It's about to cost a lot more to attend universities in Ontario and no one is happy about it

On Thursday, the Government of Ontario announced it is lifting its seven-year tuition freeze and reducing student grants, a move that has sparked concern among students.

Beginning September 2026, universities and colleges will be allowed to raise tuition annually by up to two per cent for the next three years, while the province invests an additional $6.4 billion in post-secondary education over the next four years.

According to Nolan Quinn, the province's Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security, these changes are meant to "ensure the sustainability" of post-secondary schools and to "keep costs down for students and their families."

But many students say the new OSAP changes contradict the government's promise to keep education costs down — especially now that everyone agrees the cost of living is out of control.

Previously, students received up to 85 per cent of OSAP funding as grants, which they weren't required to repay. That structure is now being reversed, raising concerns among students.

Starting in the fall, students will only be able to receive up to 25 per cent of their OSAP funding as grants, and at least 75 per cent will be loans that must be repaid. The province also says that students attending private career colleges will no longer be eligible for grants.

As one would expect, these overhauls have many students stressed and raising concerns on social media. Some are saying they likely won't be able to afford tuition without the help of grants.

I was even thinking of going back to school but with new OSAP rules I changed my mind 🤦‍♀️

— IMISSGINGER (@_missginger) February 13, 2026

"I don't think I'll be able to go back to school now. I’m so devastated," another posts on X.

And another writes, "I'm so pissed. I just got my permanent residency after my dad passed, now I gotta deal with this BS too?"

Meanwhile, others are now calling a post-secondary education a "luxury."

This is going to cost students a lot more money. That their parents have not been budgeting for. At a time when life is more expensive than it has ever been. In the middle of a Jobs crisis. We're making post secondary education a luxury.

— Scott Fox (@ScottFoxonair) February 13, 2026

One individual isn't afraid to use harsh words to describe the news.

the osap grants to loan ratio change is genuinely vile

— seeker teki (@newerteki) February 13, 2026

Another commenter worries that new changes and subsequent costs will prevent people from seeking a post-secondary education.

The OSAP loan change is genuinely despicable and going to stop so many people from furthering their education

— Livy (@ms_livyyy) February 13, 2026

"So they froze tuition for years while letting universities quietly deteriorate, then lifted the freeze while also shrinking the grant portion of OSAP," writes another user on X. "Students now pay more while getting less financial support. The math doesn't add up unless the goal is to make education a luxury."

According to StatsCan, about half of Canadian post-secondary graduates carry debt, averaging at around $25,200 upon graduation.