What the Ontario government’s recent investment in post-secondary means for students
On Thursday, February 12, 2026, the Government of Ontario announced a $6.4-billion investment in the post-secondary education sector (external link) over the next four years, as well as changes to tuition and the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP).
While TMU and many universities across the province are celebrating this announcement after many difficult years of budgeting, the university has also heard concerns from students about what changes in funding may mean for them.
Here are answers to the most commonly asked questions:
Q: Why do universities believe this announcement is good news?
A: Ontario universities are welcoming this announcement because this investment from the Ontario government is the largest commitment to post-secondary education in the province’s history, and the first in many years. The support is coming at a crucial time, helping to increase stability for post-secondary institutions that have been in a cash crunch for years, and to allow them to better meet students’ – and Ontario’s – needs for the future.
Q: How does this funding help?
A: Higher education institutions have faced enormous financial pressures in recent years stemming from a lack of government grants, rising costs, inflation and declining revenues. This has limited universities’ abilities to invest in programs and services for students.
The new funding model will help provide operating funding for colleges and universities for the next four years and support the addition of more seats in high-demand programs across the province.
For students, this investment provides TMU with greater flexibility to evaluate and strengthen academic and student-support programming. As implementation details are confirmed, the university will determine how best to support areas such as STEM pathways and key student services, with a focus on meaningfully enhancing the overall student experience.
Q: Will TMU tuition increase? When and by how much?
A: Ontario will allow publicly assisted universities like TMU to raise tuition by up to two per cent per year for three years starting in September 2026. This is the first time Ontario universities have been able to raise domestic tuition since it was cut by 10 per cent in 2019 and then frozen. This left tuition rates that were the same as those from roughly a decade ago, with no adjustments for inflation.
It is estimated by the provincial government that a two per cent increase will raise undergraduate tuition by approximately $170 a year on average.
Even with this increase, Ontario will still have one of the lowest rates of tuition in the country. That said, we understand every cent counts for students, and at TMU we will continue to support students’ access to education and will continue to look for ways to find efficiencies.
Q: There are also changes to OSAP. What kind of financial support is available to students? How will TMU support students financially?
A: Yes, there will be changes to OSAP. At this time, we understand that enhancements to the “Student Access Guarantee” are designed to provide additional financial support to low-income students when OSAP doesn't cover the full cost of tuition, books and mandatory fees.
At TMU, we offer a variety of scholarships, bursaries and awards for undergraduate and graduate students; all who are eligible are encouraged to apply. Additional details about student financial assistance are available online.
We are also always looking to grow and develop new scholarship opportunities and the university is exploring ways to enhance these this year.
Q: Does this mean universities are in great financial shape now?
A: No. While this investment in post-secondary education is very welcome and will help relieve some challenges, universities, including TMU, will need to continue to find greater efficiencies (external link) and other sources of revenue.
In the face of post-pandemic affordability pressures across Ontario, universities have continued to deliver high-quality education while absorbing rising operating costs within largely fixed budgets. The new funding will provide a partial offset of the impacts created by declining international enrolment due to federal policy changes, several years of frozen tuition, and very constrained government grant levels.