The aftermath of the current OSAP changes
By: Hayley
“On February 12th, 2026, our provincial government announced significant updates to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP), with changes expected to take effect beginning in the Fall 2026 academic year. The new model of OSAP funding will not cap the non-repayable portion (grants) of funding at 25 per cent, while at least 75 per cent of student aid will now be repayable loans.”
As per the Ontario government's statement, I am deeply concerned about my future and that of current and future Ontario students. As a student who relies primarily on OSAP to access and continue at Sheridan Colleges, I find these changes detrimental. Even though I understand that my funding amount may not change, the number of loans I can repay after I graduate from my program will increase. While in my final year of high school, I was stressed and worried about whether I could even apply to post-secondary. It was not until I had learned about the Ontario Student Assistance Program that I caught a glimmer of hope and excitement. I can remember getting my acceptance letter from Sheridan for the Honours Bachelor of Community Safety. I can remember celebrating with my friends, being so relieved and so excited for what was to come. That feeling and memory were only possible because of OSAP. After my program, I plan to further my education by pursuing a graduate certificate or a master's degree. I heard about this decision, but I'm questioning whether it's feasible for me. We, as students, should not have to choose between education and being able to live and afford necessities.
In our ever-changing world, students are currently bearing the brunt of many stressors, including food insecurity, affordability challenges, housing, and inflation. These are not all of the stressors, but just some. Adding the OSAP changes to that list only harms students. As a student leader here at the Sheridan Student Union, I can only imagine what will happen in the coming years. This decision only deters students from pursuing post-secondary studies, such as programs for jobs in ‘high demand.’ How can we expect students to enter these fields when you have just changed how they access education? Again, to emphasize, I understand that the amount of funding will not change, but what students will have to pay back after they graduate will. We are sending students into the workforce with thousands of dollars in debt. How can students overcome this? The answer is not to ‘go get a job’ but rather to have systems in place that allow students to access education fairly. No one expects education to be completely free, but rather affordable. We, as a society, need to allow students to graduate from post-secondary education without the burden of debt.
The rest of the Executive Team and I have been visiting all three Sheridan Campuses over the past couple of weeks, asking students whether they are comfortable signing a petition. The petition was presented to the Sheridan Student Union by Ontario Student Voices, one of our advocacy partners. The signature will be sent to Ontario Students' Voices so they can advocate for all students at the provincial level, presenting the hundreds of signatures collected.
Overall, as a student and a student leader, I am deeply concerned about this decision. I can only see the harm this decision will do to our communities. With this change, we are sending freshly graduated students into the workforce in debt, bearing the stress of repaying their loans while also trying to provide for themselves and their families at a time when affordability is already a massive burden. This decision is setting up our current and future students for failure.
With the new OSAP changes, our Executive of Community Development and Partnerships, Hayley, shares the significant impact it has on her life and future. Learn more about the way OSAP impacts her #SheridanLife