Determining the appropriate rate of tuition in any given year is complex and is developed following the university’s five principles, as per the Tuition and Fees Authorization Policy:
- Comparability to similar programs;
- Accessibility and affordability for students;
- Enabling the high quality of our programs;
- Predictability of tuition to support longer-term planning for students, and
- Transparency through consultation with students to ensure a common understanding on tuition.
“Enhancing the student experience is one of our top priorities and our University Plan 2025 has the bold ambition to set the standard for learning,” said USask Provost Airini. “We will work with students to make sure they have access to outstanding teaching, superior facilities, and student-centred support services.”
USask signed The Saskatchewan Post-Secondary Multi-Year Operating Funding Memorandum of Understanding with the Saskatchewan Government in 2021, which sets the stage for overall tuition stability across the next three years. The 2022/23 weighted increase for tuition is 3.7 per cent. Tuition rates for all programs can be found online at usask.ca/tuition.
Along with the tuition decisions, USask also provides financial support for students who are most in need to begin or continue their university education. To assist with affordability and accessibility, USask provides $54 million annually in financial aid, through scholarships, bursaries, tuition waivers and crisis aid. For the upcoming 2022/23 year there will be an additional $700,000 invested into financial supports for continuing international students who face the greatest need as a result of international tuition increases.
“We recognize the importance of providing our students with the supports and services they require, and we remain committed to working with our students in every way possible, so they thrive at each step of their academic journey as undergraduate and graduate students,” said Airini.
Tuition provides essential revenue for running academic programs, student services, financial aid, and other support services at USask and new program investments. Determining the appropriate rate of tuition increase in any given year is complex and is developed following the university’s five principles. Beginning in fall 2021, USask launched new tuition consultation initiatives with students, offering learning modules designed to share information on university finances, budgeting, and tuition setting, as well as seeking student perspectives through both a survey and meetings within their colleges and schools.
We have heard from students how important it is to have predictability around tuition increases and have worked together to more fully implement the principle of predictability. Following the announcement of 2022/23 tuition, the university will continue conversations throughout the year to position students with an understanding of how they can better predict changes to tuition over the next few years.
“Decisions about tuition are made very carefully. Tuition makes up about 16 per cent of total revenue and is needed to maintain and enhance the student experience while upholding our academic excellence as a world class research-intensive university,” said Airini. “We understand that this is a significant investment for students and their families, and we work to ensure that investment sets them up for a lifetime of success.”