Latest news with #tuitionfreeze
Globe and Mail
11-08-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Ontario universities must be released from their financial chokehold
Fred Gorbet is a former federal deputy minister of finance for Canada and served 12 years as a governor of York University. He is currently a fellow at the Balsillie School of International Affairs. Over the past decade, Ontario's university funding has declined significantly, particularly on a per-student basis, leading to a funding crisis. Regulated tuition fees have been cut and frozen; grants have decreased; universities have been urged to rely on international students for funding; and the supply of international students is now being reduced and more tightly controlled. One university said it was facing insolvency and filed for creditor protection in 2021. Almost all others are looking at program cuts, increasing deficits and growing deferred maintenance. Ontario universities need relief from the financial chokehold they have been placed in. Healthy and vibrant postsecondary institutions are critical to the province's economic prosperity and social well-being. They promote individual development and prepare students for success; they are essential sources of the R&D and innovation that enhance competitiveness and productivity; and they develop highly trained professionals that meet social needs. Universities are currently facing many challenges, including the public perception that the value of postsecondary education is declining. But the greatest challenge they face is underfunding. A 2023 study by Ryan Romard and Randy Robinson for the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives estimated that it would require more than $5-billion a year to raise government support for university students in Ontario to the Canadian average. In the current political climate, a financially strained Ontario government is unlikely to find the resources to come anywhere near that target. An honest look at the fiscal crisis in university education in Ontario It is recognized within the sector and by informed observers that universities have to change, and perhaps radically. As respected commentator Alex Usher recently wrote, 'Institutions can no longer solve their short-term problems by just recruiting another hundred international students. They actually have to change the way they do business. They have to change processes. They have to think about production functions and work processes in a way they haven't before. And they have to do it while trying to pivot to new missions that give them more traction with government and the public.' But can universities successfully do this in a world where they are overly constrained by government regulation, an archaic financing formula and a lack of public financial support? I believe that the answer is no, and that a different approach to university financing is necessary to provide the institutions with the capacity to adjust. First, fees should be deregulated and universities should be allowed to compete with one another. If universities were allowed to set their own fees, they would be empowered to make important management and governance decisions about where they want to compete and excel, and what kind of institution they wish to become. In a deregulated world, one would expect to find increased specialization, a greater variety of institutional offerings, more centres of excellence, and possibly increased co-operation and collaboration among institutions. Ontario Bill 33 undermines university autonomy and access to education, critics say There should be three conditions on complete fee deregulation. First, universities would have to announce their fees early enough to provide prospective students with adequate information to make enrolment decisions. Second, they should provide assurance to incoming students that fees would not significantly increase during their terms of study. Third, they would have to make a strong commitment to promote accessibility. In order to make this adjustment work, the government should provide transition support. It should maintain the current per-student allocations to each university, but deliver the funds as a block grant to the institution, indexed to inflation, for at least a 10-year period, to facilitate the transformation to a more competitive environment. Additional policies should also ensure that accessibility is maintained. Those who do not need assistance should not receive it through artificially constrained tuition fees, but those who do need it should be able to get it. For some of Canada's most prestigious university programs, mid-90s grades are not enough Universities should be required to distribute a fixed amount (say, 50 per cent) of the additional revenues that they receive from fee deregulation in the form of income-based student assistance. Programs should be transparent and audited by the government. There should be penalties for non-compliance. The government should also work with universities and financial institutions to broaden the Ontario student-loan program. Two changes to consider would be to a) extend the interest tax credit to loans granted by private financial institutions and lengthen the carry-forward period; and b) to develop an income-tested repayment program for student loans. Successful implementation of these reforms would ensure that limited government resources are directed to those most in need. And they would introduce a financial framework where universities have accountability and the degrees of freedom necessary to adjust to new realities, to thrive as vibrant institutions, and to continue contributing to the well-being of Ontario and Ontarians.
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
13 US schools top 2025 ranking of best global universities
(NewsNation) — More than a dozen of the United States' higher education institutions ranked in the top 20 of global universities. The 2025-26 ranking from U.S. News & World Report included 2,250 top universities from more than 100 countries and considered factors like the school's international opportunities, student makeup and research opportunities. Indiana's public colleges commit to 2-year tuition freeze Three American universities tied for 16th place in the ranking: Cornell University, Princeton University and the University of California, San Francisco. New York-based Cornell — one of the Ivy League schools under the Trump administration's microscope — earned its rank through its diverse student population and programs. 2M student loan borrowers at risk of garnished wages: Analysis On the other hand, Princeton and the University of California's wide variety of centers, programs and research opportunities were mentioned in their ranking. A Pennsylvania-based public school, the University of Pennsylvania has Penn Abroad, which allows students to take part in 'study abroad, service learning, summer internships and short-term programs each year.' Johns Hopkins University in Maryland partners with international universities to offer more than 400 study abroad programs in more than 50 countries, with opportunities at Johns Hopkins Medicine International, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the School of Advanced International Studies. Though Los Angeles is known as a city of fun, its University of California chapter is all business. The university has 28 centers for multidisciplinary research, with more than 192 research, teaching and student exchange agreements worldwide. 'Ghost students' scam targeting federal student loans Despite problems with the Trump administration over student protests and subsequent job cuts, Columbia capped off the Top 10 of the ranking for its 'study abroad programs, global internships and international service learning and research opportunities,' U.S. News & World Report said. Another university with a heightened international student population, the Connecticut college is home to the Yale Young African Scholars program, which helps African high school students to apply to U.S. universities. With more than 500 study abroad options and more than 8,000 international students, the University of Washington, Seattle offers a global approach to health and environmental studies. The final University of California campus to make the list, the 'International House at Berkeley is home to nearly 600 students and scholars from more than 70 countries,' according to U.S. News & World Report. Stanford University's ranking is reliant on its summer opportunities like the Global Studies Internship Program, which sends students to more than 20 countries on six continents for a wide variety of disciplines. DOJ sues Kentucky over in-state tuition for undocumented students Known for its STEM focus and low acceptance rate, MIT is a thoroughly global school. 'More than 3,430 international students are currently enrolled at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and during academic year 2023-2024 the school hosted 2,247 international scholars from 100 countries,' U.S. News & World Report writes. Perhaps the most well-known U.S. university, Harvard has faced challenges from the White House over its campus protests and policies, but it still tops the list of best global universities. Harvard offers courses in more than 100 languages, and international students made up 27.2% of the university population in the 2024-2025 academic year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Forbes
24-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Indiana's Public Colleges & Universities Freeze Tuition For Two Years
All of Indiana's public higher education institutions, including Purdue University, have agreed to ... More a two-year tuition freeze for resident undergraduates. . At the request of Governor Mike Braun, all 15 of Indiana's public colleges and universities have committed to freezing their tuition and mandatory fees for in-state undergraduate students for the next two academic years. The decision came in response to the Governor's request and a unanimous recommendation by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education in May that resident tuition and mandatory fees be held flat at the state's public higher education institutions for academic years 2025-26 and 2026-27. The Commission is charged in state law to recommend tuition rates for the state's colleges every two years. An institution wanting to charge more than the recommended amount must present a formal justification to the State Budget Committee. 'A month ago, we challenged our state's public higher education institutions to find efficiencies, eliminate redundancies and identify ways to streamline services without compromising quality,' said Braun in a news release from his office. 'The commitment made by all of Indiana's public colleges and universities puts students and parents first and demonstrates to the rest of the country that Indiana is a leader in providing a high quality education at an affordable price.' According to the Governor's office, this is the first time since at least 2010 that more than two of the state's public colleges and universities have simultaneously held tuition flat, and it's the first time ever that all of the institutions have agreed to do so. 'While the Commission, along with our institutions and other partners, have leveraged policies, programs, and partnerships to keep our colleges and universities affordable, we all recognize the economic challenges our fellow Hoosiers have faced over the past several years,' said Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education Chris Lowery, according to the Indiana Capital Chronicle. 'In the spirit of seeking to maintain Indiana's national leadership in affordability, the Commission is in full support of Gov. Braun's recommendation for a 0% tuition increase.' The following campuses have committed to the tuition freeze: Samantha Fleischaker, the student representative and a student at the University of Southern Indiana, praised the tuition decision. 'Keeping tuition flat keeps the door open for students of all backgrounds, all ZIP codes, and all walks of life, ' she said. 'It sends the message that education is not just for one demographic - it's for all people. It's not just a number. It's the difference between opportunity and what feels impossible.' Institutions will still be able to raise their rates for room and board, and some may also decide to hike the tuition charged for nonresidents as well as international students The institutions have committed to the tuition freeze despite facing a lean year in terms of state appropriations. Indiana's budget bill for the upcoming year includes a 5% cut in the state appropriation for higher education, but Braun has insisted that the institutions were in a good financial position that would allow them to weather both the tuition freeze and the appropriation cut.
Fox News
24-06-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Indiana Governor Mike Braun makes bold move to help college students with rising debt
EXCLUSIVE - Indiana will freeze tuition across the state in order to help make higher education affordable to college students. Governor Mike Braun, R., announced in a press release exclusively obtained by Fox News Digital that Indiana's public colleges and universities have committed to maintaining a flat tuition fee for in-state undergraduate students for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 academic years. "According to state records, this is the first time since at least 2010 that more than two campuses have simultaneously held tuition flat. Over the next two years, the Boards of Trustees at the following campuses have announced their commitment to holding tuition and fees flat for in-state undergraduate students," the press release states. The Indiana Commission for Higher Education voted to freeze tuition increases for the next two years to fulfill Braun's request. This policy was the first time in Indiana's history that the Commission unanimously voted in support of Braun's recommendation to hold tuition and mandatory fees flat. "Keeping tuition flat keeps the door open for students of all backgrounds, all ZIP codes, and all walks of life," Samantha Fleischaker, the Indiana Commission for Higher Education's student member, said. "It sends the message that education is not just for one demographic - it's for all people. It's not just a number. It's the difference between opportunity and what feels impossible." "A month ago, we challenged our state's public higher education institutions to find efficiencies, eliminate redundancies and identify ways to streamline services without compromising quality," Braun said. "The commitment made by all of Indiana's public colleges and universities puts students and parents first and demonstrates to the rest of the country that Indiana is a leader in providing a high-quality education at an affordable price." College tuition has increased tremendously over the years and forced students into debt. During the fourth quarter of 2023, student loan balances stood at $1.6 trillion, according to data from the New York Federal Reserve.
CBC
13-06-2025
- Business
- CBC
Sault College president says its getting harder to maintain 'core programs' with financial pressures
Social Sharing Another post-secondary institution in northeastern Ontario is struggling to operate as it is squeezed by dropping international enrolment and a longstanding tuition freeze. The board of governors for Sault College has approved a budget with a $ 5.6 million deficit for the 2025-26 academic year. It's the second year in a row the college has run a deficit. President David Orazietti said that about 20 programs have been discontinued or suspended in the past year-and-a-half. Among them, he said, are programs tailored to international students who pay much higher tuition, such as supply chain management and project management. But after a decision by the federal government in 2024 to limit international student permits, those programs are being phased out. A handful of other Sault College programs such as a certificate in climate change mitigation and an advanced diploma for a child and youth worker are being suspended, but may be brought back if interest warrants. Steep drops in enrolment are part of the rationale for the program cuts. Sault College is expecting an almost 40 per cent decrease in enrolment for the coming academic year. The number of students is expected to drop from 11,215 to 6,830, in large part due to the closure of two campuses the college operated with a private partner in southern Ontario that catered to international students. The college plans to focus on high-demand programs such as health, skilled trades, aviation and community studies Orazietti said the challenge over the coming months is to bring down the deficit and balance the budget in future years. He said the financial pressures are focusing efforts on how to keep mainstay programs going, which is getting harder. "You know the concern more broadly is that longer term programs that have been staples at the college, that have declining domestic enrolment and may have had some international enrolment to help buoy the program, are no longer available," he said. He said the college is grappling with how to meet its mandate to produce skilled trades and health workers, but refuses to speculate about their future. Orazietti said the college is looking at deferring maintenance and infrastructure projects and that lay-offs of faculty and staff are a last resort. Neal Moss, the president of OPSEU local 613 representing full-time faculty at Sault College, said about a dozen teachers have retired in the past year but none have been terminated. However, he said part-time and sessional instructors have lost work because of the phasing out of programs. Orazietti said it's a sensitive issue and the college won't make any rash decisions. "We're taking our time to do this thoughtfully, and to ensure that we protect as many jobs as possible in the organization and have as minimal impact to our programs that the community relies on," he said.
