Information for Canadian Students

Houghton welcomes Canadian students!

Approximately 30 Canadian students currently call Houghton their college home, with the provinces of Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, and Prince Edward Island being represented. Over 200 Houghton alumni currently reside in Canada. We appreciate the diversity that our neighbors from the north bring to our campus!

  1. Why choose Houghton?
  2. Financial Aid for Canadians
  3. Visiting Houghton
  4. Approximate driving times
  5. Canadian Graduate Schools attended by Houghton alumni
  6. Border
  7. Application Instructions
  8. Intercultural Student Programs Office

Any Questions?

If you have questions please feel free to contact Ryan Spear, our Admission Counselor for Canadian students. 

Ryan can be reached by phone at 800-777-2556 or e-mail at ryan.spear@houghton.edu.

Why choose Houghton?

Houghton provides a university-level education in a Christian community focused on developing well-rounded, critical thinkers, enabling students to serve Christ in the world.

At Houghton, you can earn a 4-year bachelor's degree in one of our 40 majors and programs; our curriculum promotes exceptional intellectual development in our students. This development takes place in a supportive, Christian community of 1,200 students, which provides numerous opportunities for social and spiritual growth.

These factors are critical to our mission, because at Houghton, we won't just teach you career-skills; we'll help you learn how to live!

Financial Aid for Canadian Students

Financing a college education is a concern for many families, especially for Canadian students who wish to study in the United States. Our Office of Student Financial Services realizes this and strives to make a Houghton education attainable.

Students apply for aid once they've received confirmation of their acceptance to the college. Canadians must complete the Houghton College Canadian Student Financial Aid Application in order to be considered for financial assistance from the college. Dual citizens of the United States and Canada should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) instead.

Scholarships and Grants

* All awards are renewable each year provided the student meets eligibility requirements.

Canadian Grant - All Canadian students will receive the Canadian Grant of $4,000 per year.  This is intended to help account for the difference in exchange rate. 

Houghton College Foundation of Canada Scholarship - Generous Canadian alumni and friends have supported Canadian students through the Foundation of Canada Scholarship Fund. These awards are given to select Canadian students each year and generally amount to $500 - $1,000 per award.

Wesleyan Grants - Houghton offers scholarships to students who attend a Wesleyan Church, ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 per year.

Parental Christian Service Grants - Students whose parents' main source of income is derived from full-time Christian service as a missionary or pastor will receive a grant of $1,500.

Excellence Scholarships - These awards range from $1,250 to $7,500 per year and are based on a student's academic record.

Performance Scholarships - Performance Scholarships, ranging from $500 to $10,000 per year may be awarded to students who display exceptional talent in fine arts or athletics.

On-campus Work Opportunities - Each year there are over 600 available jobs within various departments on campus. A social security card is required to obtain work on campus and Houghton will help Canadian students obtain their card. A student typically works between 10-12 hours per week. 

More information can be found on our financial aid web page.

Visiting Houghton College

Nothing takes the place of a campus visit to gain a first-hand acquaintance with the distinctives and opportunities of a particular college. Call our visit office toll-free at 800-777-2556, or consult our visit office web site for more details.

Approximate Driving Times to Houghton from Cities in Ontario

City Approx. driving time
Niagara Falls 2 hours
St Catherine's 2 1/4 hours
Toronto 3 1/2 hours
London 4 hours
Brockville 4 1/2 hours
Ottawa 6 hours

Canadian Graduate Schools attended by Houghton alumni

Crossing the Border

The thought of going to a different country for school can be an overwhelming one. Our Admission and Intercultural Programs Offices help dozens of students cross borders to study at Houghton each year.
All international students, including Canadians, are issued an I-20 student visa, as required by U.S. Immigration.  Houghton will handle the necessary paperwork and mail your I-20 the summer prior to your enrollment.  We are happy to address any concerns you may have with crossing the border.

Canadian students are also able to work in an abundant array of on-campus jobs while enrolled at Houghton.

Application Instructions

In order to have your application for admission reviewed by the Admission Committee, the following items must be submitted:

  1. A completed application for admission.
  2. An official high-school transcript
  3. A completed Christian character recommendation
  4. A $40.00 (U.S. funds) non-refundable application fee

*Canadian students are not required to submit SAT or ACT scores.

Intercultural Student Programs Office (ISPO)

One resource that is available to all Canadian students is the Intercultural Student Programs Office (ISPO).  The ISPO exists to help international students, MKs, and TCKs adjust to life at Houghton, as well as to provide cultural, social, educational, and spiritual programs for Houghton's intercultural population.  While the differences between U.S. and Canadian culture are much smaller than other international cultural differences, there are still some cultural gaps to bridge.  The ISPO aims to help Canadian students make a successful transition to living and studying in the U.S  For more information contact Brian Webb at brian.webb@houghton.edu or visit the ISPO webpage