In 2012, paying for three universities at once wasn’t a metaphor; it was a financial triathlon. The article came during a period when Ontario tuition was rising 5–6% per year, well above inflation. Parents were screaming into voids (and spreadsheets), as government grants continued to shrink. Fast-forward to 2025, and nothing’s changed except the size of the student debt.
Stats Canada confirmed a point that any parent with a child in University (in Canada) already knew. Tuition fees are increasing faster than the inflation rate. Overall across Canada the average increase is 5.0% however, those lucky enough to be in Ontario (like me) saw a 5.4% rate increase (remember we are only talking tuition here, not residence fees or all those incidental fees).
Remember that inflation has been running between 1.5% and 2.5% over the past year, so this is at best only a 100% overrun of inflation. Wonder what caused this? I have heard Universities say, it is due to lower Government grants and such, haven’t really seen a good explanation.
So your daughter wants to be a doctor? Wondering how much that might cost (I include a table of all programs lower down in this post):
Undergraduate students in dentistry ($16,910) paid the highest average undergraduate fees in 2012/2013, as was the case for the previous years. They were followed by students in medicine ($11,891) and pharmacy ($10,297).
No wonder Dentists are so stressed. As for Doctors, at least when they graduate, they can pay things off faster. This is due to all the bonuses communities offer to entice them to move to their area.
You already have a degree, but are you considering an MBA to help you get ahead?
At the graduate level, the most expensive programs remained the executive master of business administration (MBA) with tuition fees of $38,508, and the regular MBA program, at $23,757.
Hope you are saving your pennies for that, or get someone else to pay for it!
I did mention those nagging extra fees as well. Here is what you can expect in that area:
Nationally, additional compulsory fees for Canadian undergraduate students increased 3.3% in 2012/2013 compared with the previous year. On average, these students paid $750 in additional compulsory fees, up from $726 a year earlier.
Remember, those fees are not deductible either, and that does not include the price of text books or living expenses.
Don’t let it be said I haven’t warned you. Younger parents put money into RESPs thinking you are saving for your kids’ education. Let me tell you right now, it is not going to be enough. You had best use your TFSA as well. Find any other way to save. Your RESP might get you through year 1 and 2. However, you will be hard-pressed to make it to the end of your kids’ post-secondary education.
Tuition Gouge Increase by Province
Average undergraduate tuition fees for Canadian full-time students, by province
| 2011/2012 | 2012/2013 | 2011/2012 to 2012/2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| current dollars | % change | ||
| Canada | 5,313 | 5,581 | 5.0 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 2,649 | 2,649 | 0.0 |
| Prince Edward Island | 5,258 | 5,470 | 4.0 |
| Nova Scotia | 5,722 | 5,934 | 3.7 |
| New Brunswick | 5,728 | 5,917 | 3.3 |
| Quebec | 2,520 | 2,774 | 10.1 |
| Ontario | 6,815 | 7,180 | 5.4 |
| Manitoba | 3,638 | 3,729 | 2.5 |
| Saskatchewan | 5,734 | 6,017 | 4.9 |
| Alberta | 5,663 | 5,883 | 3.9 |
| British Columbia | 4,919 | 5,015 | 2.0 |
Tuition Gouge by Area of Study
Average undergraduate tuition fees for Canadian full-time students, by field of study
| 2011/2012 | 2012/2013 | 2011/2012 to 2012/2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| current dollars | % change | ||
| Agriculture, natural resources and conservation | 4,961 | 5,095 | 2.7 |
| Architecture and related technologies | 4,788 | 5,077 | 6.0 |
| Humanities | 4,769 | 4,942 | 3.6 |
| Business, management and public administration | 5,673 | 6,060 | 6.8 |
| Education | 3,804 | 4,006 | 5.3 |
| Engineering | 6,155 | 6,552 | 6.5 |
| Law, legal professions and studies | 9,335 | 9,949 | 6.6 |
| Medicine | 11,313 | 11,891 | 5.1 |
| Visual and performing arts, and communications technologies | 4,591 | 4,793 | 4.4 |
| Physical and life sciences and technology | 5,247 | 5,478 | 4.4 |
| Mathematics, computer and information science | 5,781 | 6,111 | 5.7 |
| Social and behavioral science | 4,656 | 4,862 | 4.4 |
| Other health, parks, recreation and fitness | 4,873 | 5,092 | 4.5 |
| Dentistry | 16,037 | 16,910 | 5.4 |
| Nursing | 4,731 | 4,909 | 3.8 |
| Pharmacy | 9,719 | 10,297 | 5.9 |
| Veterinary medicine | 5,889 | 6,224 | 5.7 |
Tuition hikes have become as predictable as potholes in Ottawa every year, a lot deeper. The irony is that we still treat education like the golden ticket, even as it sucks families dry. RESPs offer some assistance. However, when the tuition bill matches the price of a used Honda Civic every semester, it becomes a significant concern. The math becomes significantly more challenging.
Parents, brace yourselves. Even "free" schooling comes with invisible costs. These include laptops, transit passes, and "student association fees." There's also the psychological damage of yet another $200 textbook titled “Introduction to Financial Misery.” I will be publishing that book shortly.
It’s time Canadians stopped calling it “education inflation” and started calling it what it is: generational wealth transfer in reverse. That sounds like a Yogi Berra-ism.
Universities are masters of legalized pick-pocketing. They charge “ancillary fees” like they’re sneaking fries into your combo order, except here, the fries cost $700.
And every time the government “reviews tuition fairness,” I check my wallet for scorch marks. I love my kids. However, paying three tuition at once made me consider selling plasma. I don’t even like needles.
Ontario Tuition Fees FAQ
Reduced government funding, higher administrative costs, and universities' padding revenue with “mandatory fees.”
Historically, yes average annual increases have been 2 to 6%, consistently beating inflation.
Diversify savings use both RESPs and TFSAs. Start early, automate contributions, and avoid raiding the RESP early.
For medicine, dentistry, and law, the payback can be fast. For others, it depends heavily on job prospects and student debt levels.
BCM, thanks for the heads up, I had not noticed 🙁
I could have built a pool, tore out and replaced my kitchen and gone on a trip each year for what it has cost me the last 5 years for my kids and still counting.
I think we discussed this once, but you can get the health insurance component waived on the compulsory fees if you provided proof your kids are covered under a health plan at work.
Yes, but they make the student go through back flips to do it. Our daughter at Acadia can’t get the money back for another month, thanks to the system, but she will get it back (eventually), excellent point made however, sorry I forgot that tip.
Also buy your text books USED, or ON LINE (if possible).