming in at #13. Vermillion, South Dakota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 1,352 students in 2018-2019.
International students make up 2.9% of the total student body at the school. The top three countries sending students to study at USD are China, India, and Nepal. Yearly tuition and fees (out-of-state) for undergraduates at USD runs, on average, about $12,807. Graduate students pay around $12,637 a year in average tuition and fees.
On top of its placing in this ranking, USD also did well on our overall best for the money list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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Bemidji State University landed the #14 spot on the 2021 Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students. Located in Bemidji, Minnesota, the small public school handed out 1,036 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.
Of the total number of students at the school, 2.4% are international. The top three countries sending students to study at Bemidji State University are Canada, Nepal, and China. International students at Bemidji State University can expect to pay, on average, about $8,940 a year to attend the school. Graduate students pay around $8,731 a year in average tuition and fees.
In addition to its great ranking here, Bemidji State University is in the top 10% of all schools on our overall value list.
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University of Minnesota - Twin Cities came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students ranking. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the large public school awarded 8,988 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2018-2019.
International students make up 12.0% of the total student body at the school. Students studying at UMN Twin Cities come from such countries as China, India, and South Korea. Yearly tuition and fees (out-of-state) for undergraduates at UMN Twin Cities runs, on average, about $33,325. Graduate students pay around $28,845 a year in average tuition and fees.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
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Eastern Illinois University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students ranking. EIU is located in Charleston, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2018-2019, this school awarded 1,244 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates.
International students make up 4.3% of the total student body at the school. The top three countries sending students to study at EIU are India, China, and Nigeria. Out-of-state tuition and fees for undergraduates at EIU is about $13,974 a year, on average. Graduate students pay around $20,442 a year in average tuition and fees.
On top of its placing in this ranking, EIU also did well on our overall best for the money list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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Minnesota State University - Mankato ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students list. This fairly large public school is located in Mankato, Minnesota, and it awarded 2,479 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.
Of the total number of students at the school, 9.2% are international. The top three countries sending students to study at Minnesota State Mankato are Nepal, India, and Saudi Arabia. International students at Minnesota State Mankato can expect to pay, on average, about $16,730 a year to attend the school. Graduate students pay around $8,474 a year in average tuition and fees.
On top of its placing in this ranking, Minnesota State Mankato also did well on our overall best for the money list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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University of Minnesota - Duluth landed the #18 spot on the 2021 Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students. This fairly large public school is located in Duluth, Minnesota, and it awarded 2,162 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.
Of the total number of students at the school, 2.3% are international. Students studying at UMN Duluth come from such countries as China, India, and South Korea. Yearly tuition and fees (out-of-state) for undergraduates at UMN Duluth runs, on average, about $18,880. The average tuition and fees for graduate programs is $28,708 per year.
UMN Duluth excels when it comes to value. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our overall best for the money list.
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University of Northern Iowa ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students list. UNI is located in Cedar Falls, Iowa and, has a fairly large student population. In 2018-2019, this school awarded 2,500 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates.
Of the total number of students at the school, 4.1% are international. Students studying at UNI come from such countries as Saudi Arabia, China, and Mexico. International students at UNI can expect to pay, on average, about $21,222 a year to attend the school. The average tuition and fees for graduate programs is $22,648 per year.
As a testament to the value of education it offers, UNI also is in the top 5% of our overall best for the money ranking.
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Harding University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students list. Harding is a private not-for-profit institution located in Searcy, Arkansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 888 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.
Of the total number of students at the school, 4.9% are international. Students studying at Harding come from such countries as China, Honduras, and Guatemala. Out-of-state tuition and fees for undergraduates at Harding is about $20,530 a year, on average. The average tuition and fees for graduate programs is $13,892 per year.
On top of its placing in this ranking, Harding also did well on our overall best for the money list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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Texas Tech University did quite well in the 2021 Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students ranking, coming in at #21. Lubbock, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 6,599 students in 2018-2019.
International students make up 5.7% of the total student body at the school. Students studying at Texas Tech come from such countries as India, China, and Bangladesh. Yearly tuition and fees (out-of-state) for undergraduates at Texas Tech runs, on average, about $19,260. Graduate students pay around $15,651 a year in average tuition and fees.
As a testament to the value of education it offers, Texas Tech also is in the top 10% of our overall best for the money ranking.
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With a ranking of #22, Grand Valley State University did quite well on the 2021 Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students. This large public school is located in Allendale, Michigan, and it awarded 5,421 bachelor’s degrees in 2018-2019.
International students make up 1.6% of the total student body at the school. The top three countries sending students to study at GVSU are India, China, and Saudi Arabia. International students at GVSU can expect to pay, on average, about $18,610 a year to attend the school. Graduate students pay around $17,208 a year in average tuition and fees.
On top of its placing in this ranking, GVSU also did well on our overall best for the money list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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Florida State University landed the #23 spot on the 2021 Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students. Located in Tallahassee, Florida, the large public school awarded 9,688 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2018-2019.
Around 4.6% of the total student population at the school is international. Students studying at Florida State come from such countries as China, India, and Panama. Out-of-state tuition and fees for undergraduates at Florida State is about $21,683 a year, on average. The average tuition and fees for graduate programs is $26,707 per year.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. On top of its placing in this ranking, Florida State also did well on our overall best for the money list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
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North Dakota State University - Main Campus ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students list. Located in Fargo, North Dakota, the fairly large public school awarded 2,588 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2018-2019.
Around 5.4% of the total student population at the school is international. Students from as far away as India, China, and Bangladesh come to North Dakota State University to study. International students at North Dakota State University can expect to pay, on average, about $13,757 a year to attend the school. The average tuition and fees for graduate programs is $11,123 per year.
North Dakota State University also claimed a spot on our overall value list. It’s in the top 5% of all schools in this category.
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With a ranking of #25, University of Houston did quite well on the 2021 Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students. Houston, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 7,631 students in 2018-2019.
Of the total number of students at the school, 7.9% are international. Students from as far away as India, China, and Vietnam come to UH to study. Yearly tuition and fees (out-of-state) for undergraduates at UH runs, on average, about $21,749. The average tuition and fees for graduate programs is $18,748 per year.
UH also claimed a spot on our overall value list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category.
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Request InformationRest of the Top 50 Best Value Colleges for Canadian students
Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
Narrow Colleges by Region
Rest of the Top 15% Best Value Colleges in the United States for International Students
To learn more about the schools below, just click on their names:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | Queens College | Queens, NY |
| 52 | SUNY Geneseo | Geneseo, NY |
| 53 | North Carolina State University | Raleigh, NC |
| 54 | University of Florida | Gainesville, FL |
| 55 | Sacred Heart Major Seminary | Detroit, MI |
| 56 | Kent State University at Kent | Kent, OH |
| 57 | Montana Tech of the University of Montana | Butte, MT |
| 58 | Utah State University | Logan, UT |
| 59 | University at Buffalo | Buffalo, NY |
| 60 | Binghamton University | Vestal, NY |
| 61 | Bowling Green State University - Main Campus | Bowling Green, OH |
| 62 | University of Southern Mississippi | Hattiesburg, MS |
| 63 | University of Wisconsin - Stout | Menomonie, WI |
| 64 | Andrews University | Berrien Springs, MI |
| 65 | Ohio University - Athens Campus | Athens, OH |
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 91 | Dakota State University | Madison, SD |
| 92 | Wayne State University | Detroit, MI |
| 93 | California State Polytechnic University - Pomona | Pomona, CA |
| 94 | University of Kansas | Lawrence, KS |
| 95 | University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR |
| 96 | University of Jamestown | Jamestown, ND |
| 97 | University at Albany | Albany, NY |
| 98 | University of Central Arkansas | Conway, AR |
| 99 | University of Nebraska at Omaha | Omaha, NE |
| 100 | Thomas Aquinas College | Santa Paula, CA |
| 101 | California State University - Northridge | Northridge, CA |
| 102 | Virginia Tech | Blacksburg, VA |
Honorable Mentions
These schools also performed well in our Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students ranking:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 103 | University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus | Pittsburgh, PA |
| 104 | Freed-Hardeman University | Henderson, TN |
| 105 | Pennsylvania State University - Harrisburg | Middletown, PA |
| 106 | Washington State University | Pullman, WA |
| 107 | Sam Houston State University | Huntsville, TX |
| 108 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Main Campus | Indiana, PA |
| 109 | Gallaudet University | Washington, DC |
| 110 | University of Nevada - Reno | Reno, NV |
| 111 | University of South Alabama | Mobile, AL |
| 112 | Principia College | Elsah, IL |
| 113 | University of Nevada - Las Vegas | Las Vegas, NV |
| 114 | Wichita State University | Wichita, KS |
| 115 | Cleveland State University | Cleveland, OH |
| 116 | Fitchburg State University | Fitchburg, MA |
| 117 | Pennsylvania State University - Erie - Behrend College | Erie, PA |
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 118 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus | Cincinnati, OH |
| 119 | Temple University | Philadelphia, PA |
| 120 | West Texas A&M University | Canyon, TX |
| 121 | Franciscan University of Steubenville | Steubenville, OH |
| 122 | Montana State University | Bozeman, MT |
| 123 | California State University - Fullerton | Fullerton, CA |
| 124 | University of Iowa | Iowa City, IA |
| 125 | University of Georgia | Athens, GA |
| 126 | Texas State University | San Marcos, TX |
| 127 | Colorado State University - Fort Collins | Fort Collins, CO |
| 128 | Northern Arizona University | Flagstaff, AZ |
| 129 | Lincoln Memorial University | Harrogate, TN |
| 130 | California State University - Monterey Bay | Seaside, CA |
| 131 | Ohio State University - Main Campus | Columbus, OH |
| 132 | Youngstown State University | Youngstown, OH |
| 133 | Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | Magnolia, AR |
| 134 | Salem State University | Salem, MA |
| 135 | University of Memphis | Memphis, TN |
| 136 | University of New Orleans | New Orleans, LA |
More Nationwide Rankings
Notes and References
Footnotes
*Avg Tuition and Fees and Avg 4-Year Grad Rate are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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