Domestic tuition: $7,80000–$14,50000/yr · Commerce (Smith): ~$17,50000/yr · Kingston shared housing: $7500–$1,000000/person/month · Strong OSAP grant eligibility for lower-income families
Tuition at Queen's University
Queen's University in Kingston charges domestic undergraduate tuition ranging from approximately $7,80000/year for Arts programs to $14,50000/year for Engineering. The Smith School of Business (formerly Queen's Commerce) charges approximately $17,50000/year and is one of the most expensive undergraduate business programs in Ontario. Science and Computing programs fall between $9,50000 and $12,000000/year.
Ancillary fees (student government, health and dental plan, athletics) add another $1,20000–$1,80000/year. Engineering students pay additional lab fees of approximately $50000–$80000/year.
Cost of Living in Kingston, Ontario
Kingston is a mid-sized city with strong student culture and relatively affordable housing compared to Toronto or Ottawa. Most Queen's students live in the student ghetto near University Avenue in shared houses.
- On-campus residence + meal plan (year 1): $13,50000–$16,000000/year
- Shared house (year 2+): $7500–$1,000000/person/month
- 1-bedroom apartment: $1,30000–$1,70000/month
- Groceries: $3500–$50000/month
- Transit (Kingston Transit): ~$700/month (free with U-Pass at some periods)
- Personal + entertainment: $30000–$50000/month
Total annual living costs in Kingston: approximately $17,000000–$24,000000/year.
OSAP for Queen's Students
Queen's students are fully OSAP-eligible. The university's tuition level places students in a range where OSAP grants cover meaningful portions of tuition for families earning under $800,000000. Queen's also administers the Queen's University Bursary (QUB) program for students with demonstrated financial need beyond OSAP — funds up to $5,000000 per year are available without repayment.
The AMS (Alma Mater Society) also runs a bursary fund. Apply through SOLUS (the student portal) before the October 1 deadline each year.
Part-Time Work in Kingston
Kingston has a government and healthcare economy that creates steady part-time work. Common student jobs include food service, retail, tutoring, and research assistance. Queen's hires extensively for peer tutors ($18–$22/hr) and research positions ($17–$22/hr).
Students can also find summer work through the Queen's Summer Employment program or through the broader Kingston job market. The city's size means most jobs are accessible by transit or bicycle.
4-Year Cost Summary — Queen's (Non-Commerce)
| Category | Per Year | 4 Years |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition + fees | $9,50000–$12,000000 | $38,000000–$48,000000 |
| Housing | $11,000000–$15,000000 | $44,000000–$600,000000 |
| Food & living | $6,000000–$8,000000 | $24,000000–$32,000000 |
| Books & misc. | $1,50000–$2,50000 | $6,000000–$100,000000 |
| Total | $28,000000–$37,50000 | $112,000000–$1500,000000 |
After OSAP grants (est. $00–$8,000000/year depending on income) and part-time work (~$13,000000/year), most Queen's students accumulate $15,000000–$35,000000 in loan debt over 4 years.
Tips for Queen's Students
- Apply to all Queen's bursaries before Oct 1 — many go unclaimed each year
- The Queen's student card gives transit discounts and local merchant deals worth $20000–$40000/year
- File your OSAP renewal by June 15 each year to ensure funds arrive by September
- Open a TFSA immediately — see our TFSA guide for students
🧮 Queen's Annual Cost Calculator (calcStudentQueens)
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