Best Community Colleges in Canada for International Students

For students wanting to study abroad, community colleges in Canada offer an affordable alternative to other expensive destinations. These colleges provide a wide range of programs, from diplomas to certificates and full-time degrees while charging tuition fees cheaper than many countries. They also offer great opportunities for students to gain work experience while studying. According to the Government of Canada, 30% of study permit holders in Canada were enrolled in colleges, with Ontario being the most popular destination in 2025. Curious to learn more? Here is a blog on the best community colleges in Canada for international students.

What are Community Colleges?

A community college is a type of educational institution that can mean different things to different countries. It is also known as a senior secondary school in some countries across the globe and is often different from state universities in the sense that it offers 2 years of classes or courses that can be used for general education requirements while State Colleges offer bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs. You can then transfer to a four-year university to finish your bachelor’s degree. 

List of Community Colleges in Canada

So, now that you know what Community Colleges are, let’s take a look at the top 10 community colleges in Canada for international students:

Best Community Colleges in Canada	Average Tuition Fees
Red River College	Degree: CAD 7,500- CAD 8,500 [429622 INR – 4,86,905 INR approx.] Certification: CAD 2,732- CAD 11,294 [156,500 INR-646,952 INR approx.]
Centennial College	CAD 14,937.50 for 1 year [855,700 INR approx.]
Seneca College	CAD 11,970 for 1 year [685,680 INR approx.]
College of New Caledonia	CAD 3,200 for 1 year [183,305 INR approx.]
Fanshawe College	CAD 15,000 for 1 year [859,250 INR]
Bow Valley College	CAD 10,000- CAD 15,000 for 1 year [57,828 INR-859,250 INR approx.]
Selkirk College	CAD 8,500 for 1 year [4,86904 INR approx.]
Southern Alberta Technology Center	CAD 4,000- 28,000 (depending on the program) [229,131 INR – 1604,000 INR approx.]
Nova Scotia Community College	CAD 11,350 for 1 year [650,160 INR approx.]
Humber College	CAD 14,000- CAD 15,000 for 1 year [8,01,959 INR-859,250 INR]
Assiniboine College	CAD 7,052 – CAD 10,520 per year [₹4,04,185 – ₹6,02,844 approx.]
Lethbridge Polytechnic	CAD 7,751.97 per year [₹4,44,274 approx.]
NorQuest College	CAD 169 – CAD 1,197 per credit hour [₹9,692 – ₹68,680 approx.]
Coast Mountain College	CAD 3,360 – CAD 4,200 per year [₹1,92,698 – ₹2,40,873 approx.]
Keyano College	CAD 3,500 – CAD 6,000 per year [₹2,00,667 – ₹3,44,000 approx.]
Old Sun Community College	CAD 3,000 – CAD 5,000 per year [₹1,72,000 – ₹2,87,000 approx.]
Loyalist College	CAD 16,908 per year [₹9,69,000 approx.]

Top 10 Community Colleges in Canada

Canada’s community colleges are known for their practical learning approach, affordable tuition, and strong industry connections. Many of them offer co-op programs, allowing students to gain valuable work experience while studying. Here are the top 10 community colleges in Canada for international students.

Red River College

Red River College is the largest community college in Manitoba and Winnipeg. The college is home to over 30,000 students and over 200 different programs. It is among the popular community colleges in Canada as well as the Manitoba province and has close to 95% and more students. Red River College offers a full range of credentials, including apprenticeship training, certificates, diplomas and selected degrees. 

Centennial College

Next college in our list of best community colleges in Canada is none other than Centennial College which is situated in the capital city of Toronto and was founded was its first public college in 1966. This community college provides over 90+ degrees and certification courses in business, communication, social and life sciences, science and engineering, art and engineering, and hospitality.  Therefore, these career-oriented programs emphasize practical experience in laboratory learning, industrial and business distribution, as well as business education.

Seneca College

Seneca College offers full-time and part-time continuing training options. This community college has specialization in science, business, financial services and arts programs. The college also works with industry leaders and believes that education should be simple and affordable which makes it one of the best community colleges in Canada. Here, the students have the option to study about the fields such as IT, biotechnology, international marketing, accounting and finance, event management, computer science, engineering, travel and hospitality, fashion designing, digital & multimedia animation, and many others.

College of New Caledonia

Another great college in our list of best community colleges in Canada is definitely the College of New Caledonia which was established in 1969. The college is renowned for offering a high-quality education taught by an experienced faculty.  As a result, students will benefit from small classes, affordable tuition, excellent programs and personal and career support. 

Fanshawe College

Situated in Southwestern Ontario, Fanshawe College offers over 110 postsecondary degrees, degrees, certificates and post-graduate programs. In addition to that, there are almost 1200+ international students from around 60 countries that are attending Fanshawe College. It is one of the renowned community colleges in Canada and Fanshawe programs are in the areas of business, broadcasting, civil engineering, design, electronics, environmental sciences, health care, hospitality, social services, information technology, manufacturing, music production and transport.

Bow Valley College

Bow Valley College, Alberta is another key mention in our list of top 10 community colleges in Canada for international students. Their primary objective is to support the development of international students and prepare people to succeed in a global knowledge-based economy.  The institution is viewed as an innovative, world-class college, rooted in communities, allowing people to learn a better life. 

Selkirk College

Selkirk College (Selkirk) is a fully accredited public post-secondary institution that provides access to a wide variety of academic and career courses. It is the largest British-Canadian College that offers almost 60 programs in academic, career, vocational, and technical programs, part-time, full-time, and online, business and aviation, digital media and music, wellness, human services, hospitality, tourism, manufacturing, and trades training. 

Southern Alberta Technology Center

The Southern Alberta Institute of Scientific Technology (SAIT) is one of Canada’s international community colleges offering over 100 courses in arts, technology and business.  The college, located in Calgary, Alberta, is one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in the province and supports close to 11,000 or more students. This gives it a place on our list of the best community colleges in Canada.

Nova Scotia Community College

Nova Scotia State College is well known for its courses in applied arts, health sciences and polytechnics. The college has more than 10 campuses and 6 study centres as well. Hence, when compared with other colleges, tuition fees are much cheaper and affordable for international students as well. It is one of the most affordable public schools and community colleges in Canada for foreign students.

Humber College

Humber College Institute of Technology was founded in 1967 and is a publicly funded college of higher education that is based in Toronto. It offers more than 150 programs, including bachelor, postgraduate and degree programs, certificate programs in business, communication, social and life sciences, science and engineering, art and engineering and hospitality. 

Canada Colleges List in Toronto- Public Colleges

Toronto is Canada’s largest city and a hub for education, attracting thousands of international students each year. Here is the Canada colleges list in Toronto for international students:

• University of Toronto
• George Brown College
• University of Waterloo
• York University
• Humber College
• University of Ottawa
• Centennial College
• Seneca College
• Toronto Metropolitan University
• University of British Columbia
• Algonquin College
• McMaster University
• University of Guelph-Humber

New Brunswick Canada Colleges- Public Colleges

New Brunswick, located on the east coast of Canada, is home to some excellent community colleges such as:

• New Brunswick Community College (NBCC)
• Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick (CCNB)
• Horizon College

Why Study in Community Colleges in Canada?

Community colleges in Canada are an excellent choice for international students due to their affordability, practical programs, and opportunities for work experience. Here’s why you should consider them:

• Affordable Tuition Fees: In the recent academic year, the average tuition fee for international undergraduate students in Canada was approximately CAD 36,100. Community colleges often offer lower tuition rates compared to universities, making education more accessible.
• Pathway to Universities: Many community colleges have transfer agreements with universities, allowing students to begin their education in a more affordable setting and then transfer credits towards a university degree.
• Post-Graduation Work Opportunities: Graduates from designated learning institutions, including many community colleges, are eligible for Canada’s Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), which allows them to gain valuable Canadian work experience after completing their studies.
• Cultural Diversity: Canada’s international student population has been steadily increasing, with over 800,000 study permit holders, creating a multicultural learning environment.

Eligibility Criteria for Community Colleges in Canada

The eligibility criteria to study in community colleges in Canada can differ from institution to institution. In most cases, you need a high school diploma with a minimum GPA of 2.0 – 2.5 for undergraduate courses. Similarly, you need a bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 2.5 or higher for postgraduate programs. Additionally, you also need to demonstrate English proficiency through tests like IELTS and TOEFL.

Listed down are the community colleges in Canada with their respective admission requirements and application portal to apply online:

College	Admission Requirements	Application Portal
Red River College	Passed Grade 12  TOEFL – 80 IELTS – 6.5 +	Apply
Centennial College	Higher Secondary School Certificate TOEFL – 80 IELTS – 6.5 +	Apply
College of New Caledonia	Graduation Transcripts TOEFL – 42 + IELTS – 6.0 +	Apply
Fanshawe College	Passed Grade 12 TOEFL – 70 – 90 IELTS – 6.0+	Apply
Bow Valley College	High School Transcripts TOEFL – 71 IELTS – 6.0 +	Apply
Selkirk College	Certified from the previous Institution TOEFL – 80 + IELTS – 6.0 +	Apply
Humber College	Grade 12 Diploma TOEFL – 80 – 100 IELTS – 6.0 +	Apply

How to Apply to Community Colleges in Canada

Although the application process to study in any country may differ depending on the institution, it generally includes:

1. Shortlist any institution from the list of community colleges in Canada.
2. Review the specific academic and language proficiency criteria for your desired program on the college’s official website.
3. Go to the official website of your preferred university and create a student account on the portal.
4. Enter the required academic and personal details and provide essential documents which may include passport copies, English test scores, transcripts, etc.
5. Next, pay the application fee which may range from CAD 50 to CAD 200, depending on the institution.
6. Review all details and submit your form. If accepted, you’ll receive an official offer of admission.
7. To confirm your seat, you must pay an initial deposit, which is typically part of your tuition fee.

Difference Between Community and Private Colleges 

Parameter	Description
Tuition Fee	Compared to private colleges, community colleges are cheaper and more economical. Since the tuition fee for international students differs, opting for community colleges would be an affordable option.
Class Size	As compared to private colleges, community colleges are cheaper and more economical. Since the tuition fee for international students differs, opting for community colleges would be an affordable option.
Admission	Since private colleges cost a lot in terms of tuition fees, they offer programs that are shorter in duration so that students can complete them in a budget-friendly way. Whereas, courses in community colleges run for usual duration.
Duration of Courses	You will find a greater number of students in community colleges igniting the spirit of competition as compared to the private ones.
Designation by Immigration Authorities	The steps involved in both community, as well as private colleges regarding the admission of international students, remain the same.
Work While Studying	Both types of colleges allow students who have a valid study permit to work 20 hours per week and more during the holiday season.
Post Graduate Work Permit	All the community colleges are approved by immigration authorities and as an international student, you will have to register under DLI to seek study permit. On the other hand, some of the private colleges are not designated.

FAQs

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Thinking about studying at any of these community colleges in Canada? Let Leverage Edu be your guide through the entire process! From shortlisting the best colleges to helping you with your application, scholarships, and visa process, our experts are here to ensure your study abroad journey is smooth and successful. Connect with us today to get personalized guidance and take the first step towards your dream education in Canada!