Rising tuition at the University of Saskatchewan puts the squeeze on students

Students at the University of Saskatchewan are looking for more supports to grapple with affordability concerns. Keenan Sorokan reports.

The University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union (USSU) says higher tuition fees and rising costs of living are forcing students to make difficult choices.

“We see a lot of students coming to our food center getting emergency food hampers, coming to us for other financial supports that we’re not always in a position to offer,” USSU VP of Operations and Finance Owen Deis said.

“But we definitely hear those students concerns a little more than we’re used to hearing.”

On Thursday, the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) announced its tuition rates and fees for the 2026-27 academic year as part of an annual review into fees for the upcoming school year.

Most programs will see tuition increase by roughly 3 per cent — the maximum increase set by the provincial government as part of a multi-year agreement running until March 31, 2030.

A typical full-time course offering in the College of Arts and Science will cost a domestic student $8,059 in the fall, up from $7,802 this year. International students will pay $39,007 for the same classes, compared to $37,878 this past year.

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While Engineering students will see lower overall first-year tuition due to a reduction in required courses, per-course tuition is increasing by three per cent for domestic students.

Patti McDougall, the interim provost and vice-president academic at the U of S, says the fee changes are the final step in a year of hard work gathering data.

McDougall says they have the process down to a fine science.

Through comparisons of fees at other universities, town halls and surveys with students, and other analysis, all the data and feedback is gathered to calculate what’s needed for the coming year to provide transparent and predictable fees.

“It is a long and involved process. It actually begins almost as soon as we’ve announced for the year ahead,” McDougall said.

As part of its agreement with the province on tuition increases, the U of S will receive an increase to its provincial operating grant, receiving just over $346 million.

“To get those assurances from the provincial government, about a three per cent add to base over the four years, and then in turn to be asked to put limits and constraints within reason on our undergraduate domestic tuition was viewed to be an excellent outcome for us,” she said.

While Deis appreciates the province lowering its tuition cap from 4 per cent to 3 per cent, he says there are over 200 new or revised fees U of S students will pay, and many students are looking anywhere they can for relief.

“There’s a lot of students that will take a reduced course load so that they can work on the side or care for their family,” he said.

“We definitely see students kind of extending their program, their degree, (or) deferring their graduation just so that they can make ends meet.”

The students’ union is calling for more “needs-based” supports that go beyond scholarships or bursaries for high-performing students.

A statement from the Ministry of Advanced Education said Saskatchewan Student Aid is targeted at lower-income students who need it the most. There are also supports available through the repayment assistance plan.

For the university’s part, McDougall said affordability is one of the core pillars of setting tuition. It has invested $61 million in scholarships and bursaries in the past year, added $1 million into crisis and emergency aid, and further explored open educational resources.

Now in its 11th year, the program enables instructors to make textbooks and other materials available for free. Since 2015, the university estimates the open textbook program has saved students around $9.1 million over the years, and nearly $2 million last year alone.

“We think about, how can we help the most vulnerable and the most impacted by these tuition increases, and then how can we affect a broad range of students by using and building digital resources that offset the costs of textbooks, which is not insignificant, in this day and age,” McDougall said.

The students’ union also wants to see the provincial government follow the lead of seven other provinces that have eliminated the interest on student loans. To assist further, Deis says students need more involvement in the formation of funding agreements between the province and the U of S.

“We do have conversations with the university, we do have conversations with the ministry. It’s just in terms of that MOU itself, we don’t have that seat at the table. We don’t see necessarily the full text of that agreement, either,” Deis said.

The Ministry of Advanced Education say it is not considering eliminating its portion of interest on student loans.

“Saskatchewan already provides interest‑free loans while students are in school and targeted interest relief after graduation through the Repayment Assistance Plan,” the statement read.

Graduates can receive up to $24,000 in tax credits through the Graduate Retention Program if they stay in Saskatchewan after their studies.

Without further planning, Deis is concerned what the future may hold for post-secondary students in Saskatchewan.

Financial pressures could mean cuts to essential student services and supports that students rely on.