Olds College

Olds College is the largest agricultural college in Alberta and has maintained its small class sizes and practical training since its founding more than a century ago. The school’s campus is located an hour north of Calgary, surrounded by prairies and with a view of the Rocky Mountains. The college offers programming in agriculture, horticulture, land and environment management, animal science, food production, business and trades. The school’s extensive facilities include a 2,300-square-foot brewery and a “farm of the future,” which employs the latest technologies to boost productivity and use resources sustainably. The 3,600-acre smart farm is home to crop and forage production, including a 1,000-head capacity feedlot, a commercial cow/calf herd, a purebred Red Angus herd, and a sheep flock, as well as the Smart Ag Innovation Centre, which gathers and analyzes data from the farm. Through applied research, these facilities accelerate the development of technologies that improve productivity, profitability and sustainability in the agricultural and agri-food industries.

Olds College’s trades facilities are getting an overhaul, with a $63-million investment from the provincial government that will modernize the infrastructure over the next three years. 

Students can opt to live on the main campus in townhouse-style residences or in the Centennial Village residence, which has 450 single rooms with double beds and private washrooms. Communal spaces include a fitness centre and a large student lounge with a fireplace and a big-screen TV.

Quick facts

School size:
Mid-sized

Tuition:
Degree $8,400-$9,600
Diploma $7,600-$12,700
Certificate $4,600-$15,500
Post-Grad $8,400-$9,600

Residence offerings:
Yes

Popular programs

Diploma in Agricultural Management
Certificate in Agricultural and Heavy Equipment
Veterinary Technology Diploma
Business Management Certificate
Horticultural Technologist Diploma

Cool options

Golf Course Management: This post-degree or post-diploma bachelor’s program includes a work-integrated learning term.

Craft Beverage and Brewery Operations: Students learn the art, science and business of the brewing industry through hands-on training that includes developing recipes, sourcing ingredients and conducting trial brews.

Equine Reproduction Technician: Students learn to manage or operate an equine breeding facility, including modern reproductive techniques, embryo transfer, managing fertility issues and interpreting ultrasounds.