In 2013, more than 8,000 U.S. students enrolled in Canadian schools.

Time Money reports.

Should You Go to College in Canada?

It’s a foreign country but just a 90-minute flight from New York or Boston. The natives speak English–and French. Their brand-new prime minister is 43 and even has a tattoo.

For some students in the U.S., heading north to college in Canada is a choice that makes both financial and intellectual sense. That’s especially true if you hold Canadian citizenship, which can qualify you for less-expensive, domestic tuition rates.

In 2013, more than 8,000 U.S. students enrolled in Canadian schools, according to Universities Canada, a nonprofit that gathers such statistics.

Applicants to Canadian schools often have some connection to the country, notes Stephanie Shyu, a founder of AdmitSee, a database of successful college application files uploaded by the students themselves. But for other students, the “foreignness” of Canada is part of its appeal.