10 Best Colleges in Ottawa for International Students in 2025

Ottawa is internationally regarded for its top-notch colleges. It is one of the few cities offering education at a reasonable price while allowing students to experience an incredibly cosmopolitan city culture. There are many other reasons to consider Ottawa as your study-abroad destination.

• An amazing educational experience: Ottawa is home to some of the colleges featuring within the top spots in international rankings. These institutes will make you a well-rounded individual academically and otherwise. The campuses are bustling with all kinds of student activities. You don’t want to miss out on the quality of education offered in these institutes.

• Being in a bilingual environment: This is an added advantage of being in a city like Ottawa, where English and French are spoken as local languages. You will learn a new language and gain the ability to adapt to a new culture.

• Build an international network: With students coming from all corners of the world, Ottawa will give you an incredible global network and lifelong friends from different cultures. This exposure will change your outlook toward life, and that is one of the biggest gains from a study abroad experience.

• Enjoy an amazing city life while staying close to nature: Ottawa has the best of both worlds: the ideal city life and natural spaces with plenty of outdoor activities. Having endless entertainment options while pursuing your course from a great college is something to look forward to.

There are two types of colleges in Ottawa: Public and Private. Their education systems and facilities may vary. They provide financial aid to students to help them pursue their dream courses.

Public Colleges

They are generally recognized and certified by the government and offer courses at more nominal fees. Some public colleges in Ottawa are:

• Herzing College
• Algonquin College
• Carleton University
• University of Ottawa
• Dominican University College
• Saint Paul University

Private Colleges

They are privately owned. Private colleges are known to bring more variety to their curriculum. Some private colleges in Ottawa are:

• Augustine College
• Willis College
• Ottawa Ladies College

There are public and private colleges in Ottawa that offer the best quality fluent education, both in French and English.

Here are 10 best colleges in Ottawa, Canada:

• Augustine College
• Herzing College
• Algonquin College
• Ottawa Ladies College
• Willis College
• La Cité Collège
• Carleton University
• University of Ottawa
• Dominican University College
• Saint Paul University

These are some of the top colleges in Ottawa, Canada for international students to pursue any course. Let’s discuss them in detail:

1. Augustine College

Augustine College is a private Christian liberal arts college in Ottawa, Ontario. This college offers two semester-long programs on the histories of science, and humanities in late, classical antiquity and the modern era. This college does not operate under a provisional or territorial.

Suggested: Study in Canada: Top Universities, Courses, Scholarships

2. Herzing College

Herzing College is on the east end of Ottawa in the St. Laurent shopping center. The college is well known for delivering career-focused, convenient, and high-quality education that advances students academically and professionally. The college provides undergraduate and graduate programs in different fields and tuition fees are low and affordable for international students.

Also read: Eligibility and Requirements to study in Canada

3. Algonquin College

Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology is an open institute connected with the Canadian Bureau for International Association, Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association, and Polytechnics Canada. The institute offers undergraduate degree programs and postgraduate degree programs. Presently, the college has an overall population of 19,957, with over 4,000 international students from more than 130 countries.

4. Ottawa Ladies College

The Ottawa Ladies College was denoted as a non-denominational educational institute providing the best quality education to women. It is among the best colleges in Ottawa Canada for international students. The primary aim of college was to educate women in different subjects with grade levels 1 to post-secondary.

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5. Willis College

The Willis College is among the best Ottawa colleges for international students, which provides company-led business, technology, and healthcare programs and diplomas. It helps students to gain the professional knowledge and experience required to succeed. It is the most affordable college for international students in Ottawa.

6. La Cité Collège

La Cité Collège is the largest French-language college of applied arts and technology in Ontario, Ottawa. It offers more than 90 post-secondary programs, many limited to college and exceptional in Canada. Most programs are 1-, 2- or 3-year courses with combined internships. The college provides French-language distance education courses in autism and behavioral science, human resources management, early childhood education, palliative care, and multimedia webmaster - programming, among other courses.

Also read: Intakes and Deadlines in Canada

7. Carleton University

Originally designed as an evening college to serve returning World War 2 veterans, Carleton University is an English-language public research and teaching university in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It is situated beside the Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

8. University of Ottawa

It is an English-French bilingual university that’s one-of-a-kind in the world. It offers several courses in all fields and is a sought-after university within and outside Canada. It is located across the Rideau Canal in the Sandy Hill neighborhood.

Read more: University of Ottawa: Acceptance rate, fees, courses

9. Dominican University College

The Dominican University College is one of the oldest in the national capital. It specializes in Philosophy and Theology. The university is bilingual and encourages students to make a difference through diversity and critical thinking by imparting quality education.

10. Saint Paul University

Being the first post-secondary institution in Ottawa, Saint Paul University is known for its great intellectual tradition. It provides interactive teaching and aims to create a personalized college experience. The University believes in social justice and humanizing society as a whole.

Several factors go into the cost of studying at colleges in Ottawa, like tuition fees, rent, program, personal expenses, etc. Financial aid is available for some costs and you might have to cover the rest.

• Tuition Fee: The tuition fees vary depending on the college and program. Many colleges offer financial aid for tuition fees. An average estimate of tuition fees would be CAD 10,000 to CAD 50,000 (₹6,10,800 to ₹30,54,000).

• Living Expenses: Living expenses include accommodation, food, personal expenses, daily commute, etc. The average cost of living is approximately CAD 2,500 (₹1,50,000) per month.

• Other expenses: You must cover your miscellaneous expenses like recreation, flight fares, university charges related to books and clubs, etc.

Also Read: Best Universities in Canada

As international students arrive to create their careers, Ottawa caters to their needs and interests. Ottawa has long been a popular student destination because it provides a wealth of amenities, ranging from a vibrant social scene to high-quality education. As Canada keeps becoming more popular among Indian students, you must be adequately prepared for the application process to secure a spot in one of the top universities.

Now that you have all the information needed to select the best institutions for international students in Ottawa, take the next step by consulting an expert at Yocket. Our experts have helped 10,000+ students secure admission to top foreign universities.