Top 10 Budget MBAs in Canada

The Memorial University of Newfoundland, in St. John’s, is accredited by AACSB. The school receives substantial subsidies from its province, which has kept the MBA exceptionally cheap, with the fees considerably lower for Newfoundland and Labrador natives. Memorial’s MBA was the first program in Canada to introduce a mandatory course on business ethics. 

With both the AACSB International and EQUIS accreditations, FSA ULaval in Quebec is well regarded. Students can spend three weeks abroad on trade missions for Canadian businesses that wish to enter new markets in Latin America, Africa, Asia or Europe. There are also several scholarships worth $5,000 CAD on offer. Budget-minded students should note that living in Quebec City can be more affordable than some other, larger cities in Canada.

The Sprott School of Business, at Carleton University in Ottawa, is accredited by AACSB International and a great option for students seeking an MBA in Canada on a budget. The course is highly customizable, with concentrations in such diverse subjects as art management, business analytics, and international development. There’s also an option to do the degree in Shanghai, China or in Bogota, Colombia.)

HEC Montréal in French-speaking Quebec is not just a top-notch MBA provider; it’s affordable too. Students from Quebec, France, and Belgium pay very little, comparatively, in terms of tuition fees. Canadians from other provinces may more and international students more than that. HEC Montréal is triple accredited (by the AMBA, EQUIS and AACSB awarding bodies) and ranked by Bloomberg Businessweek, so you can be sure the education is among the best in Canada, and indeed the world. 

The Ted Rogers School of Management, at Ryerson University, is in the heart of Toronto. That gives the MBA students access to a plethora of corporate recruiters, executive guest lecturers, and plenty of fun, too. MBA candidates at the AACSB-accredited institution will pay less if they are Canadian. But the fee for overseas students is still a steal.  

In Montréal, the John Molson School of Business, at Concordia University, provides a high quality MBA without the high fees. Quebec students pay the least, followed by other Canadians and then overseas candidates. The school stands out for its sustainability focus, having been ranked well by both Corporate Knights and the Aspen Institute, which list the top “green” business schools that go “beyond grey pinstripe” suits. It’s also accredited by AACSB and the school’s MBA is ranked by both Bloomberg and The Economist. 

AACSB-accredited Sobey School of Business, at Saint Mary’s University in Nova Scotia offers a strong MBA program at a serious discount for Canadian citizens and permanent residents, while the tuition fees for international students are still a relative bargain. Despite its somewhat remote location, the school attracts a highly diverse student body: 50 percent come from outside Canada. 

The Alberta School of Business is more than a century old, and was the first business school in Canada to receive the coveted AACSB accreditation. The school in Edmonton attracts a youthful MBA cohort, with the average student being 28 years old, with four years’ work experience. The class size is also somewhat smaller than other MBAs, with about 60 students. This may aid peer learning and networking. 

The Beedie School of Business, at Vancouver’s Simon Fraser University, attracts a highly diverse MBA cohort, with more than half being female. The school is ranked by league tables including from QS, and is accredited by AACSB and EQUIS, which are globally recognized quality stamps. All that, and tuition is still far below many Canadian peer institutions. 

Canadian citizens and permanent residents pay tuition fees that much lower than for internationals. The fees are towards the higher end, but a bargain when you consider the quality of the program. It’s renowned MBA concentration in Global Energy Management and Sustainable Development gives students strong job placements in Canada’s energy industry, though students work in all corners of the global economy, too.