Undergrad tuition up 5% this year, more than triple inflation
The Canadian Press
Posted: Sep 12, 2012 11:49 AM AT
Last Updated: Sep 12, 2012 4:27 PM AT
This year's hike in tuition comes on top of a 4.3 per cent increase in fees for the last school year. (Getty)
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- Statistics Canada - university tuition fees, 2012/2013
- Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives - the affordability of university education
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Statistics Canada says tuition fees for full-time students in undergraduate programs are five per cent higher for the academic year starting this fall than they were last year.
That comes on top of a 4.3 per cent increase for the 2011-2012 school year. In comparison, the inflation was 1.3 per cent between July 2011 and July 2012.
The agency says the average tuition bill this year is $5,581, compared to $5,313 a year earlier.
Tuition fees rose in every province except Newfoundland and Labrador, where they have been frozen since 2003-2004.
Undergrads in Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec continued to have the lowest average fees, while Ontario students paid the highest tuition in the country.
With this year's increase, tuition fees in Quebec were $2,774, just above the $2,649 charged in Newfoundland and Labrador. Ontario students paid an average of $7,180 in tuition.
Dentistry students paid the highest average undergraduate fees at $16,910. Medical students paid an average of $11,891 and pharmacy students paid $10,297.
All undergraduate programs saw increases, ranging from 2.7 per cent in agriculture, natural resources and conservation to 6.8 per cent in business, management and public administration.
Average tuition increases ranged from two per cent in British Columbia to 10.1 per cent in Quebec.
Graduate students paid the highest fees in Ontario ($8,041), followed by students in Nova Scotia ($7,613) and British Columbia ($7,593).
Tuition fee increases for undergraduate programs
| 2011/2012 | 2012/2013 | %/change | |
| Canada | $5,313 | $5,581 | 5.0 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $2,649 | $2,649 | 0.0 |
| Prince Edward Island | $5,258 | $5,470 | 4.0 |
| Nova Scotia | $5,722 | $5,934 | 3.7 |
| New Brunswick | $5,728 | $5,917 | 3.3 |
| Quebec | $2,520 | $2,774 | 10.1 |
| Ontario | $6,815 | $7,180 | 5.4 |
| Manitoba | $3,638 | $3,729 | 2.5 |
| Saskatchewan | $5,734 | $6,017 | 4.9 |
| Alberta | $5,663 | $5,883 | 3.9 |
| British Columbia | $4,919 | $5,015 | 2.0 |
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