NEWS RELEASE
August 1st, 2026
OUSA Responds to the Enactment of Changes to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP)
TORONTO - Today marks the implementation of the Ontario Student Assistance Program’s (OSAP) new structure. Under the changes to the provincial portion of OSAP, Ontario students will now be eligible to receive up to 25 percent of their funding as grants and up to 75 percent as loans. OUSA is deeply concerned about the impact of these changes and is committed to continued engagement with the provincial government to increase accessibility under the current framework.
“Many students across Ontario rely on OSAP to continue their education. Without clear guidance and meaningful additional supports, countless students’ ability and willingness to access post-secondary education will be negatively impacted,” said OUSA President Rory Norris. “As students continue to navigate the rapidly changing job market, completing their post-secondary education will become more essential than ever.”
The provincial government cited these changes as a way to maintain OSAP accessibility in the long term for future students. While OUSA recognizes the importance of protecting the sector's financial sustainability, we are concerned that this protection comes at the cost of students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds who lack alternative financial support. Surveyed students reported that 43.5% of respondents pursuing an undergraduate degree rely on OSAP funding to cover more than half of the costs associated with completing their education. Additional support through the Student Access Guarantee is a welcomed complementary policy; however, uncertainty regarding eligibility and its implementation continues to raise apprehension among Ontario students and their families.
With the implementation of these changes happening ahead of the upcoming academic year, OUSA stresses the importance of ensuring students are provided with additional supports throughout their education and as they transition into the workforce after graduation. To further assist students in managing student loans, OUSA recommends that the provincial government implement a no-interest student loan program modelled after the federal initiative to remove interest on all student loans, including past students who still owe provincial student loans.
When asked to share their primary concern with OSAP’s new grant-to-loan ratio, 63.9% of university students stated that they were concerned about the accumulation of debt and being burdened with long-term debt after graduation. To alleviate the immediate pressures of increased repayable student loans, the provincial government should extend the OSAP loan repayment grace period from six months to at least two years.
Since the initial announcement, OUSA has been in conversation with the Ministry to express our concerns and hear their perspective, and we appreciate their time thus far. We recognize the need for financial sustainability, but urge the province to consider implementing additional policies that will make the new framework manageable for students. Students deserve access to an affordable, accessible and high-quality post-secondary education regardless of financial status. OUSA is committed to working towards this goal through continued engagement with the provincial government.
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About: OUSA represents the interests of 160,000 professional and undergraduate, full-time and part-time university students at nine student associations across Ontario. Our vision is for an accessible, affordable, accountable, high-quality and equitable post-secondary education in Ontario.
Contact:
Tobi Olumurewa
Manager of Communications
Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance
416-341-9948 | [email protected]