KEY BUDGET DRIVER FORECASTS 2013-14 to 2016-17
Key Budget Driver:
Indicator:
Prepared by:
Section A:
Tuition
Annual % Change
Resource Planning
Industry/Sector Trends
Undergraduate Tuition
Tuition fees for Canadian full-time undergraduate students increased 4.3% for the 2011-12 academic
year. This increase is slightly more than the previous year’s increase of 4.0%. In comparison, the
Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by only 2.7% between July 2010 and July 2011.
The highest average undergraduate fees are paid by students in dentistry ($16,024), followed by
medicine and pharmacy, with the highest average increase (8.8%) occurring in pharmacy tuition
rates.
Graduate Tuition
Nationally, graduate student tuition increases were close to those of undergraduate students,
averaging 3.7% in 2011-12. The most expensive program is the executive master of business
administration (EMBA) at $37,501 compared to the regular MBA at $21,528.
Undergraduate and Graduate Tuition Rates and Percentage Change
Undergraduate
Canada
Newfoundland and
Labrador
Prince Edward Island
Nova Scotia
New Brunswick
Quebec
Ontario
Manitoba
Saskatchewan
Alberta
British Columbia
2010-11
2011-12
$5,146
$5,366
$2,649
$5,131
$5,497
$5,647
$2,411
$6,316
$3,593
$5,431
$5,505
$4,758
Graduate
%
Change
%
Change
2010-11
2011-12
4.3%
$5,401
$5,599
3.7%
$2,649
0.0%
$2,456
$2,456
0.0%
$5,258
$5,731
$5,853
$2,519
$6,640
$3,645
$5,601
$5,662
$4,852
2.5%
4.3%
3.6%
4.5%
5.1%
1.4%
3.1%
2.9%
2.0%
$3,913
$7,157
$5,034
$2,601
$7,181
$4,132
$3,434
$4,672
$7,178
$3,992
$7,326
$5,258
$2,731
$7,578
$4,173
$3,504
$4,676
$7,303
2.0%
2.4%
4.4%
5.0%
5.5%
1.0%
2.0%
0.1%
1.7%
International Students
Undergraduate tuition for international students increased by an average of 4.3%, the same increase
that was seen by their Canadian counterparts, as compared with an increase of 5.2% in the prior year.
The international fee average for 2011-12 is $17,581. The largest increase (6.1%) was seen in
Ontario.
For international graduate students, the average fee increase was 1.1% (to $12,802), as compared to
the 3.7% increase seen by Canadian graduate students.
Office of Resource Planning, University of Alberta
09/02/16
Compulsory Fees
Compulsory fees for services such as athletics, health services, and student associations are also on
the rise. On average, these bundled fees increased by 5.5%. The Canadian average these fees paid by
undergraduate students was $820, ranging from $212 in Newfoundland and Labrador to $1,399 in
Alberta. Graduate student compulsory fees ranged from $229 in Newfoundland and Labrador to
$1,133 in Alberta.
Source: Statistics Canada – Survey no 3123
Section B:
Trends within the University of Alberta
Under the Public Post-secondary Institution’s Tuition Fee Regulation, tuition increases are limited to
increases to the annual change in the Alberta Consumer Price Index (CPI). Specifically, the annual
change in CPI for the 12 month period ending June 30th. For 2013-14, this CPI was 2.0%.
In spring 2010, the University of Alberta instituted a mandatory non-instructional fee. This fee
continued into 2012-13 at $148 per term for full time undergraduate and graduate students. The
continuation of this fee will support an extensive range of non-instructional services provided by the
University on behalf of students, e.g. risk management programs, support for common student space
and sustainability initiatives.
Tuition Increases
2006-07 6.40%
Province rolled-back to 2004-05 rates.
2007-08 3.3%
New tuition fee policy limiting tuition to Alberta CPI.
2008-09 4.6%
2009-10 4.1%
2010-11 1.5%
2011-12 0.35%
Increase based on Alberta CPI July – June
2012-13 1.45%
2013-14
Section C:
2.0%
Key Budget Driver Forecasts
Indicator: Annual % Change
Indicator
CPI Alberta (July to June)1
CPI Alberta (September to August)2
Annual Non-Instructional Fees3
Annual Average Tuition
(Arts and Sciences, Undergrad)*
2011/12 2012/13
Actual Actual
0.35%
1.45%
0.80%
1.60%
$724
$735
$5,195
$5,270
2013/14
Forecast
2.18%
2.0%
$749
2014/15
Forecast
2.3%
2.3%
$766
2015/16
Forecast
2.2%
2.2%
$782
2016/17
Forecast
2.0%
2.0%
$797
$5,384
$5,507
$5,628
$5,740
Note: (1) Instructional tuition increases are based on the July to June CPI, while (2) non-instructional increases are based on the
September to August CPI.
(3) Mandatory non-instructional fees include Registration and transcript, Athletic Services, CoSSS, Student Services, and Health
Services Fees.
* Increases based on CPI Key Budget Drivers and assume no new program differential fees.
* The same forecast is used for both CPI values above as only one CPI forecast period is available
Office of Resource Planning, University of Alberta
09/02/16