A Guide to College Credentials

College Degree

Like their university counterparts, college degrees are typically four-year programs that prepare students for a variety of jobs in health care, marketing, business and more. They tend to take the longest and are often the most expensive of college offerings, with yearly tuition between $7,000 and $9,000. (That’s pricier than an undergraduate university education, averaged at $6,834 by Statistics Canada in 2022.) College degrees differ from those offered at universities in that they place more emphasis on applied experience and less on the history and theory of the discipline. 

Diploma 

Shorter than college degrees, diploma programs typically take one to three years to complete. They’re usually what people think of when they think of a college education, and most colleges in Canada offer a wide range of options. Some two-year diplomas, like the engineering technology programs at Holland College on Prince Edward Island, are geared toward preparing students for upper-year university courses at other institutions. But many diploma programs, like architectural design, hairdressing, aviation operations and carpentry, are direct paths to the workforce. 

Advanced Diploma

Like standard diploma programs, an advanced diploma features course work, applied learning opportunities and internships or co-op placements, but the three-year schedule allows for more specialization and in-depth study. Advanced diplomas are commonly offered in Ontario colleges, where disciplines include business administration, engineering technology, health care, IT and hospitality management. 

Certificate

Certificate programs in Canada tend to take less time to earn than diplomas, usually requiring up to a year of study. Some certificates grant credentials that provide access to trades (like becoming a truck driver, electrician or carpenter), while others are meant to teach technical skills to supplement careers in nursing, ergonomics and project management, among others. Certificates are more focused than degrees and diplomas, and often omit historical, theoretical or background aspects of their field. Their costs vary considerably due to the wide range of subjects and because they’re administered by universities, colleges and trade schools alike. While a certificate in cloud computing technology or big data analytics from Toronto’s York University costs just under $3,300, a certificate from Toronto Truck Driving School can set you back as much as $15,000. 

Graduate Certificate

Graduate certificates are short, targeted offerings, typically taking a year or less to complete. They are designed for students who already have post-secondary education (usually a bachelor’s degree, but in some cases a diploma) and want to specialize in a particular field. Many graduate certificate programs have a work experience component and are sometimes offered part-time or asynchronously.

Microcredential

A microcredential is a short, focused course, delivered over a handful months or even weeks. Meant to bolster a student’s skill set or CV, microcredentials provide good bang for the buck. Costs range from free to around $600, and passing courses will provide credentials that can lead to salary increases or career shifts in industries like computer science, business and the arts.

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