UBC Okanagan
Kelowna, British Columbia ยท 10,025 undergraduates
Counsellors: add notes to this page for a student
Is it hard to get into UBCO?
What UBCO asks of an applicant from a high school in Ontario. Its own province's students apply with their own courses and, often, a different tuition rate.
Programs listed
10
0 publish an average or minimum
Lowest published average
Not published
The school publishes no averages
Highest published average
Not published
Back for second year
90%
started in 2024
| Field | School says | First-year tuition | Graduates working | Co-op |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering | Not published | $7,441 | 86.2% | Yes |
| Business and commerce | Not published | $6,201 | 89.7% | Yes |
| Nursing | Not published | $6,201 | 100% | No |
| Health sciences and kinesiology | Not published | $6,201 | 82.8% | Yes |
| Life sciences | Not published | $6,201 | 91.7% | Yes |
| Math and physical sciences | Not published | $6,201 | Not published | Yes |
| Arts and humanities | Not published | $6,201 | Not published | Yes |
| Fine and performing arts | Not published | $6,201 | Not published | Yes |
Graduates working: graduates of 2023.
What average do you need for each UBCO program?
10 first-year programs you can apply to straight from Grade 12, grouped by field. Open one for its required courses, extra steps, cost and the same program elsewhere.
Engineeringevery university, ranked
| Program | School says | Co-op | Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied Science (Engineering)Kelowna (Okanagan campus) | No average published; 67% overall is the minimum to be considered | Yes, optional, 4 work terms | $7,441 |
Business and commerceevery university, ranked
| Program | School says | Co-op | Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor + Master of ManagementKelowna (Okanagan campus) | No average published; 67% overall is the minimum to be considered | No | $6,201 |
| CommerceKelowna (Okanagan campus) | No average published; 67% overall is the minimum to be considered | Yes, optional | $6,201 |
Nursingevery university, ranked
| Program | School says | Co-op | Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| NursingKelowna (Okanagan campus) | No average published; 67% overall is the minimum to be considered | No | $6,201 |
Health sciences and kinesiologyevery university, ranked
| Program | School says | Co-op | Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health and Exercise SciencesKelowna (Okanagan campus) | No average published; 67% overall is the minimum to be considered | Yes, optional | $6,201 |
Life sciencesevery university, ranked
| Program | School says | Co-op | Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| SustainabilityKelowna (Okanagan campus) | No average published; 67% overall is the minimum to be considered | Yes, optional | $6,201 |
Math and physical sciencesevery university, ranked
| Program | School says | Co-op | Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| ScienceKelowna (Okanagan campus) | No average published; 67% overall is the minimum to be considered | Yes, optional | $6,201 |
Arts and humanitiesevery university, ranked
| Program | School says | Co-op | Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| ArtsKelowna (Okanagan campus) | No average published; 67% overall is the minimum to be considered | Yes, optional | $6,201 |
Fine and performing artsevery university, ranked
| Program | School says | Co-op | Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Arts (Visual Arts)Kelowna (Okanagan campus) | No average published; 67% overall is the minimum to be considered | Yes, optional | $6,201 |
| Media StudiesKelowna (Okanagan campus) | No average published; 67% overall is the minimum to be considered | Yes, optional | $8,252 |
How much does UBCO cost?
First year, at this year's prices, for a student from Ontario. Each program's page adds up its own total.
Tuition, first year
$6,201 to $8,252
Depends on the program
Fees on top of tuition
$1,002 to $1,102
Compulsory student fees
Residence and meals
$15,367
First year, shared room, usual meal plan
Rent after first year
$1,049 a month
Half a two-bedroom in Kelowna, CMHC Rental Market Survey, October 2025
Tuition over the years
First-year arts tuition for a student from the school's own province, as the school published it each year.
What is it like at UBCO?
The same whatever program you pick.
- Who gets a room
- First-year students entering directly from high school or CEGEP who apply to UBC and to Winter Session residence by 1 May and accept UBC's offer of admission by 1 June
- Money just for your marks
- No automatic entrance scholarships published
- First-years who rate it good or excellent
- 78% (National Survey of Student Engagement)
- Finish their degree
- 71%, started in 2019, within 6 years
- Ways in without the usual marks
- Mature student admission. UBC considers mature applicants who show high academic potential through achievements and life experience, not only grades. Status depends on time out of full-time study, not age. Admission is competitive and not routine; UBC suggests also applying to a BC university transfer program. Who: Out of full-time education (high school and most post-secondary) for at least four years, and no previous undergraduate degree.
- Aboriginal Admission Policy (Okanagan campus). Indigenous applicants who are not admitted on the usual competitive cut-off get a second look. UBC Okanagan may admit applicants below a faculty's competitive cut-off who meet the campus minimum of 67% for direct-entry degrees (or a 2.0 GPA from a post-secondary institution), judged individually with Indigenous Programs and Services. Students who complete 18 university credits with at least 60% in each course (12 of them at UBC Okanagan, including ENGL 112 or 114) are admitted to direct-entry degrees. Who: First Nations, Inuit and Metis applicants who self-identify on the UBC application.
- Aboriginal Access Studies. An entrance program that prepares Indigenous learners for UBC Okanagan degrees: up to three university courses a term that count toward the degree, plus non-credit upgrading (writing, math) if needed and mandatory tutorials and workshops, with Indigenous Student Advisors. Open to recent graduates, mature students and applicants whose grades do not reflect their potential. Who: Indigenous applicants who may not be ready for direct admission to a degree; applications open year-round, start in September or January.
- Access Studies. Take UBC Okanagan credit courses without being admitted to a degree and without the standard admissions process. Credits may later be applied to a degree program; it does not guarantee admission. Who: People of all ages and backgrounds without a degree admission (English language requirement and course prerequisites apply).
What do UBCO graduates earn?
Statistics Canada does not publish pay by university, only by field for each province's graduates. Figures are for British Columbia bachelor's graduates, the class of 2022 two years after and the class of 2019 five years after, in 2024 dollars.
| Field | Two years after (class of 2022) | Five years after (class of 2019) |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering | $81,700 | $98,300 |
| Business and commerce | $62,700 | $79,100 |
| Nursing | $92,700 | $95,800 |
| Health sciences and kinesiology | $45,600 | $68,400 |
| Life sciences | $48,900 | $73,800 |
| Math and physical sciences | $51,200 | $78,700 |
| Arts and humanities | $48,800 | $61,500 |
| Fine and performing arts | $37,900 | $47,700 |
What careers do UBCO programs lead to?
Two careers per field the school teaches, each with its pay, training and what the work is like.
- Civil EngineerRoads, bridges, water and buildings. A four-year degree, then a licence that lets you sign the drawings.$101kTypical pay4 to 8 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemand
- Mechanical EngineerMachines, engines, heating systems and factories. The biggest engineering discipline, with the widest choice of employers.$95kTypical pay4 to 8 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemand
- Accountant (CPA)The money behind every business. A degree, a national exam, and a designation that travels.$84kTypical pay6 to 7 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemand
- Financial AnalystRead the numbers behind a company or a deal and tell people what they mean. A degree, then years of exams.$90kTypical pay4 to 7 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemand
- Registered NurseCare for patients in hospitals, clinics and homes. In demand everywhere in Canada.$90kTypical pay4 yearsTo qualifyVery highDemand
- Nurse PractitionerA nurse with a master's degree who can diagnose, order tests and prescribe. Two degrees, six figures, huge demand.$128kTypical pay8 to 9 yearsTo qualifyVery highDemand
- PhysiotherapistGet people moving again after injury, surgery and illness. A tough master's to get into, then steady work everywhere.$96kTypical pay6 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemand
- KinesiologistMovement, exercise and rehab science. A popular 4-year degree that opens doors, often to more school.$67kTypical pay4 yearsTo qualifyModerateDemand
- BiologistStudy living things for a government, a university or a consulting firm. The degree is the easy part; the funding is the hard part.$83kTypical pay4 to 6 yearsTo qualifyLimitedDemand
Compare UBCO with other universities
Side by side: programs, averages, costs and outcomes.
Or open University of British Columbia's own page, or the list of every university on Careerhelp.
Where these numbers come from
Checked 2026-10-20. Every figure is from the school's own pages or a government table; nothing is estimated.
- Residence: okanagan.housing.ubc.ca (opens in a new tab) (you.ubc.ca (opens in a new tab))
- Who gets a room: okanagan.housing.ubc.ca (opens in a new tab) (you.ubc.ca (opens in a new tab))
- Scholarships: you.ubc.ca (opens in a new tab) (you.ubc.ca (opens in a new tab))
- Fees: okanagan.calendar.ubc.ca (opens in a new tab) (okanagan.calendar.ubc.ca (opens in a new tab))
- Satisfaction: pair.ok.ubc.ca (opens in a new tab) (listed on pair.ubc.ca (opens in a new tab))
- Rent: www150.statcan.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)
- Pay by field: www150.statcan.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)
- Arts: you.ubc.ca (opens in a new tab)
- Science: you.ubc.ca (opens in a new tab)
- Applied Science (Engineering): okanagan.calendar.ubc.ca (opens in a new tab)
How every figure in this part of the site is sourced, and the check of every link.
Careerhelp is not affiliated with any school. Check the program page before you apply; requirements change every year.