Aurora College is increasing its tuition fees for all post-secondary programs starting this fall.
The college stated that the tuition hike is in response to rising costs, and noted that the 2018-2019 academic year was the last time students were asked to pay more.
For the majority of post-secondary programs, the tuition fee per term will now be $2,520, and the cost of a single course will be $510 — applicable for up to two courses per term. Certain programs, particularly those with higher delivery costs and some nursing and healthcare practicum courses, will be subject to different pricing, especially if taken outside the standard course load or as standalone courses, the college advised in a Tuesday afternoon news release.
Tuition for the environment and natural resources technology diploma program will now be set at $2,665 per term, with field camp — if taken as a part-time course — costing $1,345. The bachelor of science in nursing will now rises to $2,520 per term except for the final term of the fourth year, which will be priced at $2,665.
The revised tuition structure ensures that fees remain within the financial support parameters set by NWT Student Financial Assistance (SFA).
“In June 2023, enhancements were made to the SFA for NWT residents to reflect higher education costs,” Aurora College stated.
It added that the enhancements will include increased support to cover the newly increased tuition fees, books, and other costs.
The news release also mentioned that international student tuition fees will be triple the rate of domestic student tuition.
In light of these changes, Aurora College’s student services team has committed to working with students to access additional resources, including scholarships and bursaries. Historically, 75 per cent of students enrolled at the college were funded by the SFA, and others have received funding from other supports, such as Indigenous governments, agencies and other Canadian student assistance programs.