Tuition and fees for upcoming year set by Board of Governors

UCalgary’s tuition and fees have been set for the upcoming year, following campus-wide consultations and a vote by the Board of Governors.

Tuition for domestic undergraduates will increase by 2%, while international undergrad increases by 4%; Domestic master’s course-based diploma and certificate rises by 2%, while international goes up by 4%.

The Board kept thesis-based tuition to current levels, with no increase.

“As always, we appreciate constructive dialogue with students and student groups, and thank all who offered feedback on the tuition and fee proposals,” said Dr. Sandra Davidson, PhD, provost and vice-president (academic) of the University of Calgary.

“This feedback resulted in adjustments to the original tuition and fee proposals, and we believe the result balances student concerns with the budget challenges at our growing university.”

Careful consideration

UCalgary Board of Governors Chair Mark Herman said the tuition and fees for the upcoming year were approved after careful consideration by the board.

“The board’s decision follows thoughtful discussion and careful consideration of how inflation and cost increases impact students,” said Herman.

“The University of Calgary maintains rates in line or below those of other post-secondary institutions across the country.”

Student feedback leads to adjustments

In direct response to student feedback, there is no tuition increase to thesis-based tuition rates in the upcoming year, while the increase to international undergraduate tuition was reduced to 4% from 6%.

The Board of Governors heard that the increases to tuition and fees are necessary to maintain financial sustainability, amid rising costs and limited revenue growth, including flat provincial funding and a domestic tuition cap below inflation. ​

The Board heard UCalgary allocates just 5.7% of its operating budget to administration, the lowest among its U15 peers and significantly below the U15 average of 9.3%.

Tuition and fee increases

New tuition and fee rates will take effect starting on May 1, 2025. A full listing of rates by program will be published in the Tuition and General Fees section of the 2025-2026 university academic calendar in March. Some examples include:

Tuition for domestic students

• +2.0%: Undergraduate programs
• +2.0%: Most master’s course-based, diploma and certificate programs
• Zero increase for thesis-based tuition

Tuition for international students

• +4.0%: Undergraduate programs
• +4.0%: Most master’s course-based, diploma and certificate programs
• Zero increase for thesis-based tuition

General fees

A 4.0% increase to the Student Services, Campus Recreation and Athletics fees was approved.

2025/2026 residence rates

An adjustment of 2.5% to 10% was approved — depending on the room type. Notably, 44% of residence rooms will see an increase of 3% or less, with the average increase across all inventory being 5.3%. 

Despite these adjustments, analysis shows that UCalgary’s rates remain competitive with market rates for similar units in Calgary, ensuring that residence remains a sustainable and affordable option. 

 2025/2026 meal plan rates

To continue providing students with nutritious and diverse dining options, meal plan rates were approved to increase by 4% to 9%. These changes reflect the commitment to maintaining the quality and variety of All You Care to Eat (AYCTE) plans while keeping costs reasonable. 

Providing students with affordable, healthy meals is paramount, and every effort is being made to balance this commitment with the challenges of rising food costs.

2025/2026 parking rates

Approved changes for parking in the upcoming year include the following:

• Student/staff permits in surface lots and Art parkade: 1.2% to 4.2% increase
• Daily surface lot rates: Increase by $1
• Underground heated parkade permits: 12.1% increase

A new evening/weekend rate of $6 for specific surface lots (Lots 10, 11, 32) and $50 monthly parking at McMahon East has been introduced. This aims to provide students, faculty, and staff with more flexible and affordable parking options.