The University of Calgary said further tuition increases are necessary to support ongoing “quality” operations on campus.
According to the university’s website, domestic undergraduate students, professional graduate students and course-based graduate students may see a two per cent increase in their tuition fees next school year. However, the University of Calgary is seeking an exceptional tuition increase for domestic students starting undergraduate science programs in Fall 2025.
International undergraduate students, professional graduate students and course-based graduate students may see a six per cent increase in their tuition fees in the 2025-2026 academic year. International graduate students in PhD and thesis-based Master of Science and Master of Arts programs will not see increases in their tuition.
The university is also proposing a four per cent increase to mandatory non-instructional fees. This includes funding for student and enrolment services, Active Living programs, athletics and law career programs.
The university said the increases are needed for day-to-day operations. Student tuition and fees make up about 24 per cent of total revenue in the University of Calgary’s 2024-2025 operating budget, or around $410.8 million. The rest of the revenue comes from a mix of investments, donations, grants and provincial funding.
The Board of Governors also said it is committed to consulting and engaging with students about the tuition increases.
“These rate increases ensure we can continue delivering quality education and exceptional services to our student community,” the University of Calgary’s website reads.
“Domestic tuition increases are regulated by the Alberta government and are capped at two per cent. International student tuition is determined by our Board of Governors, and increases to the mandatory non-instructional fees are limited to the costs of delivering services.”
Mateusz Salmassi, vice president of external affairs for the University of Calgary Students’ Union, said he is glad that the proposed international student fee increases start at six per cent this year instead of the usual 10 per cent.
“We’re keeping a close eye on administration to see whether they will they will uphold good faith consultation. We expressed our initial concerns and the desire to see a thorough consultation process,” Salmassi told LiveWire Calgary in an interview Friday.
However, Salmassi said the tuition increases will negatively impact students who are already struggling with the high cost of living in Calgary. According to the Rentals.ca Rent Report, the average one-bedroom apartment costs around $1,708 per month while the average two-bedroom apartment costs around $2,094 a month.
A recent RBC report suggests that post-secondary tuition increases have outpaced median incomes in Canada five years after graduation from an undergraduate program. After adjusting for tuition, RBC estimates that tuition rose by 12 per cent between 2012-2017 for all undergraduate degrees, while the median income for graduates rose by only four per cent from 2017 to 2022.
Salmassi also raised concerns about the mandatory non-instructional fee increases, saying he wants more transparency from the university about where those fees are going.
He hopes the university will adequately consult with students, which includes a detailed proposal on how their tuition fees will be used. He also wants the university to widely advertise engagement surveys and town halls so students know when they can express their opinions to the Board of Governors.
“Students need to leave the consultation process knowing that their feedback actually affected the final proposal, as we’ve agreed to at the university,” Salmassi said.
He added that the university must also advocate for increased funding from the Alberta government.
“Students are already in a desperate situation when it comes to the affordability crisis, and more tuition increases will pile more stress onto those same students. It is only further hurting them,” Salmassi said.
“I think that when it comes to operating funding, university leadership should be on the same page with student unions and student associations. The question is whether they are interested in pursuing a similar united front.”
