Ontario funds 7,574 new post-secondary seats in Ottawa for STEM, health, trades
University of Ottawa, Carleton University and Collège La Cité will expand capacity starting this fall with $205 million in provincial investment.
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Ontario invested $205 million on October 2 to add 7,574 new student seats at University of Ottawa, Carleton University and Collège La Cité — part of a $1.7 billion provincial expansion funding 70,000 seats across the province.
The University of Ottawa receives 4,128 newly funded seats, including 2,494 for STEM programs, 1,319 for health programs, and 315 for education. Carleton University gets 2,328 seats: 1,220 for STEM, 281 for health, and 827 for other labour-market driven programs. Collège La Cité receives 1,118 seats split across STEM (276), health (272), education (178), trades (163) and other labour-market programs (229).
Students can enroll as early as the fall 2026 academic year. Minister Nolan Quinn called this "the largest seat expansion in Ontario in more than a decade." The province evaluated proposals based on institutional capacity, local industry needs and student demand, working with colleges, universities and local communities to identify high-demand program areas.
University of Ottawa President Marie-Eve Sylvestre said the investment strengthens "the talent pipeline that drives economic competitiveness and prosperity." This follows Ontario's $6.4 billion historic investment in the post-secondary sector overall, with the first 30,000 seats allocated in May 2026 and a call for proposals for the remaining 40,000 launched the same month.
How many of the 7,574 new seats will be filled by Ottawa residents versus students from other regions?
What is the cost to students for these newly funded programs, and does the province cover tuition or only capacity expansion?
Will the institutions meet the fall 2026 enrollment timeline, or could staffing and facility constraints delay the first cohort?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
How much did Ontario invest in new post-secondary seats in Ottawa?
$205 million was invested on Friday, October 2, 2026 to add 7,574 new student seats across three institutions.
How many STEM seats did each Ottawa institution receive?
University of Ottawa received 2,494 STEM seats, Carleton University received 1,220, and Collège La Cité received 276.
When can students start enrolling in these new programs?
Students can enroll as early as the fall 2026 academic year.
