Despite Alberta’s current prosperity, post-secondary education in our province continues to be unaffordable for a large number of Albertans. Alberta’s average tuition is the fourth-highest in Canada, and 50% of university students will graduate with an average of $20,000 in debt. More significant is that of those who do not pursue post-secondary education, fully one-third cite financial barriers as a significant reason.
Alberta's government can and must do better. We have the capacity to make post-secondary education affordable for all qualified Albertans.
Quick facts on tuition and affordability in Alberta:
- Undergraduate tuition in Alberta has gone up by 275% since 1991, the largest increase in Canada. The average undergraduate tuition in Alberta is $4828, the fourth-highest average tuition in Canada.
- One-third of youth who never attend post-secondary cite financial barriers, and finances are the largest single reason for not attending post-secondary. Of youth who leave post-secondary without graduating, 22% cite financial reasons.
- Aboriginal youth are even more adversely affected by the high price of education. Of all aboriginal youth who never attend post-secondary, 59% ciute the need to financially support their family and 40% cite a lack of funds as reasons.
The debt crisis and Alberta's students:
- Over 50% of Alberta’s university students will graduate with debt, and their average debt is approximately $20,000. The average debt of a college graduate who borrowed is estimated at $13,100.
- Approximately 28% of university graduates and 34% of college graduates who borrowed reported difficulties in repaying their student debt.
- Only 42% of parents who earn less than $30,000 per year save for their children’s post-secondary education, compared to 78% of parents who earn over $70,000.
- Youth from families with annual incomes of $100,000 or more are twice as likely to go to university as those from families with incomes below $25,000.
- 92% of Canadians agree that “we should not allow the price of college or university education to keep students who are qualified and motivated” from attending post-secondary, and 79% agree that “students have to borrow too much money to pay for their college or university education.”
- In 2007, only 50% of Albertans agreed that the learning system was within the means of most Albertans, down from 75% in 2001.
