Affordable universities in Canada?

I'm American and want to go to college in Canada, what are the best universities?

• So I'm in community college now and I really don't like it much. I'm going to be applying to some universities in the states for next spring, but I'm really sick of living here too and feel that Canada has a less corrupt socioeconomic system and generally a better quality of life. I want to apply to university in Canada as well, but I'd like to get some input on what Canadian universities are considered "the best". I plan on studying math - particularly stats/probability. And by "the best" I don't mean it has to be like the Harvard of Canada or even a well-known school but I'd like to get a quality education. I've been researching schools already but I feel like I'll probably get the best advice from people who have lived in Canada for a while/are familiar with the Canadian school system. So Canadians - what do you think?

• Answer:

  Definitely Waterloo. Unfortunately, Canadian universities have been really sliding over the past few decades. Seventy percent of undergraduate classes are taught by instructors who are on tenuous part-time contracts paid by the taught class. Many TAs are foreign students and there are constant complaints that their English is not sufficient to conduct classes. Tenured faculty look down on teaching and you're unlike to get near one until 4th year if you're lucky. While Canada does K12 much better than most of the US (excluding some of the top zip codes) generally the US has a better post-secondary system. Much as Canadians love to say our universities are better than those of the US it is generally more of an emotional than a data-based reaction. In Canada the word ‘college’ is not a synonym for ‘university’. It can be a kind of community college-technical school blend or the licensing body for professionals. You cannot do an AA and expect to transfer to a BA here unless it is a programme set up by a ‘college’ and a ‘university’ to accept each other’s specific credits for a specific programme. My point is, the systems are different and unless you really take the time to understand what you are getting into you might find some unpleasant and expensive surprises. As a foreign student you will pay higher fees than Canadians but it will be comparable or cheaper than most out-of-state fees in the US.