This release was issued under a previous government.
Government has approved tuition increases in 25 programs to enhance program quality and correct tuition anomalies between programs in Alberta and across Canada. One application was rejected for not meeting the criteria.
Existing students in the approved programs will not be impacted by the increases. When fully implemented, approximately eight per cent of Campus Alberta students will be affected. The modifications represent less than one per cent of all programs in Alberta’s post-secondary system.
The increases will bring a projected $21 million in additional revenue to Campus Alberta institutions. Tuition in these programs will be closer, but in some cases still below, tuition at comparable institutions across Alberta and Canada.
“Market modifier increases address tuition anomalies between programs in Alberta and across the country. These tuition increases allow institutions to enhance quality and make these specific programs more responsive to student needs. Our goal is to have the best post-secondary education in the country.”
Each individual market modifier proposal was required to outline how the additional revenues would increase program quality and affect students.
“While the U of A law proposal is substantial at first glance, upon further review, one can see that it is quite reasonable. The market modifier will simply bring our school in line with the national average of competitive Canadian law faculties.”
“The Haskayne MBA Society, on behalf of the full-time and part-time MBA Students recognizes the potential repercussions of raising tuition, but also see this as an opportunity to increase value to the Haskayne MBA in the future. Accordingly, we encourage the Haskayne School of Business to proceed with the proposed market modifier towards improving the MBA program and services rendered.”
About market modifiers
- The 25 programs approved for tuition increase represent 0.88% of the 2,950 programs available across Campus Alberta.
- Approximately 13,367 Full Load Equivalent (FLE) positions will be impacted or 8% of the 158,020 FLE positions in Campus Alberta. The full load equivalent is measured by taking the load of the student enrolled and dividing by the full load of that program.
- Market modifiers were introduced in 2010 as an amendment to the Tuition Fees Regulation as a way for institutions to apply for tuition corrections for specific programs above the rate of the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
- Market modifiers are meant to correct market anomalies in the cost of specific programs compared to comparable institutions in Alberta and other jurisdictions.
- Once the market modifier has been implemented, tuition for the affected programs may increase at the rate of the CPI.
- Alberta offers a comprehensive student aid program to ensure post-secondary students can access the right funding supports to support their academic goals. Any eligible Albertan who needs a student loan to support their studies will get it.
- Albertans are successful at repaying their loans. It is expected that more than 90 per cent of Alberta student loan dollars issued this year will be repaid by post-secondary graduates based on repayment rates over the last 10 years.
- The average tuition rate for an undergraduate program in Alberta is $5,730 in the 2014-15 school year; the national average is $5,959 per year according to Statistics Canada.
- Tuition in Alberta increased by one per cent in 2014-15. This represents the second-lowest increase in all of Canada.
- The Alberta government covers a majority of the cost of a learner’s education in Alberta.
- For example: it costs approximately $20,000 per year on average for an undergraduate Bachelor of Arts degree in Alberta. Of that amount, a student pays approximately 28 per cent--or $5,300 per year. The remaining cost is the responsibility of taxpayers and institutions. The Alberta government covers most of the cost, around 60-65%.
- An average Bachelor of Science degree costs almost $30,000. Of that, a student pays approximately 18 per cent of the cost—or $5,300.
- The criteria for market modifier proposals included identifying: a clear existing market anomaly for the a single proposed program; provisions for grandfathering current students and plans for phasing in the change; information on how students were consulted; information on how the additional revenue would increase program quality; benefits to students and the institution if the proposal was granted; total cost to students; any potential system-wide impacts of the adjustment.
NOTE: Campus Alberta institutions are available to discuss details of their proposals with media.
Backgrounder
Programs approved for market modifier increases
|
Institution & Program |
Tuition increase |
Percentage increase |
Additional revenue generated |
|
Athabasca University |
Current: $4,760/yr Proposed: $5,254/yr |
10% |
$87,636 annually (fully implemented by 2017-18) |
|
University of Alberta |
Current: $5,320.80/yr Proposed: $5,770.80/yr |
8% |
$438,750 annually (est.) (fully implemented by 2018-19) |
|
University of Alberta |
Current: $9,987/yr Proposed: $11,387/yr |
14% |
$714,000 annually (expected implementation in 2017-18) |
|
University of Alberta |
Current: $10,221/yr Proposed: $15,995/yr |
56% |
$5,556,860 annually (fully implemented by 2017-18) |
|
University of Alberta |
Current: $24,439.20 (program total) Proposed: $34,712.24 |
42% |
$1,800,000 annually (fully implemented by 2018-19) |
|
University of Alberta |
Current: $18,489.60 (program total) Proposed: $19,971.84 (program total) |
8% |
$94,179 annually (fully implemented by 2016-17) |
|
University of Calgary |
Current: $5,385.90/yr Proposed: $6,405.90/yr |
19% |
$3,466,130 annually (fully implemented by 2018-19) |
|
University of Calgary |
Current: $32,839.68 (program total) Proposed: $40,839.68 (program total) |
24% |
$852,550 annually (fully implemented by 2018-19) |
|
University of Calgary |
Current: $32,462.40 (program total) Proposed: $38,462.40 (program total) |
18% |
$1,068,000 annually (fully implemented by 2016-17) |
|
University of Lethbridge |
Current: $4,974/yr Proposed: $6,474/yr |
23% |
$1,300,000 annually (fully implemented by 2017-18) |
|
Mount Royal University |
Current: $4,940/yr Proposed: $6,440/yr |
30% |
$2,084,700 annually (fully implemented by 2018-19) |
|
Mount Royal University |
Current: $4,940/yr Proposed: $5,940/yr |
20% |
$486,233 annually (fully implemented by 2018-19) |
|
Mount Royal University |
Current: $4,940/yr Proposed: $5,440/yr |
10% |
$481,900 annually (fully implemented by 2018-19) |
|
Alberta College of Art and Design |
Current: $4,480/yr Proposed: $5,500/yr |
23% |
$423,394 annually (fully implemented by 2017-18) |
|
Alberta College of Art and Design |
Current: $4,480/yr Proposed: $5,500/yr |
23% |
$167,669 annually (fully implemented by 2017-18) |
|
Bow Valley College |
Current: $2,317 Proposed: $3,007 |
30% |
$113,339 annually (fully implemented by 2015-16) |
|
Bow Valley College |
Current: $7,823 (program total) |
22% |
$73,989 annually (fully implemented by 2016-17) |
|
Bow Valley College |
Current: $8,843 (program total) |
16% |
$1,233,163 annually (fully implemented by 2016-17) |
|
Grande Prairie Regional College |
Current: $8,062 (program total) Proposed: $9,029.44 (program total) |
12% |
$58,262.40 annually (fully implemented by 2016-17) |
|
Lethbridge College |
Current:$6,247 (program total) Proposed:$8,047 (program total) |
30% |
$62,460 annually (fully implemented by 2016-17) |
|
Lethbridge College |
Current: $8,750 (program total) Proposed: $9,700 (program total) |
27% |
$107,322 annually (fully implemented by 2016-17) |
|
Lethbridge College |
Current: $9,335 (program total) Proposed: $9,935 (program total) |
6% |
$59,166 annually (fully implemented by 2016-17) |
|
Olds College |
Current: $4,380/yr Proposed: $7,500/yr |
71% |
$330,000 per year (fully implemented by 2017-18) |
|
Olds College |
Current: $4,380/yr |
71% |
$227,400 annually (fully implemented by 2017-18) |
|
Olds College |
Current: $4,380/yr Proposed: $7,500/yr |
71% |
$270,000 per year (fully implemented by 2017-18) |
Tuition comparisons – selected programs
Juris Doctor (Law)
|
University of Alberta current tuition |
$30,663 total program cost |
|
University of Calgary current tuition |
$32,839 total program cost |
|
University of Saskatchewan |
$36,045 total program cost |
|
University of Toronto |
$90,110 total program cost |
|
York University |
$69,544 total program cost |
|
Dalhousie University |
$41,340 total program cost |
Engineering
|
University of Alberta current tuition |
$25,540 total program cost |
|
University of Calgary current tuition |
$21,543 total program cost |
|
University of British Columbia |
$22,820 total program cost |
|
University of Manitoba |
$24,000 total program cost |
|
University of Toronto |
$51,920 total program cost |
|
Queen’s University |
$43,616 total program cost |
|
McMaster University |
$44,125 total program cost |
MBA program
|
University of Alberta current tuition |
$24,439 total program cost |
|
University of Calgary current tuition |
$32,462 total program cost |
|
University of British Columbia |
$44,761 total program cost |
|
Simon Fraser University |
$36,000 total program cost |
|
University of Saskatchewan |
$28,000 total program cost |
|
University of Toronto |
$91,460 total program cost |
|
Queen’s University |
$77,000 total program cost |
|
York University |
$65,000 total program cost |