Cost of Studying in Manitoba: Tuition, Ancillary Fees and Living Expenses
By Muntasir Minhaz • Published Aug 19, 2026 • Money & Budgeting, Canadian Universities & Colleges
A Manitoba domestic student pays roughly $4,900 to $6,400 a year in tuition alone depending on program, plus close to $887 a year in mandatory fees, and Winnipeg rent runs from about $1,150 for a shared room to $1,460 for a solo one-bedroom.
💵 University of Manitoba 2026-27 tuition runs from $163.97 a credit hour in Arts to $213.09 in Management
Mandatory student fees add roughly $440 to $445 a term on top of tuition
🏠 A one-bedroom apartment in Winnipeg averages around $1,425 to $1,463 a month
College and polytechnic diploma programs generally cost less per year than a university degree
Tuition by program at the University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba charges domestic undergraduate tuition per credit hour, and the rate depends on your faculty. For the 2026-27 academic year, a full 30-credit-hour course load costs approximately:
| Faculty | Rate per credit hour | Estimated annual tuition (30 credit hours) |
|---|---|---|
| Arts | $163.97 | $4,919 |
| Science | $187.65 | $5,630 |
| Nursing | $177.76 | $5,333 |
| Engineering | $186.37 | $5,591 |
| Agricultural and Food Sciences | $198.63 | $5,959 |
| Management (Asper) | $213.09 | $6,393 |
Professional programs with limited enrollment, including Dentistry, Law, Medicine and Pharmacy, charge separate program fee schedules well above these general rates. Brandon University, the University of Winnipeg and Université de Saint-Boniface publish their own per credit hour tables, which move within a similar range but are not identical to the University of Manitoba's, so check each institution's registrar page for the program you plan to take.
Mandatory fees on top of tuition
Full-time University of Manitoba students pay mandatory ancillary fees each term regardless of program: a student union fee of $142.62, a technology service fee of $132.86, a library fee of $28.96, a registration fee of $28.96, and a recreation services fee of roughly $109.96. Combined, these add close to $443 a term, or around $887 a year across the Fall and Winter terms, before textbooks, lab supplies or a parking pass.
Books, supplies and program extras
Budget several hundred dollars a term for textbooks and course materials, more in lab-heavy programs like Science, Engineering and Nursing that require equipment or uniforms. Some programs, particularly in health sciences and trades, add clinical placement fees, safety gear or professional software licences on top of standard tuition and ancillary fees. Check your specific program's fee page for these extras before you budget.
College and polytechnic tuition
Diploma and certificate programs at Red River College Polytechnic, Assiniboine College, University College of the North and the Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology generally cost less per year than a university degree, and most programs run one to two years rather than four. Exact cost varies widely by program, from academic diplomas to trades and health programs with extra materials fees, so check the specific program page for a current total before applying.
Living expenses in Winnipeg
Housing is the largest expense outside tuition for most Manitoba students. Winnipeg's average one-bedroom apartment rent for 2025-26 lands in the $1,425 to $1,463 a month range depending on the month and source, according to Rentals.ca market data. Sharing an apartment or renting a room brings the cost down substantially, and students outside Winnipeg, in Brandon or The Pas, generally see lower rents.
Budget for groceries, transit and personal expenses on top of rent. A monthly transit pass, groceries for one person, and phone and internet service typically add several hundred dollars more, so build a full monthly budget rather than relying on tuition and rent alone.
A realistic annual budget example
| Expense | Approximate annual cost |
|---|---|
| Tuition (Arts, University of Manitoba) | $4,919 |
| Mandatory fees | $887 |
| Rent, shared apartment (roughly $700-900/month) | $8,400-10,800 |
| Groceries, transit and personal expenses | $4,800-7,200 |
A single University of Manitoba Arts student living with roommates in Winnipeg should plan for a total of around $19,300 to $23,300 a year including tuition, fees, housing and living costs. Costs run higher for programs with steeper tuition, for students living alone, or for anyone without a roommate to split rent.
Tuition changes every year
Manitoba public universities adjust tuition annually within provincial rules. The rates above apply to the 2026-27 academic year specifically, so check your institution's current registrar page each year rather than relying on a number from a previous year.
Health coverage
Manitoba residents keep provincial health coverage through Manitoba Health while studying inside the province, at no separate premium. If you study outside Manitoba but keep Manitoba residency, confirm how long Manitoba Health covers you before you need a study-province health plan, since rules differ by destination and by how long you stay away.
Regional cost differences
Rent and general living costs run lower outside Winnipeg, in cities like Brandon and The Pas, home to Brandon University, Assiniboine College and University College of the North. Part-time job availability and wages tend to run lower outside Winnipeg too, so lower rent does not always mean a lower total cost of living once you account for income.
Ways to lower your cost
Combine tuition and living costs with financial aid rather than budgeting for full sticker price. Manitoba Student Aid, institutional scholarships awarded automatically on admission, and a part-time job during term all reduce what you pay out of pocket. Apply for aid and scholarships in the same cycle as your admission application, since some programs share a deadline.
Building your own estimate
Pull your program's exact tuition rate from its institution's registrar page, add its published mandatory fee schedule, then price rent for your preferred neighbourhood and commute distance separately. Add a fixed monthly amount for groceries, transit and phone service, then multiply by eight months for the school year and by twelve if you stay in Manitoba over summer. This gives a program-specific number instead of a general provincial average, which matters more once you pick an actual faculty and address.