"The Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) calculator is now updated for the 2026-27 academic year, offering students a glimpse into how the Ford government's cuts to the financial aid program could impact the amount of money they'll receive for school. Changes to the program structure were announced by the Ford government in February alongside an end to a years-long tuition freeze and billions in new funding for the post-secondary sector."
"While provincially managed, OSAP funding comes from both the provincial and federal governments. The changes affect the provincial portion of OSAP and reduce the amount of grant money students can receive from a maximum of 85 per cent to 25 per cent, prompting concerns and provincewide protests by students."
"Sample calculation shows a drop in grant money CBC News used the online calculator to get a sample estimate for both the 2025-26 academic year before the announced changes and for the 2026-27 academic year, to which the changes apply. Several factors can affect how much money OSAP will provide and what proportion will be handed out as a loan, grant or both."
"CBC used the following criteria for its sample estimates: The incoming student is entering first-year university straight from high school. The student will be studying at Toronto Metropolitan University for a bachelor's degree in biomedical science. The student is a dependent and will be living at home during their studies. The student does not have disability status and does not self-identify as Indigenous. The student does not have any assets or scholarships/bursaries to declare."
The Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) calculator has been updated for the 2026-27 academic year to show how changes to financial aid could affect student funding. The Ford government announced program structure changes in February, alongside ending a tuition freeze and adding billions in post-secondary funding. OSAP provides a combination of loans and grants for college or university students, with funding coming from both provincial and federal governments. The changes reduce the provincial portion of OSAP and lower the maximum grant percentage from 85% to 25%, raising concerns among students. A sample calculation using the online calculator compares 2025-26 and 2026-27 outcomes using specified student and household criteria, including income, dependency status, living situation, and declared assets or scholarships.
Read at www.cbc.ca
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