Posted on by Assistant Editor
Ontario New Housing Affordability Now in Effect, Brian Masse Statement, Ontario Adds 9100 Jobs in December, Story Book Early Learning Centre Fire, January is Alzheimer Awareness Month, Business Growth Initiative, Ontario Supporting St. Clair College Powerline Training, Amherstburg No Smoking By-Law, Largest Wedding Show South of Toronto, Storm Flooding Tops 4th Quarter, Winter Bites Restaurant Week is back!, Public Input in Windsor to Develop 2017 Budget, Story Book Opening Soon After Devastating Fire, Province Investing in Science, Research Facility at University of Windsor, Ontario Economy Continues to Grow in Third Quarter of 2016, Special Windsor City Council Meeting, Ontario and Canada Helping Grow in Ontario’s Food and Beverage Industry, Investing in the Future of Windsor's Downtown Core, Sidewalk Cafe, Mature Students Could Qualify for Free Tuition with New OSAP, Windsor Regional Hospital Patient Volumes Over Capacity, Windsor Regional Cuts Impact Windsor-Essex Families, Ontario Chamber Letter Concerning Canada-US Trade Relationship, Extended Tree Program to Help Landowners, Nominations Now Open for Best of Windsor Essex Awards, City of Windsor - No Front Yard Parking, TECUMSEH WEB APP HELPS LOCAL BUSINESSES, Windsor Welcomes New Deputy Fire Chief, Deadline for Flood Victims - Provincial Financial Assistance, City of Windsor Expands Open Data, Dr. Alan Wildeman 2018 Departure, Natural Gas Pipeline Relocation Makes Way for the Gordie, Gordie Howe International Bridge - Short-List, WDBA Invites Public to First Annual Public Meeting, Statement by Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Eating Disorders Awareness Week 2017, Ontario Launches Free Counselling Program for Jurors, Arts, Culture and Heritage Fund, Essex Launches New Facade Improvement Grant, City of Windsor 2017 Interim Tax Bills in the Mail, Tax Bills in the Mail for 2016
17
Jan

Ontario Making College and University More Affordable for Adult Learners by Offering Free Tuition

Ontario is transforming student assistance to make college and university more affordable, including free tuition for qualifying adult learners, so that they can go back to school and upgrade their skills.

Deb Matthews, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Development, joined by Education Minister Mitzie Hunter and Beaches-East York MPP Arthur Potts, met with students and community members at the City Adult Learning Centre in Toronto today, to talk about how 150,000 people in Ontario will be eligible to receive free tuition as a result of the improvements the provincial government is making to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP).

“We’re moving forward with the most ambitious reform of student financial assistance in North America because our government believes that a person’s ability to access postsecondary education should be based on their ability to learn, and not on their ability to pay. The new OSAP will provide over 150,000 students across the province with free average tuition.” — Deb Matthews, Deputy Premier, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Digital Government

The new OSAP will make average tuition free for students, including mature students and adult learners, whose family income is less than $50,000 per year. Students with children may be eligible to receive OSAP funding for child care costs, and students from higher-income families will also benefit from more generous grants and loans.

Ontario has also launched a new online calculator to allow students to find out instantly whether they qualify for free tuition or other grants from the province. For example, if you are a single parent, have three children and earn $60,000 a year, the new OSAP calculator will tell you that you are eligible for more than $16,000 of non-repayable aid, making average university tuition free with money left over for books and fees.

Expanding access to college and university is part of our government’s plan to create jobs, grow our economy and help people in their everyday lives.

QUICK FACTS

  • Students applying to college and university for September 2017 will be the first to benefit from the new OSAP.
  • About 80 per cent of all OSAP recipients will graduate with less provincial debt.
  • In 2014-15, Ontario issued almost $1.3 billion in grants and loans to students.
  • Adult education offered by school boards provides opportunities for adults to return to complete their high school diploma and/or to complete specific courses required for entry into postsecondary education institutions and apprenticeship programs.
  • More than 1,700 candidates were successful in writing their General Educational Development tests and acquired an Ontario Equivalency Certificate last year.
blank
Assistant Editor