Money Matters
A post-secondary education can be a very expensive undertaking. For example, if you plan to attend college your tuition costs may range from $8,000 to $16,000 + per year. Likewise, the cost of a university education can vary from $10,000 to $25, 000 + per year. The great variance is a result of many factors, including which program you register in, and whether you are living at home, in residence, or off-campus. That being said, the cost of education can be quite prohibitive for many families; however, there are many financial resources which you may be eligible to access. There are government programs such as Ontario’s 30% tuition rebate and OSAP which have easy on-line applications. Universities and colleges also offer a wide range of scholarship / bursary opportunities – simply check their websites for further information and application deadlines. Many students also find on-campus (work-study grant) and off-campus employment which can also serve to minimize the financial “hit” of a post-secondary education. Also, many parents have RESP’s which they can tap into once their child commences their studies. The following links, although not exhaustive, represents a good starting place to begin your search for funds:
Ontario Universities Tuition Calculator: https://www.ouinfo.ca/tuition-and-fees
Scholarships Search Engines
https://about.rogers.com/our-impact/ted-rogers-scholarships/
https://portal.scholarshippartners.ca/welcome/Rogers-Legacy-EN/
STEM: $120K Engineering, $100K Math and Science – https://schulichleaders.com/
Loran Scholarship: https://loranscholar.ca/the-program/how-to-apply/ ($100K+)
https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/education.html
www.campusaccess.com/financial-aid/
What is OSAP? (https://www.ontario.ca/page/learn-about-osap)
Register for OSAP:(https://www.ontario.ca/page/osap-ontario-student-assistance-program)
First Time Full Time OSAP Applicants Must Complete an OSAP Information Module: (https://www.ontario.ca/page/osap-ontario-student-assistance-program#section-11)
Check individual schools for bursary and in-course award opportunities (See U of W examples below).
University of Waterloo Cost Estimator: https://uwaterloo.ca/future-students/financing/cost-calculator
Wilfrid Laurier University Undergraduate Student Budget Guide: https://www.wlu.ca/future-students/undergraduate/tuition-finances/index.html
University of Guelph Cost Estimator: https://www.uoguelph.ca/registrar/studentfinance/fees/guelph_ug
Western University Undergraduate Fees: https://registrar.uwo.ca/student_finances/fees_refunds/pdfsfeeschedule/2024-2025%20Fall%20Winter%20UGRD%20FT%20fee%20schedule_Canadian_2.pdf
Western University Residence Costs: https://residence.uwo.ca/applying/fees_and_payment
Ultimate Guide: Financing Your Education (https://uwaterloo.ca/future-students/missing-manual/guides/financing-your-education)
Scholarship Search Tool: https://universitystudy.ca/. Scroll down the page to the “scholarships” link.
How to Pay for University: https://uwaterloo.ca/future-students/financing/how-to-pay-for-university)
(How To Find and Apply to Scholarships: (https://uwaterloo.ca/future-students/missing-manual/money/how-find-and-apply-scholarships)
New: Ontario Learn and Stay Grant: https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontario-learn-and-stay-grant (Grants covering tuition, books and supplies for selected health-related programs)
Seeking Scholarships – Workshops On Planning and Funding Post-Secondary Education: (https://seekingscholarships.com/)
10 Tips to Help You Win a Scholarship: https://schools.wrdsb.ca/fhc/files/2018/08/10-TIPS-to-help-you-win-a-scholarship.pdf (Source: Glenda Healy: “Seeking Scholarships“)
New: The Value of an Education. The following link will take you to a report outlining the impacts of varying education levels on income. Very interesting read! https://www.chs.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/value_of_education_with_degree.pdf
