Here’s what the recent OSAP changes mean for post-secondary students

Now more than ever, your student life is still at risk.

We’re at a place that we wished we weren’t.

Throughout the 2025-2026 academic year, the provincial government has advanced policy changes in post-secondary education that, ultimately, weave together more challenges for students.

First came the passing of the Support Children and Students Act (Bill 33) 2025. The bill, which passed on Nov. 19, introduces two major changes: it gives the government greater authority to regulate ancillary fees that fund student unions and proposes merit-based admissions processes, which could reduce diversity and make it harder for students to transfer or switch programs.

IGNITE brought Humber Polytechnic and University of Guelph-Humber students’ concerns directly to Queen’s Park in November, speaking face-to-face with decision-makers who must hear students’ perspectives.

And now, unfortunately, we find ourselves facing another major battle: the recent changes to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP).

The consequences for hundreds of thousands of students across the province who rely on this funding could be catastrophic.

Let’s break down what these changes mean, how they could impact your student life and what IGNITE is doing to advocate for you.

What is changing?

A Board of Directors member wearing glasses and a blue shirt sits and listens to a person speaking during a meeting in an office setting. — *Photo by IGNITE.*

Premier Doug Ford, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security Nolan Quinn and the provincial government have recently announced changes to OSAP funding.

OSAP currently operates on a mix of grants and loans — grants are non-repayable, while loans must be repaid over the years. Right now, the funding proportion is 85 per cent in grants to 15 per cent in loans.

Starting this fall, the government is changing this balance dramatically. Students will receive only 25 per cent of their OSAP funding in grants, while 75 per cent will be in loans.

This means that post-secondary students will graduate with larger long-term debts instead of receiving financial support that helps reduce financial risk.

For the hundreds of thousands of students who depend on OSAP every year, this change will delay their careers and postpone their dreams under the weight of financial pressure.

The province is also lifting a seven-year tuition freeze for domestic students. Colleges and universities will now be permitted to increase tuition fees by up to two per cent per year for the next three years. Then, increases will be capped at either two per cent or the average inflation rate, whichever is lower.

On a practical level, this means students will face rising tuition costs at the same time that their financial aid becomes more loan-heavy.

With increased financial pressure, opportunity will shrink, education will become less accessible and the skills gap will be deepened. These changes will not help strengthen Ontario’s economy; it will result in the opposite.

More than half of Humber and UofGH students rely on OSAP

Three people are sitting at a conference table. One woman in focus and looking attentive, with a monitor with abstract colours in the background. — *Photo by IGNITE.*

If you’re wondering how these changes could affect students at Humber and the University of Guelph-Humber, take a look at these numbers. These numbers were provided by Humber Polytechnic and UofGH directly to IGNITE.

More than 65% of registered full-time students at Humber use OSAP.
Approximately 55% of UofGH students rely on OSAP.

Even in the 2026 winter semester alone, 55% of the students who registered at Humber relied on OSAP.

That means over half of our student body could feel the impact of these changes.

Post-secondary students are already navigating tuition payments, rising grocery bills, rent, transportation expenses and textbook fees. Many are working one or more part-time jobs while studying full-time. Some are also completing unpaid internships on top of that.

OSAP closes the gap between ambition and affordability, and for many students, it makes the difference between being able to enroll and being forced to step away from education entirely.

According to the most recent key performance indicators from 2021-2022 published by Colleges Ontario, the association representing the provinces’ 24 public colleges, Humber has the highest graduate employment rate in the Greater Toronto Area at 83.6 per cent.

Imagine if 80% of Humber’s more than 30 thousand full-time students did not enter the workforce.

To me, that sounds like erasing the future workforce, the future taxpayers and the future leaders of this province, and consequently, slowing down the economy.

Join IGNITE in this fight

Three women in business attire are talking to each other during the Advocacy Summit. — *Photo by IGNITE.*

IGNITE has formally written to Premier Doug Ford urging the province to reconsider these changes and to work with students on sustainable solutions.

On our social media, we’ve also called on the Minister of Colleges and Universities, Nolan Quinn, to recognize that these decisions shouldn’t be made behind closed doors, especially when students are the ones who will live with the consequences.

IGNITE understands that Ontario’s post-secondary system is facing financial pressures, but shifting financial strain onto students is not the solution.

It is possible to properly fund institutions, maintain a strong economy and design a loan-repayment system that doesn’t punish students for pursuing higher education.

That’s why we are joining other student unions from across the province at the Rally for Student Life at Queen’s Park on Wednesday, March 4. Together, we’ll collectively call on the government to halt these changes to OSAP.

Free transportation from Humber’s Lakeshore and North campuses will be provided, but seats are limited. Make sure to register quick to claim yours.

IGNITE Student Advocates are standing and gesturing while presenting in a modern conference room. A seated woman listens attentively. — *Photo by IGNITE.*

When hundreds of thousands of students rely on OSAP every year to pursue their post-secondary education, changes to that program can affect the future of this province.

We are the future of Ontario.

Join IGNITE in support of post-secondary students and their experience. We will continue to advocate for accessible and affordable education and for policies that invest in students instead of increasing their financial pressure.

Because when students succeed, Ontario succeeds.

Feature image courtesy of IGNITE.

Wondering how Bill 33 will impact your student life? Check out what you are actually paying for as a student!