Press Release
Ontario now is accepting applications for the new Ontario Student Assistance Program, which is making tuition free for more than 210,000 students.
Premier Kathleen Wynne met with high school students at Bishop Marrocco/Thomas Merton Catholic Secondary School in Toronto last Wednesday to talk about how the new O.S.A.P. will help more students pursue higher education based on their ability to learn–not on their ability to pay.
“For too many high school students and their families, tuition fees are a barrier to applying for college or university,” noted Wynne.
“And for too many college or university grads, high debt levels are a burden that unfairly limits their choices and opportunities.
“Everybody should have the opportunity to get an education and start their life without stressful levels of debt,” she added.
“That’s what the new O.S.A.P. does.”
“We’re modernizing O.S.A.P. in many ways, from the very large to the very small,” said Advanced Education and Skills Development minister Deb Matthews.
“The biggest change is free average tuition for post-secondary students from many low- and middle-income families, and more grants for most students,” she noted.
“But we have also heard from current students that navigating the O.S.A.P. application can be difficult,” Matthews added.
“With our new, user-friendly application, as well as our handy O.S.A.P. calculator, students now have the tools in hand to better plan for their future education and career paths.”
“I am thrilled that the new O.S.A.P. will make it easier for students by reducing barriers and supporting them as they pursue post-secondary opportunities,” echoed Education minister Mitzi Hunter.
In addition to providing free tuition to hundreds of thousands of students each year, the new O.S.A.P. also will provide more generous grants.
By next year, it is estimated some 230,000 students receiving O.S.A.P. will have less debt as a result of these changes.
All students are encouraged to visit ontario.ca/OSAP to start their applications today.
Students and their families can use the new online calculator to quickly determine how much financial assistance they are eligible for–which may be more than they expect.
For example, if you are a single parent, have three children, and earn $60,000, you are eligible for grants totalling more than $16,000–making tuition free if you decide to attend college.
O.S.A.P. is available to adult students, married students, students with children, dependent students, and single independent students.
Students with children also may be eligible to receive funding for child-care costs.
