Yukon College Board approves 1.8% tuition fee increase

WHITEHORSE – The Yukon College Board of Governors has approved a 1.8% tuition fee increase to take effect for all credit courses beginning in September 2015.

The price of a course credit will go from $112 to $114. A full year of credit courses will increase by a maximum of $60 (for students taking 5 courses per semester).  Culinary Arts, Renewable Resource Management and Practical Nurse programs will see no tuition fee increase.

"Direction from the Board of Governors is that Yukon College tuition fees not exceed the lowest one third of comparable colleges in Western Canada, and this continues to be the case,” said Jennifer Moorlag, Registrar. “At the same time however, the fixed-costs of providing post-secondary education continue to rise."

After several years of remaining static, Trades pre-employment programs will this year see a 13 per cent increase from $2200 to $2500 per course. This will bring tuition fees for these programs in line with comparable colleges.

Tuition and registration fees made up three per cent, or $1.27 million, of the total $42.37 million Yukon College revenue for 2013/14. Yukon government base funding and third party contracts cover the majority of the College budget at 53 and 35 per cent respectively.

In 2014, Yukon College eliminated the $50 application fee and introduced an online application form. As a result, the College saw applications increase by 38 per cent and credit program registrations by new applicants rise by seven per cent.

“The application fee was identified as a barrier for Yukoners. Having eliminated it, we are pleased to see more students are now accessing post-secondary education and creating new opportunities for themselves,” said Moorlag.

Moorlag also pointed to a range of ongoing improvements to the student experience at Yukon College over the past year, many of which are in response to specific student feedback. These include the renewal of the transit agreement with City of Whitehorse and Yukon College Student Union allowing full time students to use their student ID as a bus pass, increased non-curricular events and activities, new furniture and technology in class rooms.

2014/15 and 2015/16 fee comparison

            Program                                                    2014/15                2015/16
Credit courses - Cost per credit                          $   112.00              $   114.00 
College Prep - Cost per credit                            $     73.00**           $     73.00
Skills for Employment (Full time)                        $   513.00**           $   513.00
Skills for Employment (Part time)                       $   366.00**           $   366.00
Vocational Programs                                          $1,680.00/ term     $1,710.00/ term
Pre-employment Programs                                $2,200.00**            $ 2,500.00

(** indicates there was no increase in 2014)