Student budget calculator

You can use this tuition calculator to estimate your costs and resources.

Tuition amounts are approximate and are for eight months of full-time studies. The values below are estimates based on fees for September 2024 to April 2025. Exact fees will be posted in students' Quest accounts a month before the start of each term.

Tuition and fees

What is your citizenship?

Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident living in Ontario

Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident living outside of Ontario or Canada

International (visa) student

Which program interests you?

Don't see your program listed?

Approximate first-year tuition and incidental fees

First-year books and supplies

Where do you plan to live in first year?

In residence

Off campus

Which residence?

Choose your meal plan (optional for suite-style residences)

Groceries /month

Living off campus

Values below are averages. Your costs may be higher or lower depending upon your preferences. Expenses are multiplied by 8 months to provide a total for first year.

Rent, utilities including internet /month

$7600

Groceries /month

$2400

Personal expenses

Entertainment, phone, laundry, shopping and transportation (average $3,000; depends on lifestyle)

/month

$3080

Other expenses /month

Total expenses: $0

Resources

Contributions from you and/or your parents/guardians, if applicable

University of Waterloo President's Scholarships

If your average is 95% or higher, you may be eligible for up to an additional $3,000 available in upper years.
You may also be eligible for other entrance scholarships ranging from $500 for 1 year to $40,000 over 4 years.

Other scholarships, awards, income, e.g., RESP

Government student loans or grants

Total resources: $0

Balance: $0

If you have a shortfall, you're not alone.

Unless you're using this calculator in July or August once you've received any scholarships, bursaries, and/or student loans or grants, you'll likely have a deficit.

Waterloo offers many ways to financially support your education, such as

• scholarships (usually based on achievements),
• bursaries (based on financial need),
• co-op (which can help pay for your education)
• part-time jobs on campus, and
• financial assistance after first year.

How to pay for university →

While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of this page, your exact tuition fees will be posted in your Waterloo Quest account approximately a month before the start of classes. Your fees for the fall term will be listed in your Quest account in early August.