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Budget 2026: Focused on what matters
The post-secondary education system plays a crucial role in Alberta’s economy and society.
Budget 2026 focuses on what matters, makes disciplined choices, and takes decisive action. It reflects Alberta’s fiscal reality: global uncertainty, rising costs, and rapid population growth which are increasing the pressure on our essential services. It is focused on targeted investments in education, health care and the economy to keep our province moving forward. Budget 2026 invests in the industries, infrastructure, and skilled workforce that drive jobs, opportunity and our economy.
By helping ensure Albertans have the skills and training to meet labour market demand, we are supporting job creation, talent attraction and business investment, driving the economy.
Investment highlights
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$7.1 billion for post-secondary education operating expenses 2026–27
Budget 2026 recognizes the crucial role post-secondary institutions play in meeting the needs of Alberta’s economy.
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$1.8 billion over 3 years in capital investment
Budget 2026 invests in crucial capital projects to make sure our students have the best learning facilities available.
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$338 million over 3 years for skilled trades and apprenticeship training
Our investment in skilled trades and apprenticeship programs is helping drive career growth and workforce development for Albertans.
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Nearly $1.1 billion in direct support to students
Through scholarships and awards, grants, and loans, Budget 2026 ensures Alberta’s students receive direct support for their studies.
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$2.2 billion in operating and program support
Through operating and program support grants, we provide comprehensive support to Alberta’s post-secondary institutions.
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$148 million over 3 years for initiatives to create seats in high-demand programs including engineering, health care and education.
Our Targeted Enrolment Expansion (TEE) initiative increases spaces in high-demand, post-secondary programs that support high-priority economic sectors.
Budget 2026 includes $353 million in continued support for existing TEE funding over 3 years.
Investing in tomorrow's economy
Alberta's government partners with post-secondary institutions across the province to analyze industry trends, identify economic opportunities and invest in forward-thinking solutions.
Building the skilled trades
Budget 2026 invests in skilled trades and apprenticeship education that supports the needs of industry and targets investments that support the economy.
Through Budget 2026, Alberta's government is investing $338 million over 3 years to help meet rising demand for apprenticeship education.
- This includes $288 million for 11 post-secondary institutions across the province and $15 million for union training centres.
Through Budget 2026, we are investing $54 million over 3 years in non-profit community organizations to raise awareness of opportunities in the skilled trades and reduce barriers to accessing apprenticeship education, including women, youth, military veterans and Indigenous Albertans for well-paying, in-demand jobs.
- This includes organizations like CAREERS, Women Building Futures, Skills Canada Alberta, Trade Winds to Success and Helmets to Hardhats.
We are investing $10 million per year, or $30 million over the next 3 years, to modernize our apprenticeship programs to meet the changing needs of industry and apprentices.
Investing in mental health
Alberta’s government is providing $23 million over 3 years through Budget 2026 to foster healthy campuses and support student mental health at publicly funded post-secondary institutions and First Nations Colleges. This investment helps to bridge gaps in mental health care and gives post-secondary institutions the tools they need to provide critical services and support students across our province.
We remain committed to ensuring every Albertan has access to the care they need, when they need it, by providing $12 million over 3 years to support spaces for training mental health professionals at post-secondary institutions across the province.
These seats enable institutions to increase program capacities, improve educational offerings and prepare a new generation of mental health professionals to meet the emerging needs of our communities.
Developing more talent in Alberta
To keep up with demand, we are expanding high-demand post-secondary programs throughout the province, allowing students to upgrade skills or re-train for a new career closer to home.
Students with disabilities
Budget 2026 maintains support to publicly funded post-secondary institutions to reduce barriers and provide students with disabilities with the specialized support and tools they need to be successful through an investment of $34 million over 3 years.
Foundational learning
Budget 2026 supports under-employed, under-represented and unemployed Albertans to provide them with job-ready skills that are needed across the labour market.
Alberta’s government continues to focus on what matters and supporting Albertans to get the skills they need to enter the workforce.
Budget 2026 is investing $331 million over 3 years to support Foundational Learning Assistance and Community Adult Learning Programs, which support under-employed, under-represented, and unemployed Albertans to get training, complete high school and develop job-ready skills to join the workforce.
Open education resources
We are also investing $1 million annually, over 3 years, in free open education resources to help bring down costs for students by offsetting the high cost of textbooks.
Post-secondary infrastructure
Budget 2026 modernizes and expands post-secondary education facilities to ensure students develop the skills they need in the economy of today and tomorrow.
Budget 2026 includes $1.8 billion over 3 years for crucial post-secondary facilities, including capital projects, capital maintenance and renewal funding, and post-secondary institution self-financed contributions, which expand student capacity and help develop a skilled workforce.
Budget 2026 includes an investment of $785 million over the next 3 years for projects at post-secondaries that will support the growing demand for skilled trades and technology professionals and strengthen Alberta’s workforce. This includes:
- $384 million over 3 years towards a $560 million investment for NAIT Advanced Skills Centre, which will add 5,500 learning spaces.
- $7 million in new funding for the Lakeland College Beef Yard Upgrade and Horse Pen Relocation, which will expand agricultural education training spaces at the Vermilion campus.
- $5 million for planning for the expansion of health programming at Bow Valley College.
- $2 million for planning for the Centre for Community Wellness at Medicine Hat College, which will provide modern and integrated learning spaces.
Capital projects
As part of our plan to ensure the best learning facilities for Albertans, we have new and ongoing capital projects over the next 3 years.
$160 million over 3 years as continued investment in the development of the Multi-Disciplinary Hub at the University of Calgary to allow more students to access science, technology, engineering, and math facilities and training.
An investment of $384 million over 3 years towards a $560 million investment for NAIT Advanced Skills Centre, to add 5,500 learning spaces. (Announcement coming soon.)
Making post-secondary education more affordable
Through Budget 2026, Alberta’s government is investing nearly $1.1 billion in 2026–27 to help Alberta’s students access a post-secondary education through loans, grants, scholarships and awards.
- $887 million in Alberta student loans to help an estimated 114,900 students.
- $107 million in scholarships and awards to support approximately 50,400 students.
- $75 million in grants to support about 21,700 students.
In response to the inflationary pressures we have seen over the past few years, Alberta’s government introduced the following affordability measures to ensure post-secondary education is accessible and affordable:
- Increased annual loan limits by $1,000 per semester, to $9000, to help address tuition increases at post-secondary institutions.
- Capped domestic tuition increases at public post-secondary institutions (excluding the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity) to 2% annually, beginning in the 2024/25 academic year.
- Reduced the interest rate on Alberta Student Loans.
- Extended the interest-free grace period from 6 months to 12 months after a student completes their studies.
- Modernized student aid shelter allowances to better reflect actual rental housing costs faced by most post-secondary students.
To support graduates with student loans, we have increased the Repayment Assistance Plan income threshold from $25,000 to $40,000 for single borrowers, effective July 1, 2023.