US vs Canada for International Students

The United States of America and Canada are some of the top destinations to study abroad. International students find the USA and Canada the best locations to study because of the well-renowned education system, multicultural environment, and top-ranked universities present here. No matter how difficult it is to choose between these two countries, it is essential to consider some factors before making the final decision.

Before selecting the country, consider the factors like eligibility, student visa, cost of studying, and job opportunities. 25% of the top 100 universities in the world are in America, while Canada has only 8 universities in the top 200.We have compiled some of the factors here that will help students to make an informed decision when it comes to ending the dilemma of choosing between the USA vs Canada for international students.

Country Highlights: USA vs Canada for International Students

Check:

• Study Guide to USA for International Students
• International Student Guide to Canada

Popular Courses in USA & Canada

The following sections discuss the popular courses offered in USA and Canada both, also these are those courses which are opted for widely by international students.

Popular Courses Offered in the US

Some of the popular courses to study in the US are as follows:

• Engineering
• Computer Science
• Business Management
• Engineering
• Data Science
• Business Analytics
• Medicine
• Finance
• Biotechnology

Popular Courses in Canada

For those planning to study in Canada, can consider some of the following given popular courses:

• Computer Science and IT
• Media & Journalism
• Applied and Pure Sciences
• Engineering
• Health and Medicine
• Hospitality & Tourism

These are some of the popularly opted courses in USA and Canada by Indian students. 

Top University Rankings 2025: US vs Canada

Based on QS - World University Ranking 2025, the following US universities and Canadian universities have made it to the top rankings, check out the table below:

For the year 2025, the above-given universities have been ranked by QS. The majority of the US universities have made it to the top 50 in comparison to the Canadian universities. Check out the full list of rankings at the top 100 universities globally.

Admission Requirements to Study in USA & Canada

International students applying for admission to USA or Canada will have a certain set of admission requirements based on the level of course of choice opted for, and students must be able to fulfil the minimum eligibility requirements to apply for admission. The section below discusses these requirements in detail:

Admission Requirements for USA

For undergraduate (UG) courses, you need to have completed 12 years of schooling. To get admission though you need to appear for the SAT exam or ACT exam. Students can submit their SAT or ACT scores based on preference in the applications for admission. Check out: Which is Easier? SAT vs ACT 

In postgraduate (PG) courses, you need 16 years of education. For Indian students, it translates to 12 years of schooling and four years of undergraduate education. But since most Indian colleges offer three years of education at the UG level, you might need to take up a one-year course to cover up the difference. If you have studied at a premier Indian institute, some US universities might accept your three-year degree as well, although the cases are rare. You can check with the university’s admissions cell and ask about your case. To get admission in management courses you will have to appear for the GMAT, and in science courses, you need to take the GRE.

There are no cutoffs for colleges, so you need to score the best that you can in all the exams. Colleges provide average scores accepted to different courses on their websites. That will give some idea about what’s considered a good score. You will also need to appear for language exams like TOEFL or IELTS, irrespective of the degree. Even if the colleges may not require any language test for Indian students, you should still take either TOEFL or IELTS as they are important for getting a visa.

In the case of an MBA, you might be required to have a few years of work experience along with a minimum score in GRE or GMAT as set by the respective US university.

Admission Requirements for Canada

For undergraduate (UG) courses admission to Canadian universities, you need to have completed 12 years of schooling. To get admission though you need to appear for the SAT exam. the duration for degree courses is four years, and that of a diploma is two to three years.

In postgraduate (PG) courses, getting admission to vocational courses is easier as the admission criteria are a lot more relaxed. To get admission for management degrees you will have to appear for GMAT, and for engineering degrees, you need to take the GRE.

The concept of cutoffs doesn’t apply to Canadian colleges. Colleges provide average scores accepted to different courses on their websites. That will give some idea about what’s considered a good score. You will also need to appear for language exams like TOEFL or IELTS, irrespective of the degree. Some colleges may not require language tests for Indian students, but it is advisable you still take either TOEFL or IELTS as they are important for getting a visa. If the visa interviewer is not sure of your spoken skills, they may not grant you a visa.

Cost of Studying & Living Comparison: USA vs Canada

This section throws light on the cost comparison for international students to study in either the USA or Canada, in terms of studying and living. All costs are subject to change without prior notice, hence, it's still advised to students to check them before making any decision. Check out the cost of living in USA along with study costs, and living costs for Canada including its studying costs in the following section based on the level of study. 

Costs for UG Courses USA vs Canada

The following table throws light on the cost of pursuing an undergraduate course in the USA or Canada along with a rough estimate of the living costs:

(Source: Studyabroad.shiksha.com)

Cost of PG Courses in the USA vs Canada

The following table shows the widely opted MS courses' costs for studying in both USA and Canada. However, the costs may vary per choice of specialisation as well. Read on for major details:

(Source: Studyabroad.shiksha.com)

Also Read:

• Cost of Studying in Canada
• Cost of Studying in the US

Student Visa in USA & Canada

To study in USA or Canada, international students who accept their admission offers are required to apply for a student visa. Students can only study in the USA or Canada if the student visa application is accepted. Following is a detailed section describing the student visa requirements.

US Student Visa Requirements

A full-time US student visa is called an F1 visa. This visa has the following regulations -

• Students applying for a program requiring more than 18 hours of study need an F1 visa. Under this, all undergraduate, as well as graduate programs, are included.
• To apply for an F1 student visa, you need to have major documents showing your personal information, professional documents, academic background, and financial documents.
• It costs $185 to apply for this visa along with the SEVIS fee of $350. 
• You cannot work more than 20 hours per week. During holidays, breaks and summer sessions, the student may work up to 40 hours per week. The student can only work on-campus for a commercial firm that provides services to the college, such as a bookstore or cafeteria.

Student Visa Requirements for Canada

The Canadian student visa has the following regulations -

• If a student wishes to take academic, professional, or vocational training at a university, college, or any other educational institute in Canada, then he/she requires a study permit. It is issued to students when they reach Canada. International students cannot study in Canada without getting a valid study permit.
• Apart from this, you can apply for a Canadian student visa only if a designated learning institute has accepted you. You need to prove that you have enough funds to pay your tuition fees and living expenses. Also, prove that you have a clean background and no criminal record by providing police certification proof.
• The cost of a Canadian student visa is CAD 150.
• The visa application process to Canada requires a compulsory medical test for Indian applicants.
• You cannot work more than 24 hours per week on a Canadian student visa during university holidays. 

Post-Graduate Work Visa in USA vs Canada

International students who wish to stay back after graduation or postgraduation to work full-time will have to apply for a post-graduate work visa in both countries - the USA and Canada. More details in the respective sections below:

US Post-Graduate Work Visa

If students want to stay back in the US to gain practical knowledge in their subject, they have the option to do so through OPT. It is temporary employment permission allowing students the opportunity to gain practical experience in their field of study for 12 months. You can apply for OPT after being enrolled for at least 9 months, but you cannot begin employment until you receive your Employment Authorization Document

The Student Co-Op Program is a formally structured program where the intent is to recruit students, while still in school, to fill permanent positions upon graduation. Co-op programs are generally undertaken at colleges and universities. In most cases, you will have to apply for a Work Visa upon getting a full-time job of a permanent nature.

Students who study STEM courses are given a stay back of 3 years. Check out about STEM OPT Extension in detail.

Check: Post-Study Work Permit in the USA 

Canada Post-Graduate Work Visa

The Canadian Post Graduation Work Visa allows students graduating from any post-secondary institute to work post-studying for an uptime period depending on the duration of their course to a maximum of three years. Under this work permit, the student can work in any field or industry.

Also Read: Post Study Work Permit in Canada

Popular Jobs in Canada vs USA

There are certain jobs in Canada and the USA, which are popular and in high demand. These popular jobs based on the respective countries are as follows:

Popular Jobs in the USA

The popular job sectors in the USA are:

• Information Technology
• Real Estate
• Healthcare
• Education
• E-commerce
• Tourism

Check out: Top 10 Highest Paying Jobs in USA

Popular Jobs in Canada

Some of the in-demand jobs in Canada are:

• Web Developer
• Registered Nurse
• Marketing Manager
• Engineer
• HR Manager
• IT Project Manager
• Pharmacist

Check out: Top Highest Paying Jobs in Canada

Permanent Residency in USA vs Canada

A lot of international students look forward to applying for a PR once they finish their university-level education and find a full-time job or not. In USA there are Green Card holders and in Canada, there is Express Entry. More information is elaborated on below:

PR in the US

A permanent residency option is possible but it is a very long-drawn and slow process. It is a complicated process and requires the person applying for it to reside in the US for at least five years on the grounds of employment. After that you will be granted a “Green Card”, but the whole process might take years to complete.

A green card holder is a permanent resident that has been given the authorization to live and work in the US on a permanent basis. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) grants a permanent resident card, also known as the “Green Card” as proof of status.

PR in Canada

During this period of Post Graduation Work permit, you can apply for Permanent Residency under the Canadian Experience Class. Since the country is sparsely populated, there is a shortage of highly skilled employees. Compared to most other countries, getting PR in Canada is easy.

Scholarships to study in USA vs Canada

Since it's very expensive to study in the USA and in Canada for international students, one way of cutting down on tuition costs is through scholarships. Not all scholarships offered in the USA or Canada are applicable for international students, hence, there are other ways of supporting one's studies then. Following are a couple of scholarships offered for international students in the USA and Canada:

Climate in USA & Canada

International students shifting to study in the US or Canada should know about the climate conditions to be able to adjust and carry along with them suitable sets of clothing.

US Climate

The US is a huge area of land and has varied temperatures and climates in different areas. The East Coast has a warm climate and covers cities like California and Arizona. The Midwest and New England regions have frozen winters and cover cities like Chicago, and Boston.  The Pacific Northwest has a humid oceanic climate and covers cities like Seattle, and Portland. The Southwest has a hot desert climate and covers cities like Phoenix and Las Vegas. The southeast has a warm to hot, humid climate and covers cities like Houston, and New Orleans.

Canada Climate

Weather in Canada varies widely depending on where you are. Canada stretches from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean, covering five time zones. In Toronto, winter is milder than in most Canadian cities, yet still cold and snowy. Montreal Weather in winter is cold and snowy. Usually, the country experiences pleasantly cool summers.