USask 2026/27 tuition rates will enhance programming, student supports

For the 2026/27 academic year, the average tuition change for domestic students is approximately 2.8 per cent for undergraduate programs and 4.6 per cent for graduate programs. 

To illustrate the average tuition change, a USask domestic student’s tuition in an undergraduate Bachelor of Arts program with a full course load will change from $7,826 to $8,059 ($233 increase) for the upcoming year, and an international student’s tuition will change from $37,878 to $39,007 ($1,128 increase) for the same program due to the combined domestic rate change and international tuition applied. 

In terms of standard master’s thesis-based programs, a domestic student’s annual tuition will change from $5,436 to $5,706 ($270 increase), while the international student’s annual tuition will change from $12,231 to $12,839 ($608 increase) due to the combined domestic rate change and international tuition applied. A standard PhD student’s tuition will change from $5,436 to $5,637 ($201 increase). Since 2022, all USask international PhD students have paid the domestic rate to recognize the importance of attracting top international PhD students to our research and teaching mission. 

Course and program-specific tuition information can be found on the tuition and fees website.  

Tuition revenue is applied directly to strengthening the student experience and supporting high-quality teaching and learning opportunities. This includes enhancing experiential learning and research opportunities. 

“Tuition plays an essential role in strengthening the academic programs and student supports that matter most to the USask community,” said Dr. Patti McDougall, USask interim provost and vice-president, academic. “This year’s increase helps us to maintain day‑to‑day operations while also enhancing the programming, services, and learning experiences that support students throughout their university journey and help them thrive as future leaders.” 

USask examines tuition rates at peer institutions in the U15 Group of Canadian Research Universities each year during its annual tuition review and tuition-setting process. Tuition rates are considered within the context of five principles at USask, as per the Tuition and Fees Authorization Policy:   

1. Comparability to similar programs;   
2. Accessibility and affordability for students;  
3. Enabling the high quality of programs;   
4. Predictability of tuition to support longer-term planning for students; and   
5. Transparency through consultation with students to ensure a common understanding of tuition. 

The provincial government announced a new Saskatchewan Post-Secondary Multi-Year Operating Fund Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in November 2025. This MOU calls on the university to be financially sustainable and allows for a range of tuition increases of zero to three per cent per program for domestic students. Exemptions include domestic undergraduate tuition below the U15 comparator median, all graduate tuition, international tuition, non-credit programming, and tuition for the Western College of Veterinary Medicine. This second MOU supports an ongoing commitment to predictable and stable funding from the province. 

“USask recognizes that changes to tuition can be challenging for students and their supporters,” McDougall said. “Our priority is to support students, and the supports we’ve put in place are designed to help our students stay focused on their learning, well‑being, and success.”  

The university aims to support those with financial need to mitigate the impact of economic barriers for students. Each year, the university invests more than $61 million in the form of scholarships, bursaries, tuition waivers, and crisis aid for domestic and international undergraduate and graduate students. 

“We deeply appreciate the ambition students bring to their university journey, and we are dedicated to helping them thrive,” McDougall said. “Students are at the heart of everything we do, and we are committed to working alongside them to ensure their academic, financial, and personal needs are heard and supported wherever possible.” 

USask prioritizes having conversations with students and campus leaders that inform tuition recommendations every year. Over the last five years, USask has continued to evolve tuition consultation initiatives with students, offering learning modules designed to share information on university finances, budgeting, and tuition setting. The university also seeks student perspectives on multi-year tuition plans, academic programming, and student experience through both a survey and meetings within their colleges and schools. Information regarding the tuition consultation process can be found here. 

“We are sincerely grateful for the time, thoughtfulness, and honesty students bring to these conversations. Their perspectives continue to shape tuition decisions and the allocation of resources,” McDougall said. “We remain committed to engaging with students in this important work, so their insights can continue to help guide university investment and support their academic success.”

USask recognizes the importance of predictability in tuition rates for students and has taken steps to improve predictability. USask is fortunate that the funding provided by the province is a firm foundation for enabling the university to continue to deliver high-quality programming and to provide a wide array of student supports and resources. However, financial needs and obligations exceed this amount, and tuition continues to be a necessary source of revenue, constituting about 28 per cent of the university’s 2025/26 operating revenue. 

Tuition rates and student fees for all undergraduate and graduate programs can be found online at usask.ca/tuition.