Ontario Ends Tuition Freeze and Slashes OSAP Grants — Students Are Not Happy
If you're a post-secondary student in Ontario, your wallet is about to feel it. The provincial government has announced two major changes to education funding that will hit starting this fall: tuition fees are going up, and OSAP grants are being dramatically cut.
The reaction from students has been swift and overwhelmingly negative.
The Tuition Hike
After years of a province-wide tuition freeze, Ontario is lifting the cap. Starting in the 2026–2027 school year, universities and colleges can raise tuition by up to 2% annually for the next three years. After that, increases will be capped at 2% or the three-year average rate of inflation — whichever is lower.
In dollar terms, that works out to roughly $170 more per year for university students and about $66 more for college students. On its own, that's manageable. But it's the OSAP changes that have students panicking.
The OSAP Gut Punch
The Ontario Student Assistance Program is being restructured in a way that shifts the burden squarely onto students. Currently, eligible students can receive up to 85% of their OSAP funding as non-repayable grants. Under the new rules, that drops to just 25%. The remaining 75% will come as loans — money you have to pay back.
For students at private career colleges, it's even worse: OSAP grants are being eliminated entirely.
What the Government Says
The province is framing the changes as part of a broader $6.4-billion investment in post-secondary education over four years. The argument is that institutions need more funding to stay competitive, and that the tuition freeze — while popular — was starving schools of revenue.
That's true as far as it goes. Ontario's universities have been vocal about financial strain, and some programs have faced cuts or closures. But student advocacy groups argue that making students take on more debt isn't the answer.
What It Means for Toronto Students
Toronto is home to some of the province's largest schools — U of T, TMU, York, OCAD, George Brown, Humber, Seneca. The impact will be felt across the city, particularly among lower-income students who relied on OSAP grants to make education accessible.
With Toronto's cost of living already among the highest in the country, the combination of rising tuition and reduced grants could push some students out of post-secondary altogether — or deeper into debt than any generation before them.
The changes take effect in September 2026.
