UPEI tuition going up 5% or $34 per course next fall

Some students at the university of Prince Edward Island say a five per cent tuition hike next fall will mean they'll have to take on more part-time work and rethink their budgets.

The university's board of governors on Tuesday approved a balanced operating budget of $183 million for the 20242025 fiscal year, representing growth of almost 12 per cent in both revenues and expenses.

But it will mean an increase of $34 per course for undergraduate students at UPEI, including the Atlantic Veterinary College.

"It's too much," said Nafisa Hasan, a third year international student studying accounting."I have to work more hours maybe one more part time job.

"Housing is very expensive, food also is expensive."

Ethan Arsenault, a second-year engineering student, said he obviously doesn't like the tuition increase, but there's not much he can do.

"I"m knee deep in it," he said."I think I'm going to come back.

"I like the school but it's going to mean budget changes, really, for myself."

Camille Mady, president of the UPEI Student Union, said she opposed the tuition hike at the Board of Governors meeting.

"Regrettably, this decision does not align with what we believe to be in the best interest of our student community," she said. "Students are already currently facing financial burdens, and this increase only adds to their challenges, including their mental health."

Tuition was increased four per cent last year at the university, after a 26-day strike by the UPEI Faculty Association that ended in April.

WATCH |5% tuition hike 'tough to afford,' some UPEI students say:

5% tuition hike tough to afford, some UPEI students say

6 months ago

Duration 1:35

The cost of UPEI tuition will go up five per cent for all students next fall. The university says the increase, announced April 2, is needed to cover costs and pay for new staff, among other things. CBC P.E.I. visited the campus to hear what students think of rising costs for their education.

The new deal included UPEI committing to hire 20 additional full-time faculty members, more supports for faculty research andsessional staff, and an annual three-per-cent wage increase for union members over four years.

Tuition makes up a large portion of the revenue for the university. As well, the P.E.I. government provides an annual operating grant that will amount to about $3 million next year.

Greg Keefe, UPEI's interim president, said the tuition increase is necessary to offset the university's "substantial" growth over the last few years.

He said every department will see an increase, and there will be no cuts to programs.

"We have our action plan that we put forward and was approved by the board last week,"he said."And that includes a lot of new hires in areas around equity, diversity and inclusion, sexual violence prevention in our HR department and in student affairs.

"In addition, we need to grow the academic program at the university in order to maintain the quality of education that we have here at UPEI."

That quality of education is worth the increase for Fortune Soyebi, a first-year biology student who hopes someday to become a doctor.

"Like anything we pay for, we're actually getting it back," Soyebi said, "because teachers, they teach well, so I guess there will be a valid reason for increasing the tuition and we just have to do it."

UPEI's Keefe said the university will still havethe lowest English-language university tuition in the Maritimes, for both domestic and international students.