Canadian Students Face Hidden Expenses Amid Rising Tuition

Canadian students face increasing university expenses, with the average undergraduate paying $7,734 in tuition for the 2025-26 school year, up 1.4% from the previous year. Compulsory fees, including student union, athletics, health services, technology, and program-specific charges, average around $1,200 per year. A TD survey found that 76% of post-secondary students say money worries have hurt their wellbeing and academic performance, and 23% don't know how to build a budget. The Ontario government's decision to cap the grant share of the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) at 25% has changed the math on unplanned expenses, making them more likely to become debt that students carry for years.