Students exploring Ontario universities confront higher costs as OSAP grant funding shrinks

High school students and parents attended the Ontario Universities' Fair at Toronto Metro Convention Centre this past weekend, navigating their post-secondary options against a backdrop of shrinking student aid.

Ontario's changes to OSAP are reducing the amount of grant funding available to students, shifting more of the cost burden to families. The province has allocated funding for student aid, with questions raised about how much of that money goes to private colleges rather than universities, and what relief is actually available to students considering traditional universities.

New Ontario laws and regulations took effect August 1, 2026, reshaping the student aid landscape. In September, Ontario committed funding for new college seats in the Greater Toronto Area to fill labour gaps — an investment in the college system that stands in contrast to the squeeze on university funding.

For students at the fair, the calculus has changed. Where grants once covered a larger portion of university costs, students and families now face the reality that more of the expense will come from loans, work, or family resources. The shift reflects a provincial strategy tilting toward college credentials for workforce development, leaving university-bound students to absorb more of the financial burden themselves.