Randolph College for the Performing Arts closing after failing to renew accreditation
The Bathurst Street theatre school lost its provincial registration February 1 and can no longer operate as a career college. Students mid-program are now scrambling for alternatives.
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Randolph College for the Performing Arts is closing after losing its provincial accreditation, leaving students mid-way through their training in limbo.
The Ontario Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security notified students Tuesday that the school's registration expired February 1 and it no longer has permission to offer vocational programs. Operating as a career college requires approval under the Ontario Career Colleges Act, 2005 — approval Randolph no longer holds.
The closure comes as students were about to start their fourth term, and as the school's website continued accepting applications for a new cohort in September. Tuition runs roughly $13,000 per academic year.
Lily Burden, a fourth-year student, said the closure came as a shock. "I cried very hard and for a very long time," she said. "And now we get a notice of closure going into my fourth term, which is completely unexpected and devastating." She added that Randolph was her "dream school" since seventh grade.
Parents and students said the school failed to communicate clearly about its accreditation status. They were told repeatedly since February that the situation would be resolved, not that closure was possible. "The deception that has been going on throughout all of this," said Steve Burden, Lily's father, pointing out that a school operating since the mid-1990s doesn't "suddenly fold without something going on in the background."
His wife Sarah raised another gap: "She can't start school in two weeks. How do we find a college and how do we get her into a program when all the programs that she would normally do are full?"
The ministry said a fund exists to help students complete training at another school or obtain a partial refund, though the program details and funding amount have not been disclosed. Randolph has not responded to requests for comment.
What triggered Randolph's failure to renew accreditation — was it a compliance violation, a missed deadline, or a formal decision by the regulator?
How many current students are enrolled and mid-program, and what is the fund amount available for refunds or transfer assistance?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
When did Randolph College lose its provincial accreditation?
Randolph College for the Performing Arts' registration expired on February 1, 2026.
How much does tuition cost at Randolph College?
Tuition at Randolph College for the Performing Arts runs roughly $13,000 per academic year.
What help is available to Randolph students?
Ontario's ministry said a fund exists to help students complete training at another school or obtain a partial refund, though specific program details and funding amounts have not been disclosed.
