TORONTO—Historically Ontario university tuition rates have been the highest than in any other province in Canada. In an effort to provide students and families some degree of financial relief, the Ministry of Colleges and Universities, announced on March 22, 2022 that Ontario will be extending a freeze on college and university tuition.
This tuition freeze will be extended an additional year, through 2022-2023 providing greatly needed relief for students and families looking to access affordable post-secondary education.
Jill Dunlop, Minister of Colleges and Universities, shared her views in saying, “Our government recognizes that students and their families make huge sacrifices to attend college and university, so our government will continue to look for ways to reduce financial barriers for learners. By freezing tuition for another year, we are saying yes to ensuring that students have access to affordable, high-quality post-secondary education, and reducing the financial strain on families who have already faced so many challenges throughout the pandemic.”
The one-year extended tuition freeze for Ontario residents builds on Ontario’s historic 10 per cent reduction in tuition for the 2019-20 academic year, and the subsequent two-year freeze from 2020-22. These reductions represent the first of their kind in Ontario’s history. It is estimated that the government’s action to reduce and freeze tuition has provided students with tuition relief of about $450 million annually when compared to tuition costs in 2018-19.
Closures of businesses across Ontario due to the varying stages of restrictions placed upon Ontarions in an effort to control the spread of COVID-19 has made it very difficult for graduates from any level of education to seek and secure employment; which represented a vital means for earning income.
With tuition reduction costs implemented 2019-2020, Ontario tuition rates for under graduate students have been declining.
“Increasing the affordability of college and university is part of Ontario’s plan to help people get the training they need to get good-paying jobs,” said Minister Dunlop. “By extending the tuition freeze, we will ensure that students can get the skills they need to succeed in a highly-competitive global economy.”
