Bow Valley College
Bow Valley College is situated near the meeting point of Calgary’s Bow and Elbow rivers, an area called Mohkinstsis from the Blackfoot word for “elbow.” With a regional campus in Okotoks, Alberta, the school serves more than 9,000 learners. The college offers certificates and diplomas in business, health, community studies, creative technologies, academic upgrading and English-language learning. The college’s school of creative technologies offers programs in information technology systems, software development, digital marketing, data management and analytics, as well as kitchen and bath design. Students in the practical nursing diploma program get 30 per cent of their clinical hours in simulation labs, including using two AI mannikins and virtual reality.
Students and the community now have access to two new cutting-edge facilities. In the fall of 2024, Bow Valley opened a 3,500-square-foot e-sports arena, the first of its kind in Calgary. The facility, used in the e-sports business management diploma, is free for all Bow Valley students. Entertainment arts students, and external film and television productions, also have access to a new 3,500-square-foot full-service VFX (visual effects) studio. Indigenous students at the college have access to Bow Valley’s Iniikokaan Centre, which provides a gathering space, Elder counselling and academic support services.
Quick facts
School size:
Mid-sized
Tuition:
Diploma $5,600-$13,500
Certificate $1,900-$7,000
Post-Grad $7,700-$14,800
Residence offerings:
No
Popular programs
Practical Nursing Diploma
Business Administration Diploma
Early Childhood Education and Development Diploma
Medical Office Assistant and Unit Clerk Certificate
Software Development Diploma
Cool options
Health Data Analytics: In this new two-year program, students learn epidemiology, health informatics, information management and patient data analysis.
Software Development: In this practical diploma, students work part-time in a company on real-industry projects while completing an accredited college diploma.
Advanced Film Production: Students learn directing, producing, production design, cinematography and post-production in this two-year program.