Ontario university students paying highest tuition fees in Canada

TORONTO, Ont. – A new report by Statistics Canada shows Ontario university students are paying the highest tuition fees in the country, while a students association said learners are graduating with debt generally between $25,000 and $27,000.

StatsCan said on average, Ontario undergraduates are paying $6,307, while students in Quebec continue to have the lowest tuition fees at $2,415.

The Canadian Federation of Students Ontario said the province’s undergraduate fees have increased by 5.4 per cent, while graduate fees have spiked 10 per cent.

It said that appears to be higher than the maximum allowable fee increase percentage set out by the governing Liberals.

Across Canada, undergrads are paying a 4 per cent increase over last year, while graduates are spending an extra 6.6 per cent on average. All students pay over $5,000 per year.

Zack Dayler of the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations told 680News that the steep fees are “hindering their ability to get jobs, or to pursue other forms of education after they have graduated,” adding that students in large cities have the most difficulties, as living expenses are generally higher.

The CFS said it’s the second year in a row that Ontario students had the highest fees and are calling on Premier Dalton McGuinty to address the ballooning costs.

The federation represents more than 300,000 college and university students across the province.

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Meanwhile, the University of Toronto has made the list of the top 20 universities in the world in a British-based publication.

The school ranks 17th on the list, compiled by Times Higher Education, while eight other Canadian schools were listed in the top 200.

In 2009, McGill was the top Canadian university.