If you’re contemplating studying at a university or college in Canada, you might want to factor in which programs deliver the quickest return on investment.
Getting a university or college education in Canada isn’t cheap, and the soaring cost of living isn’t making it any easier. In fact, a recent report found that an increasing number of Canadians are struggling to pay off their debt and are missing payments.
That’s why nearly 40 per cent of Canadians say they’re unsure whether higher education is worth the cost, according to an Ipsos survey commissioned by educational marketplace CourseCompare.
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When tuition costs an arm and a leg, you may want to look at programs that will quickly pay back the time and money you invest.
Luckily, CourseCompare has a new report that shows which university and college programs in Canada “really do (and don’t) pay off.”
The organization released its 2025 Return on Education (ROE) Index on Tuesday, ranking Canada’s 20 most popular degree and diploma programs based on which ones deliver the fastest financial return.
Using Statistics Canada data, CourseCompare’s learner insights, and tuition figures from institutions, the ranking is scored based on:
- Average tuition
- Average program duration
- Average graduate debt
- Median salary two years after graduation
- Average time to break even
- Projected job growth (applied as a score multiplier)
The baseline score is 100, and scores above 100 indicate “stronger-than-average short-term returns.” Scores below 100 indicate “weaker-than-average short-term returns.”
The diploma program with the highest ROI is automotive service technician, with a score of 136. According to the report, graduates with this diploma will only take 2.75 years to break even.
Other well-ranking diploma programs include construction/building technician, pharmacy technician, and registered nursing.
CourseCompare
“Hands-on, in-person professions deliver the strongest short-term returns on education,” reads the report. “Combine low tuition costs, shorter durations, and steady salaries to create fast breakeven timelines that push them well above the national baseline.”
CourseCompare suggests that these programs have a low risk of automation and are more affordable and accessible, which reduces barriers to entry.
“By contrast, the return on digital diplomas is slipping,” reads the report. “Once viewed as pathways to lucrative careers, programs in Graphic Design, Marketing, and Web Development now yield slower, less predictable returns.”
The university degree in Canada with the highest ROI is a Bachelor of Computer Science, with a score of 135. The report says graduates with this degree will only take 3.87 years to break even.
Other degrees with quick financial returns include a Bachelor of Nursing, a Bachelor of Engineering, and a Bachelor of Business Administration.
CourseCompare
“The strongest returns among bachelor’s degrees are concentrated in STEM and healthcare… combining strong salary-to-debt payoff ratios, short breakeven timelines (four years or less), and healthy job growth projections,” reads the report.
CourseCompare suggests that popular university programs in Canada, such as Psychology, Political Science, Biology, and English, may not necessarily yield a high payoff.
“These programs typically require greater investment into further education before real returns appear, stretching breakeven timelines to six years or more,” reads the report.
Do you think higher ed is worth it in Canada? Send us an email at trending@dailyhive.com.