NSNDP

April 17th, 2018

Tuition hike at Acadia goes beyond 3 per cent cap

HALIFAX – Acadia University is increasing its tuition fees by 6 per cent this fall according to an email sent to students last week, just as the exam period was set to begin. Tuition fees will increase by about $500 for domestic students and $1000 for international students.

“Students in Nova Scotia are already struggling. A surprise tuition increase only hurts them more,” said NDP Advanced Education spokesperson Lenore Zann. “What’s the point of having a cap on tuition fee increases if this Liberal government is going to let universities circumvent it?”

Acadia claims the increase is in line with the one-time tuition market adjustment allowed by the McNeil government in 2015-16. At the time, the Liberals said universities had one opportunity to raise fees.

“The Liberal government has failed to work with universities and make the investments needed to make a university education something a person can afford,” said NDP Leader Gary Burrill. “While other governments are making historic investments in lowering or eliminating tuition fees this Liberal government is forcing students to shoulder more costs.”

Last year Nova Scotia had the fastest rising tuition rates in the country. For the 2017-2018 school year Nova Scotia students paid $6,899 a year in tuition and other fees at Acadia. Canadian students from outside of Nova Scotia paid $8,182 and international students spent $16,380 a year.

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