What you are actually paying for as a student

Find out where your money goes.

When tuition season comes around, it’s easy to see it as just numbers on the screen that pay for your classes. Another expense to get your mind off of. But beyond the lectures and assignments, those tuition rates fund way more things than you realize.

From campus events to the perfect cozy spot for an after-class nap, we don’t always notice these services until they are gone.

So, here’s what you’re paying for and why it matters now more than ever.

The everyday spaces that keep the flow

Frog relaxing on a lily pad — *Via GIPHY*

With every exhausting class comes the need for a nice meal and a rest spot. The IGNITE Soupbar, for example, provides a comforting meal for those busy academic weeks. Having served over 13,000 soups as of 2025, IGNITE will have the perfect meal ready for when your schedule is packed and your budget is tight (we have all been there).

Another comforting service includes the IGNITE Zen Zone (Lakeshore) and the Sleep Lounge (North). When campus life gets too loud, fast and overwhelming, the Zen Zone and the Sleep Lounge has helped over 8,000 students feel refresehed and well rested by providing the comfiest, quiet and zen spot to reset (because rest is not a luxury, it is a necessity).

Small support like this can make a huge difference in daily well-being.

Events that build community

Four old ladies doing a group hug — *Via GIPHY*

After class calls for after-hours, where students spend their time indulging in clubs, campus events and of course, your favourite: the claw machine.

These activities do more than just allow you to win prizes, they build community. Your student community.

Clubs give students the opportunity to meet people with similar interests or explore new hobbies. Whether it’s a cultural group, a creative club or even a professional society, these spaces help students build confidence. Build careers. Build friendships. It helps them build themselves. And with over 50 clubs, theres a community for everybody.

IGNITE events play a similar role. With social gatherings, your weekly claw machines and free snacks, these events are what make your campus experience feel like home and not a place that you just commute to.

Why the extracurriculars matter

a cartoon scene where one man asks other "excuse me. Which way to the chess club?" as a fight rages in the back — *Via GIPHY*

More than the after-hours? Extracurriculars matter because they help improve our mental health. Mental health is also about building connections, maintaining balance and finding joy wherever you can.

And extracurriculars do just that. They offer breaks from academic pressures and become a reminder that your student journey is so much more than just grades.

They help advance in career building and provide you with integrated skill learning that can help after graduation.

And when these perks are well-funded, students benefit wayyy beyond their classrooms.

Take me for example, as a second-year student, I struggled with defining my career roadmap. Confused about where to start, what milestones to look forward to and whom to consult.

Enter Humber Finance Society. With the help of their club events, I was able to not only get a roadmap, but I also scored my first coffee chat!

Benefits like these help many students advance in their careers and build a prosperous future for themselves.

Financial security

an animation of a tooth being a fairy — *Via GIPHY*

Many students rely on prescriptions, vision care, therapy and dental checkups for their well-being. And believe it or not, your tuition includes health and dental insurance that has your back no matter what.

With three different plans, you’re able to choose and customize your insurance funds so you can prioritize your care.

Including dental care, prescription coverage and even travel coverage, the IGNITE’s Health and Dental Insurance has you covered.

The impacts of Bill 33

statue of a woman holding a sword and scale of justice — *Photo by Tingey Injury Law Firm via Unsplash.*

By now you might have heard discussions around Bill 33 and how it can impact your student experience.

The auxiliary fees are what keep student unions with all of these services and perks running. With Bill 33 in place, it can potentially limit or eliminate these services made for students.

Think zen zones, sleep lounge, soupbars, club funding and much more. Think about that power nap you take at the IGNITE Sleep Lounge between your classes.

All of these services may be impacted and risk the future of student services all across Ontario. Fill out this Student Feedback on Ontario Bill 33 survey and share your perspective.

The bigger picture

Group of people celebrating at an event. — *Photo by IGNITE*

The fees you pay are not just administrative costs, they are investments into mental health, community and enhancing the quality of your campus life.

Understanding where your money gives you the power to advocate for what matters.

Because being a student is much more than attending classes, it’s about having the support that helps experience student life and being aware of it.

Feature photo by PiggyBank via Unsplash.

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