TORONTO, June 19, 2026 – The Ontario government has opened online student assistance applications for full-time and part-time students for the 2026–2027 academic year. Starting in the new school year, grants will account for no more than 25 per cent of eligible Ontario student assistance, while loans will make up at least 75 per cent. Students attending private career colleges will no longer receive grants. Low-income families, first-time applicants and career college students preparing to begin studies this fall may face funding gaps for tuition, rent or textbooks if they continue budgeting based on previous grant proportions.
Ontario student assistance includes grants that do not need to be repaid and loans that must be repaid after graduation. Under the new arrangement, the total amount of assistance received by some students may not necessarily decrease, but a larger portion may need to be repaid later. When reviewing assessment results, students should check the grant and loan amounts separately rather than looking only at the total funding figure.
The change will have a more direct impact on students attending private career colleges. Beginning in the 2026–2027 academic year, their provincial assistance will be provided entirely in the form of loans. Students who have already accepted admission offers or paid deposits should recalculate tuition, commuting, equipment and living expenses, and ask their schools whether scholarships, bursaries or installment payment arrangements are available.
Student assistance is not available to everyone studying in Ontario. Applicants generally need to be Ontario residents and Canadian citizens, permanent residents or protected persons. International students are generally not eligible. Newcomer families that are unsure whether their residency history or immigration status meets the requirements should contact the school’s financial aid office before paying non-refundable fees.
Funding amounts are also not the same for every student. The system considers recognized expenses such as tuition, textbooks, living costs, transportation and child care, along with the income and assets of the student, parents or spouse. For the 2026–2027 academic year, most students will also be expected to contribute $3,600 toward their education costs. Students with children, those in the child welfare system, or those who meet other conditions may qualify for an exemption.
The opening of applications does not mean funds will be deposited immediately. After information is submitted, the estimated amount may still change because of family income verification, course load, school information or additional document requirements. After receiving an admission offer, applicants should enter the correct school, program and study period, and regularly check their accounts for outstanding documents.
Research released by the Council of Ontario Universities on June 18 estimates that Ontario will need about 1.0049 million new workers between 2026 and 2035 in occupations that typically require or prefer a university degree. Areas with higher projected demand include science, technology, engineering and mathematics, business and finance, education and social services, and health care. However, the report is a long-term labour market forecast. It does not guarantee employment in those fields or automatically increase the student assistance available to an individual.
Students preparing to begin studies this fall should apply as early as possible, save their application numbers and uploaded documents, and calculate grants, loans, tuition and living costs separately. If the assessed amount is lower than expected, the family’s financial situation has changed, or the online information is difficult to understand, students should contact their school’s financial aid office directly rather than waiting until shortly before classes begin to discover that funding is insufficient.（LJI by Yuanyuan）
