Grade by Grade
D. Topics in Computer Science · Topics in Computer Science: Sustainability, Emerging Research and Careers

Postsecondary Pathways: Programs, Requirements and Costs

D3.3About 70 minutes
Learning goals
  • I can describe university, college and certification pathways to careers in computer science and information systems.
  • I can find a program's entrance requirements and plan my Grade 12 courses to meet them.
  • I can describe program lengths and the credentials they lead to.
  • I can estimate the cost of a program and identify ways to pay for it.

Words to know

OSSD
Ontario Secondary School Diploma.
prerequisite
A course you must complete before you can take another course or be admitted to a program.
bachelor's degree
A university (or some college) credential, usually four years of full-time study.
diploma / advanced diploma
Ontario college credentials, usually two years (diploma) or three years (advanced diploma).
industry certification
A credential from a company or industry body showing a specific skill, such as networking or cloud administration, earned by passing an exam.
OUAC / OCAS
The application services for Ontario universities (OUAC) and Ontario colleges (OCAS, at ontariocolleges.ca).
OSAP
The Ontario Student Assistance Program, which offers grants and loans to help pay for postsecondary education.

The choices you make next year matter

In Grade 12 you will choose courses, and in the fall of Grade 12 you will apply to programs. If a program you want needs Calculus and Vectors and you didn't take it, you may have to take it later before you can apply. This lesson helps you research postsecondary programs that lead to careers in computer science and information systems: the institutions, credentials, entrance requirements, program lengths and costs.

High schoolOSSDUniversitybachelor's degree, 4 years(often 5 with co-op)Collegecertificate, diploma (2 yr),advanced diploma (3 yr), degreeCertifications andshort programse.g. CompTIA, Cisco, cloudWorkin computingcareerstransferMany people combine pathways and keep learning while they work.
Postsecondary pathways into computing careers. Some college graduates transfer to university, some university graduates add a college graduate certificate, and certifications can be added at any stage.

University programs

  • Computer science (Bachelor of Science, or at some universities Bachelor of Mathematics or Bachelor of Computer Science): programming, algorithms, data structures, theory, systems, AI and more. Usually 4 years; co-op versions often take about 5 years and include paid work terms.
  • Software engineering and computer engineering (engineering degrees): design of software systems or hardware. Programs accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board lead toward the P.Eng. licence (through Professional Engineers Ontario, after supervised work experience).
  • Combined and interdisciplinary programs: computer science with business, biology (bioinformatics), mathematics, game design, linguistics and more.

Entrance requirements (typical): an OSSD with six Grade 12 U or M courses, including ENG4U. Many computer science programs also require Advanced Functions (MHF4U) and Calculus and Vectors (MCV4U), and some ask for another math or science course. Engineering programs usually require MHF4U, MCV4U, Chemistry (SCH4U) and Physics (SPH4U). Competitive programs set high admission averages, and some ask for a supplementary application. Always check each program's current requirements.

College programs

Ontario colleges offer hands-on programs with lots of lab time, often with co-op or field placements:

  • Certificates (often 1 year), diplomas (usually 2 years) and advanced diplomas (usually 3 years) in areas such as computer programming, computer systems technology, network and cybersecurity, web development, game development and health informatics.
  • Some colleges offer four-year bachelor's degrees, and many have graduate certificates (often 1 year) for people who already have a diploma or degree, for example in cybersecurity, data analytics or AI.
  • Many college programs have transfer agreements with universities, so credits can count toward a degree later.

Entrance requirements (typical): an OSSD with Grade 12 English (C or U) and, for many computing programs, a Grade 11 or 12 math course. Requirements vary by program.

Industry certifications and other options

  • Industry certifications show specific job skills. Examples: CompTIA A+ (computer support), CompTIA Network+ and Security+, Cisco CCNA (networking), and cloud certifications from Amazon Web Services, Microsoft and Google. Some are included in college programs or the ICT SHSM.
  • Bootcamps are short, intensive private programs. Quality varies a lot, so check results, reviews and costs carefully.
  • Dual credit programs let some Ontario high school students take college courses that count toward both their OSSD and a college credential.
  • Professional designations later in a career, such as the I.S.P. (Information Systems Professional) from CIPS.
Worked example

Example 1: Planning Grade 12 courses

Aisha wants to apply to both a university computer science program (requires ENG4U, MHF4U, MCV4U and three other U/M courses) and a college computer programming diploma (requires Grade 12 English and a Grade 11 or 12 math). Plan her Grade 12 courses.

  1. Required for university: ENG4U, MHF4U, MCV4U (plus three more U/M courses).
  2. College: ENG4U counts as Grade 12 English, and MHF4U or MCV4U counts as the math, so the university plan also meets the college requirements.
  3. Three more U/M courses: ICS4U (Computer Science) is a natural choice; Data Management (MDM4U) and a science or another subject she enjoys.
  4. Check order: MCV4U usually needs MHF4U first or at the same time, so MHF4U should be in the first semester.
  5. Keep options open: this plan meets both pathways' requirements.

ENG4U, MHF4U (first semester), MCV4U, ICS4U, MDM4U and one more U/M course. This keeps both pathways open.

Costs and how to pay

The cost of a program includes:

  • tuition (it varies by program and institution; check each school's website),
  • ancillary fees (student services, athletics, transit pass and more),
  • books, software and a laptop,
  • living costs: housing, food and transportation, which depend a lot on whether you live at home.

Ways to pay: savings and a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP), OSAP grants and loans, scholarships and bursaries (many are based on marks, need or community involvement), part-time and summer work, and co-op work terms, which are paid.

def total_cost(tuition, fees, books, living, years):
return (tuition + fees + books + living) * years
home = total_cost(7000, 1500, 1200, 3000, 4)
away = total_cost(7000, 1500, 1200, 14000, 4)
print("Living at home: $" + format(home, ","))
print("Living away: $" + format(away, ","))
print("Difference: $" + format(away - home, ","))

A cost model with example numbers only. Real costs vary by school and program; look them up on each school's website. Output (one line each): Living at home: $50,800 / Living away: $94,800 / Difference: $44,000

Four-year cost with example numbers (not real prices)Living at home$50,800Living away$94,800tuitionfeesbooks/laptopliving costs
Where you live can matter as much as tuition. In this example, living away from home almost doubles the total.
Just for fun

Why did the student bring a ladder to the university fair?

Someone told her the programs had high entrance requirements. (A good course plan works much better than a ladder.)

Hands-on activity

Program comparison

You need: a computer with internet access, and a spreadsheet or paper.

  1. Choose three programs related to computing: at least one university program and one college program (and optionally a certification).
  2. For each, record: institution, credential, length, co-op (yes or no), Grade 12 prerequisites, application service (OUAC or OCAS) and application deadline, and the tuition and fees listed on the school's website.
  3. Estimate a four-year (or full-program) budget with the total_cost function, using the real numbers you found and a realistic living cost for living at home or away.
  4. Find one scholarship and the OSAP estimator on the Government of Ontario website.
  5. Write a Grade 12 course plan that keeps all three programs open, and discuss it with a parent and your guidance counsellor.

What to look for: accurate, current information with links; a realistic budget; a course plan that meets every prerequisite.

Your turn

1

Name three credentials a student can earn at an Ontario college.

2

What are the typical minimum requirements for an Ontario university program?

3

Which two Grade 12 math courses do many university computer science programs require?

4

What are OUAC and OCAS?

5

Name two industry certifications in computing.

6

Use total_cost(6500, 1400, 1000, 2500, 2) to find the cost of a two-year program.

7

Name three ways to pay for postsecondary education.

More practice: warm-up

1

How long is a typical bachelor's degree?

2

How long is a typical college diploma?

3

What is a prerequisite?

4

What does OSAP stand for?

5

What is a graduate certificate?

More practice: on your own

1

Why might living at home change the total cost more than choosing a cheaper program?

2

Mateo didn't take MCV4U but wants a university computer science program that requires it. What are his options?

3

Give one advantage of a co-op university program and one disadvantage.

4

Why should you be careful when choosing a private bootcamp?

5

A software engineering student wants to become a P.Eng. What else is needed besides the degree?

Challenge

1

Extend total_cost with a parameter aid_per_year (grants and scholarships) that is subtracted each year. With the "living away" numbers and $3,500 of aid per year for 4 years, what is the net cost?

2

Compare two pathways for becoming a cybersecurity analyst: (A) a 2-year college diploma plus a Security+ certification, (B) a 4-year computer science degree. Give one strength of each and one question you would research before choosing.

3

A co-op student earns $18 an hour for 35 hours a week over a 16-week work term. How much is that before deductions, and how could it change the budget in the program?

Check your understanding

Quiz

1.

Which course is required by almost every Ontario university program?

2.

How long is a typical Ontario college advanced diploma?

3.

Where do students apply to Ontario colleges?

4.

Which is an industry certification?

5.

Using total_cost(7000, 1500, 1200, 3000, 4), what is the cost?

6.

Which statement about postsecondary costs is most accurate?

For parents and teachers

Big idea: Expectation D3.3 asks students to research postsecondary programs leading to careers in information systems and computer science, including institutions, industry certifications, courses of study, entrance requirements, program length and costs.

How to help: This is a great family conversation. Go through the program comparison activity together, including the real costs and where your teen would live. Look at the OSAP estimator and any RESP savings. Make sure the Grade 12 course plan meets prerequisites for every program on the list, and confirm with the guidance counsellor.

Common difficulties:

  • Missing a prerequisite (especially MCV4U), which can close doors.
  • Comparing only tuition and forgetting living costs.
  • Using out-of-date requirements; always check the current year's program page.