Ontario cuts OSAP grants and lifts tuition freeze

Effective August 1, the Ontario government reduced the grant portion of the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) to a maximum of 25% of a student’s aid package, down from up to 85% previously. Grants for career‑college students were eliminated, shifting the entire amount to repayable loans. At the same time, the province ended a seven‑year tuition freeze, allowing colleges and universities to raise domestic tuition by up to two percent per year for the next three years.

The changes have sparked concern among students facing higher debt loads. One example is Celina Marsolais, a 30‑year‑old student with a disability at Cambrian College, who says her grant would drop from about $8,000 to $1,000, forcing her to rely heavily on loans. Student groups, including the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance, warned that the cuts could make post‑secondary education less accessible for low‑income learners. The government defended the reforms as necessary for the long‑term financial sustainability of OSAP and post‑secondary institutions, citing a $6.4 billion funding package and the Student Access Guarantee to help cover gaps.