Last year A\J produced its first at-a-glance guide to Canadian campus communities with environmental degree programs. We were motivated by the idea that it can be frustrating to try and compare the living experiences at different postsecondary institutions using only their websites. Every single school seems to organize its information differently and the specifics you’re looking for are often buried.
Last year A\J produced its first at-a-glance guide to Canadian campus communities with environmental degree programs. We were motivated by the idea that it can be frustrating to try and compare the living experiences at different postsecondary institutions using only their websites. Every single school seems to organize its information differently and the specifics you’re looking for are often buried.
A\J has simplified this task by researching the factors that matter most to your bottom line. This chart allows easy comparison of tuition or residence costs, transit pass rates and indicators of sustainability initiatives on campus. It is by no means intended to replace an elaborate consultation of university websites. But we hope it will make your decision a far more pleasant one to make.
Good luck – we wish you all the best on your journey!
University |
Tuition1 (2 terms) |
Residence Costs2 (2 terms, incl. meals unless indicated) |
Housing Costs3 (Bachelor / 3 bedroom) |
Transit Pass4 (Included with student card unless indicated) |
Sustainability Report5 |
Sustainability Initiatives6 |
Waste Processing7 |
Food Choices8 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
British Columbia |
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Universities |
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Capilano U North Vancouver |
$4,851 | NA | $890 / $1,420 | Discounted metro pass ($45 / month) |
NA | Sustainability Policy | NA | NA |
Langley |
$3,855 | NA | $890 / $1,420 | Transit pass | In-house reports | Stategic Energy Management Plan, Commitment to LEED-gold in new buildings | NA | Fair trade coffee, sustainable seafood |
Richmond |
$3,855 | NA | $890 / $1,420 | Transit pass | In-house reports | Stategic Energy Management Plan, Commitment to LEED-gold in new buildings | NA | Fair trade coffee, sustainable seafood |
Victoria |
$6,870 – $8,670 | NA | $686 / $1,334 | Transit pass | AASHE STARS | Office of Sustainability | Composting | Fair trade, local food, farmers’ market |
Burnaby |
$5,115 | $5418 | $890 / $1,420 | Transit pass | AASHE STARS | Office of Sustainability | Composting, reusable café containers | Local food, fair trade, farmers’ market |
Simon Fraser U Bamfield |
$5,115 | $5418 | $890 / $1,420 | Transit pass | AASHE STARS | Office of Sustainability | Composting, reusable café containers | Local food, fair trade, farmers’ market |
Kamloops |
$3,830 | $4,100 – $6,160 (no meals) | $618 / $1,041 | Transit pass | AASHE STARS | Office of Environment and Sustainability | NA | Local food |
Langley |
$22,260 | $4,570 (no meals) – $8910 (incl. meals) | $567 / $920 | Discounted metro pass ($72 / 2 terms) |
Student-produced | NA | NA | NA |
Vancouver |
$4,794 | $7,969 – $10,396 | $890 / $1,420 | Transit pass | AASHE STARS | Sustainability Initiative Office |
Composting | Fair trade coffee, sustainable seafood, UBC farm |
Kelowna |
$4,794 | $8,000 | $592 / $1,121 | Transit pass | AASHE STARS | Sustainability Initiative Office |
Composting | Fair trade coffee, sustainable seafood, UBC farm |
Abbotsford |
$3,941 | $5373 (plus $2-4,000 meal plan) |
$567 / $920 | Transit pass | In-house reports | Sustainability Coordinator | Composting in beta-testing | NA |
Prince George |
$4,816 | $8658 – $9276 | $544 / $828 | Transit pass | In-house reports | Sustainability Coordinator | Composting | Local food, farmers’ market |
Victoria |
$5,058 | $8366 | $686 / $1,334 | Transit pass | AASHE STARS | Office of Campus Planning and Sustainability | Composting | Local food, staff dietician |
Nanaimo |
$4,015 | $4200 – $5000 | $556 / $947 | Discounted metro pass ($55 / month) |
In-house reports | Environment and Sustainability Office | Composting, K-Cup Recycling | Local food, farmers’ market |
Colleges |
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British Columbia Intitute of Technology Burnaby |
$5,771 | $4,902 | $890 / $1,420 | $30 per month | LEED for existing buildings: Operations, Green cleaning and environmental design | Energy management | Composting | Local food, low packaging, farmer’s market (Seasonal), Reusable dishes |
Camosun College Victoria |
$3,650 | N/A | $686 / $1,334 | Transit pass with student card | Building with LEED’s Gold standard | Sustainability council | Composting | Local foods |
College of the Rockies Cranbrook |
$5,817.45 | $3,400 |
$613 / $815 |
Transit pass with student card | ||||
Douglas College New Westminster |
$1,444.20 | N/A | – | Transit pass with student card | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Langara College Vancouver |
$5,196.52 | N/A | $890 / $1,420 | Transit pass with student card | Carbon neutral report | Energy management plan | N/A | N/A |
Nicola Valley Institute of Technology Merritt |
$886.40 | $4,000 | – | Transit pass with student card | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
North Island College Comox |
$2,985 | N/A | – | $44/per month | ACCC Pan-Canadian Protocol for Sustainability | Environmental Committee | Composting | N/A |
Northwest Community College Terrace |
$5,070.66 | $4,337 |
$606 / $895 |
$184 /per year | Started working with AASHE (new 2014) | Green teams | N/A | N/A |
Okanagan College Kelowna |
$3,939.94 | $3,900 |
$592 / $1,121 |
$48/per month | LEED certifed building and products “green seal and eco certifed” | Facility management | Composting | Fair trade, Reusable dishes |
Selkirk College Castlegar |
$4,121 | $3,960.00 | – | $110/per semester | N/A | Composting | N/A | |
Alberta |
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Universities |
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Edmonton |
$6,880 | $6,480 – $8,210 | $750 / $1,248 | Discounted metro pass ($77 / month) |
NA | NA | NA | NA |
Calgary |
$4,894 – $5,505 | $5,426 – $7,632 (no meals) | $814 / $1,052 | Transit pass | In-house reports | Sustainability Committee, commitment to LEED for new buildings |
NA | NA |
Edmonton |
$9,920 – $10,560 | $5,426 – $7,632 | $750 / $1,248 | Regular pass ($81 / month) | AASHE STARS | Office of Sustainability | NA | NA |
Edmonton |
5,269 | $6,352 – $7,496 | $750 / $1,248 | Transit pass | AASHE STARS | Sustainability Coordinator | NA | Local food |
Calgary |
5,333 | $6,566 – $9,349 | $814 / $1,052 | Transit pass | AASHE STARS | Office of Sustainability |
Composting | Local food, fair trade |
Lethbridge |
4,925 | $4,251 – $6,879 | $579 / $948 | Transit pass | In-house reports | Sustainability Association | Composting | Local food, sustainable seafood |
Colleges |
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Keyano College Fort McMurray |
$7,024 | $3,904 | – | $34.25/per month | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Grande Prairie Regional College Grande Prairie |
$6,901.07 | $3,800 | $983 / $1,275 | $43/per month | N/A | Corporate Sustainability Initiative | N/A | N/A |
Lakeland College Vermillion |
$5,193 | $4,930 | – | $50/per month | N/A | Centre for Sustainable Innovation | Composting | Local food, Sustainable fish and seafood, sustainable grown and raised food, fair trade |
Lethbridge College Lethbridge |
$6,497 | $5,000 | $778 / $1,034 | $289/per semester | N/A | N/A | Composting | N/A |
Medicine Hat College Medicine Hat |
$2,552 | $3,704 | $649 / $809 | $56/per month | N/A | N/A | Composting | N/A |
Olds College Olds |
$5,976 | $2,534 | – | $96/per month | N/A | N/A | Composting | Local food |
Portage College Lac la Biche |
$4,607 | $4,200 | – | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Red Deer College Red Deer |
$6,446 | $3,760 | $816 / $1,034 | $29/per month | N/A | N/A | N/A | Fair trade |
Saskatchewan |
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Universities |
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Regina |
$5,542 – $5,872 | At University of Regina | $640 / $1,183 | Regular pass ($53 / month) | NA | NA | NA | NA |
Regina |
$5,542 – $5,872 | $5,323 – $5,815 | $640 / $1,183 | Regular pass ($53 / month) | AASHE STARS | Committee on Sustainability | NA | Farmers market |
Saskatoon |
$5,280 | $7,421 – $8,301 | $653 / $1,074 | Transit pass | AASHE STARS | Sustainability Board | NA | Local food, fair trade coffee, Good Food market |
Colleges |
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Parkland College Yorkton |
$5,250 | N/A | $728 / $927 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
Saskatchewan Polytechnic (formerly SIAST) Saskatoon |
5,600 | $4,480 | $653 / $1,074 | $264/per semester | N/A | N/A | N/A | Local food |
Manitoba |
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Universities |
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Brandon |
$3,159 – $3,356 | $6,641 – $9,201 | $468 / $992 | Transit pass | NA | NA | NA | NA |
Winnipeg |
$6,780 | $6,074 – $10,732 | $554 / $1,162 | Discounted metro pass ($68 / month) |
NA | Director of Peace and Sustainability |
NA | Compostable dishes, annual farmers market |
Winnipeg |
$3,307 – $3,867 | $5,894 – $11,465 | $554 / $1,162 | Discounted metro pass ($68 / month) | In-house reports | Office of Sustainability |
Composting | NA |
Winnipeg |
$3,184 – $3,224 | $4,088 – $10,274 | $554 / $1,162 | Discounted metro pass ($68 / month) | In-house reports | Campus Sustainability Office |
Composting | Local food |
Colleges |
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Assiniboine Community College Brandon |
$3,650 | $6,641 | $468 / $992 | $45/per month | LEED Certifed Green building rating system | Assiniboine Community college committee | N/A | N/A |
Red River College Winnipeg |
$3,755 | $7,320 | $554 / $1,162 | $33/per month | LEED Certifed EBOM | River Rock College | Composting | Local food |
Ontario |
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Universities |
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Algoma U Sault Ste. Marie |
$5,622 | $7,710 – $8,410 | $566 / $1,010 | $54 / month | In-house reports | NA | NA | NA |
St. Catharines |
$5,671 – $5,837 | $9,310 – $12,085 | $758 / $1,377 | Transit pass | In-house reports | Sustainability Coordinating Committee |
Composting incl. coffee cups | Fair trade, local food, sustainability policies |
Ottawa |
$5,818 – $8,373 | $8,841 – $12, 323 | $541 / $1,046 | Transit pass | AASHE STARS | Sustainability Team | Composting | Local food, sustainable seafood, fair trade, styrofoam-free |
Thunder Bay |
$5,654 – $5,736 | $7,955-$9,805 | $701 / $1,265 | Transit pass | In-house reports | Sustainability Coordinator | Battery and e-waste collection | Concerns for sustainable food |
Sudbury |
$5,668 – $5,752 | $5,350 (with meals) – $6,739 (no meals) | $567 / $1,100 | Discounted transit pass ($74 / month) | In-house reports | NA | NA | NA |
Hamilton |
$5,738 – $5,793 | $6,670 – $11,015 | $579 / $1,117 | Transit pass | In-house reports | Office of Sustainability |
Composting | Local food, sustainable seafood, re-usable take-out containers |
North Bay |
$5,462 – $5,541 | $7,589 – $8,246 | $535 / $924 | Transit pass | In-house reports | Sustainability advisory committee |
NA | Farmers market |
Kingston |
$5,822 – $5,877 | $11,937 – $13,486 | $665 / $1,275 | Transit pass, transit pass discount for staff |
AASHE STARS | Sustainability Office, LEED professional on staff |
Composting | Fair trade, local food, community garden, farmers market |
Ancaster |
$14,720 | $6,808 – 7,208 | $579 / $1,117 | Transit pass | In-house reports | NA | Composting | NA |
Toronto |
$5,772 – $5,857 | $9,584 – 13,552 | $834 / $1,445 | Discounted metro pass ($117.75 / month) |
In-house reports | Sustainability Office |
Battery recycling | Community gardens, farmer’s market, local & sustainable options |
Peterborough |
$5,698 – $5,864 | $8,343 – $11,569 | $626 / $1,087 | Transit pass | In-house reports | Sustainability Office, LEED professional on staff |
Composting | Local & sustainable options, rooftop gardens, fair trade |
Guelph |
$5,667 – $5,857 | $8,659 – $13,553 | $634 / $1,064 | Transit pass, Transit pass discount for staff |
AASHE STARS | Sustainability Office |
Composting | Local food & sustainable options, fair trade, styrofoam-free, re-usable take-out containers |
Ottawa |
$5,835 | $4,835 – $10,695 | $758 / $1,377 | Transit pass | AASHE STARS | Office of Sustainability |
Composting | Fair trade, local and sustainable |
Toronto |
$5,809 – $9,968 | $10,333 – $17,645 | $834 / $1,445 | Transit pass | In-house reports | Office of Sustainability | Composting, e-waste collection | Local food & sustainable options, farmers’ market |
Waterloo |
$5,820 – $7,188 | $9,266 – $11,775 | $640 / $1,060 | Transit pass | In-house reports | Sustainable Campus Initiative |
Composting, e-waste collection | Local food & sustainable options, fair trade, styrofoam-free, re-usable take-out containers |
London |
$5,746 – $5,801 | $9,372 – $9,772 | $582 / $1,082 | Transit pass | AASHE STARS | Office of Sustainability |
Composting | Local food & sustainable options, farmers’ market, fair trade |
Windsor |
$5,670 – $5,724 | $7,463 – $9,484 | $495 / $929 | Discounted metro pass ($44-60 / month) |
AASHE STARS | Sustainability Advocate |
NA | Local & sustainable options |
Waterloo |
$5,670 – $5,836 | $6,940 – $9,200 | $640 / $1,060 | Transit pass | AASHE STARS | Sustainability Office |
Composting, e-waste collection, battery recycling | Local food & sustainable options, farmers’ market, fair trade, community gardens, |
Toronto |
$5,808 – $5,864 | $6,808 – $11,392 | $834 / $1,445 | Discounted metro pass ($108 / month) |
In-house reports | President’s Sustainability Council |
Composting | Local food & sustainable options, fair trade, re-usable take-out containers, community garden, farmers’ market |
Colleges |
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Algonquin College Ottawa |
$5,456 | $7,030 | $541 / $1,046 | $100.75/per month | LEED Certifed Green building rating system | Board of Governors | Composting | Fair trade |
Cambrian College Sudbury |
$3,544 | $6,312 |
$567 / $1,100 |
$74/per month | N/A | N/A | N/A | Fair trade |
Canadore College North Bay |
$3,569 | $4,600 | $535 / $924 | Transit pass with student card | N/A | N/A | N/A | Reusable dishes |
Centennial College Toronto |
$3,636 | $4,940 | $834 / $1,445 | $108/per month | Energy Consumption & GHG Emission Reduction | Centennial College | N/A | N/A |
College Boreal Sudbury (french only) |
$2,812 | $4,750 | $567 / $1,100 | $74/per month | N/A | N/A | N/A | Fair trade |
Conestoga College Kitchener |
$3,843 | $5,500 | $816 / $1,110 | $257/per semester | The Zero waste movement | GREEN Committee | Composting | N/A |
Confederation College Thunder Bay |
$4,039 | $4,340 | $723 / $1,070 | Transit pass with student card | Environmental Action Plan | Sustainability Resources | Composting | Fair Trade, local food |
Durham College Whitby, Oshawa |
$5,374 | $5,400 | $872 / $1,152 | Transit pass with student card | Bronze Star (Sustainability, Tracking, Assessment and Rating system | Sustainability Committee | N/A | Reusable dishes discount |
Fanshawe College London |
$4,644 | $7,340 | $582 / $1,082 | Transit pass with student card | N/A | N/A | Composting | Reusable dishes |
Fleming College Peterborough |
$7,262 | $6,560 | $626 / $1,087 | $50/per month | Set own goals | Office of sustainability | Composting | Reusable dishes discount |
Georgian College Orangeville |
$4,108 | $6,390 | $834 / $1,445 | $63.85/per month | LEED Certifed green building rating system & Leed Silver construction | Environment sustainability committee | Composting | Local food |
Humber College Toronto |
$3,794 | $8,629 | $834 / $1,445 | $108/per month | LEED gold & silver certifed building, energy star certifed photocopiers | Sustainability Coordinationg Committee | Composting | N/A |
Lambton College Sarnia |
$3,744 | $8,150 | – | $165/per semester | AASHE STARS | Sustainability Committee | N/A | Local food |
Loyalist College Belleville |
$3,741 | $5,460 | – | $65/per month | N/A | N/A | Composting | Reusable dishes discount |
Mohawk College Hamilton |
$5,400 | $9,500 | $579 / $1,117 | $71/per month | 2 LEED Gold Building certificates, Evaluate Greenhouse gases regularly | Sustainability Office | Compositng and Battery Recycle | Local food, Farmer’s Market |
Niagara College Niagara Falls |
$5,354 | $6,760 | $742 / $1,051 | Tranist pass with student card | AASHE STARS | Sustainability Committee | N/A | Local food |
Northern College Timmins |
$4,417 | $8,111 | – | $61/per term | N/A | N/A | N/A | Reusable dishes |
St. Clair College Windsor |
$2,687 | $5,150 | $495 / $929 | $208/per term | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
St. Lawrence College Kingston |
$3,815 | $6,620 | $665 / $1,275 | Tranist pass | Annual waste audits, energy efficiency audits | Sustainability Office | Composting | Urban fram, reusable take out containers |
Sault College Sault Ste. Marie |
$3,507 | $7,728 | – | $160/per term | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Sheridan College Oakville |
$1,335 | $6,850 | – | $150/per month | LEED gold Building certificate | Sustainability Office | Composting | |
Quebec |
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Universities |
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Sherbrooke |
$2,224 – $6,241 | $7,832 – $9,292 | $392 / $713 | Discounted metro pass ($69 / month) |
In-house reports | Sustainable Development Action Group |
Composting | Local food & sustainable options, fair trade, compostable take-out containers, farmers’ market |
Montreal |
$2,224 – $6,241 | $7,697 – $10,908 | $573 / $907 | Discounted metro pass ($47 / month) |
AASHE STARS | Sustainability Coordinator | Composting | Re-usable dishes, local food & sustainable options, |
Montreal |
$2,224 – $6,235 | $9,876 – $17,485 | $573 / $907 | Discounted metro pass ($180 / term) |
AASHE STARS | Sustainability Office | Composting, hazardous waste management | Local food & sustainable options, sustainable seafood, fair trade, farmers’ market |
Quebec City |
$2,224 – $6,235 | $2,898 (no meals) |
$523 / $876 | Discounted transit pass ($54.25 / month) |
AASHE STARS, In-house annual report | Sustainable Development Coordinator | Composting, e-waste | Re-useable dishes, compostable containers, community garden, fair trade coffee, local food |
Montreal |
$2,224 – $6,055 | $3,915- $7,875 (no meals) |
$573 / $907 | Discounted transit pass ($47.25 / month) |
In-house annual report | Environment Committee |
E-waste | Community gardens, farmers’ market |
U de Montréal Montreal |
$2,224 – $5,914 | $3,000 – $5,656 (no meals) |
$573 / $907 | Discounted transit pass ($47.25 / month) |
In-house reports | Regional Sustainable Development Committee | Composting, e-waste | Re-usable dishes, community gardens, fair trade, farmers’ market |
Sherbrooke |
$2,858 – $7,216 | $2,440 – $4,400 (no meals) |
$392 / $713 | Transit pass | In-house reports | Regional Sustainable Development Committee | Composting | Re-usable dishes, compostable containers, community garden |
Colleges |
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New Brunswick |
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Universities |
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Sackville |
$7,245 | $8,740 – $10,617 | $501 / $860 | No city bus service |
In-house reports | Sustainability Action Plan |
Composting | Local food, sustainable seafood, fair trade, university farm |
Fredericton |
$5,379 | $7,905 – $10,680 | $576 / $1,036 | Transit pass | In-house reports | Sustainability Coordinator | NA | NA |
Moncton |
$5,441 | $2,382 – $5,878 (no meals) |
$501 / $860 | Discounted transit pass ($47 / month) |
NA | NA | NA | NA |
Fredericton |
$6,007 | $8,896 – $11,437 | $576 / $1,036 | Discounted metro pass $60 / month) |
In-house reports | Sustainability Coordinator | Composting | Local food & sustainable options, fair trade, re-usable and compostable take-out containers, sustainable seafood |
Colleges |
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New Brunswick Community College Fredericton |
$3,775 | N/A | $576 / $1,036 | $45/per month | AASHE STARS | N/A | N/A | Farmer’s Market |
Maritime College of Forest Technology Fredericton |
$2,875 | $4,106 | $576 / $1,036 | $45/per month (fredericton) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Nova Scotia |
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Universities |
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Wolfville |
$5,987 – $7009 | $7,802 – $12,982 | $502 / $724 | Discounted metro pass ($65 / month) |
In-house reports | Sustainability Office |
Composting, e-waste collection, battery recycling | Local food & sustainable options, community farm, |
Cape Breton |
$4,907 – $5,929 | $8,480 – $11,316 | $546 / $872 | Discounted metro pass ($45 / month) |
In-house reports | Sustainability Coordinator | Composting | Local food & sustainable options, fair trade, styrofoam-free, sustainable seafood |
Halifax |
$5,305 – $6,237 | $7,975 – $11,630 | $703 / $1,207 | Transit pass | AASHE STARS | Office of Sustainability |
Composting, e-waste collection, battery recycling | Local food & sustainable options, fair trade, sustainable seafood, farmers’ market, community gardens |
Antigonish |
$5,497 – $6,519 | $7,310 – $11,735 | $476 / $700 | No city bus service | In-house reports | Sustainability Committee |
Composting | Local food & sustainable options, fair trade, eliminated plastic use, sustainable seafood |
Halifax |
$4,907 – $5,929 | $8,430 – $10,225 | $703 / $1,207 | Transit pass | AASHE STARS | Sustainability Office |
Community garden | |
Colleges |
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Nova Scotia Community College Sydney |
$3,040 | $5,200 | $603 / $1,018 | $164/per academic year | AASHE STARS, LEED gold and silver and BOMABESt Certification | Sustainability office | Composting | Farmer’s Market, Fair trade, Reusable dishes |
Newfoundland |
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Universities |
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St. John’s |
$2,550 | $7,174 – $8,590 | $620 / $885 | Transit pass | In-house reports | Sustainability Office |
Composting, e-waste collection, battery recycling | Community garden, fair trade, |
Colleges |
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College of the North Atlantic Stephenville |
$3,662 | N/A | – | $220/per semester | N/A | N/A | Composting | N/A |
Prince Edward Island |
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Universities |
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Charlottetown |
$5,360 | $8,556 – $10,386 | $496 / $980 | Transit pass | In-house reports | Office of Sustainability |
Composting | Local & sustainable food options |
Colleges |
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Holland College Charlottetown |
$6,520 | $5,499 | $496 / $980 | Transit pass with student card | Sustainability Award | Green Machine | Composting | N/A |
Territorial Colleges |
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Nunavut Nunavut |
$2,720 | $590 / month (no meals) | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
Aurora College Inuvik |
$2,400 | $7 / day (no meals) | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
Yukon College Whitehorse |
$3,360 | $3,180 – $5,720 (no meals) | $1,159 / $1,834 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
SOURCES 1 – Tuition for 2014-15, taken from individual school websites. 2 – Residence costs per 2-term year, 2014-15, taken from individual school websites. 3 – Housing costs for both bachelor apartments and three-bedroom houses from 2012 and 2014 rental market reports at cmhc-schl.gc.ca. 4 – Monthly cost of local transit pass if it is not included in student card. 5 – What type of sustainability report is available. 6 – What type of sustainability office or team is available. 7 – What type of waste processing is done on campus beyond municipal waste and recycling programs. 8 – Sustainable campus food choices and facilities.