2003–2005 The Ontario Liberal Party was elected with a platform commitment to a two-year
tuition freeze, expanded loan eligibility and tuition waivers for "the neediest 10 percent of students." At the time, Ontario student aid did not have any up-front grants, though it had a long-standing loan remission policy through the Ontario Student Opportunity Grant (OSOG) which capped total loans (federal and provincial) at $7,000 per year (maximum aid was $9,350). The government subsequently implemented a two-year tuition freeze beginning in September 2004. The government also launched a review of the post-secondary education system to be led by former Premier Bob Rae, which subsequently called for free tuition for low-income students and a new tuition framework that provides for "predictable, transparent and affordable" increases. In response, the government's Reaching Higher plan began in 2005 providing for a $6.2 billion investment in postsecondary education, including a target postsecondary attainment rate of 70% and doubling funding for OSAP. This included the introduction of up-front grants for low-income students and higher loan limits. In September 2005, Millennium-Ontario Access Grants of up to $6,000 were introduced for first-year dependent students, and $3,000 Ontario Access Grants for second-year students.
2006–2010 In 2006, the tuition freeze was lifted, and a four-year framework was implemented, which was subsequently extended three more years out to 2013: • entering Arts/Science students could increase by up to 4.5%. • entering graduate/professional students could increase by up to 8%. • all continuing students by up to 4%. • combined an overall cap of 5%. Ontario tuition rates were regulated by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities through the Tuition Fee Framework Guidelines, which provides that any tuition increases beyond the guidelines result in dollar-for-dollar reduction of provincial funding to public universities and colleges. The Framework applies to all students that receive provincial funding, excluding international students and certain full-cost-recovery professional programs. Ontario Liberals were re-elected in 2007 with platform commitments for two new up-front grants: the Distance Grant (to support those with need travelling long distances to attend PSE) and the Textbook and Technology Grant ($150 flat grant not tied to OSAP need).
2011 The Budget before the 2011 election introduced a six-month interest-free grace period, doubled the student earnings income exemption, and increased student loan limits while increasing the OSOG threshold from $7,000 to $7,300. In the October 2011 election, the Liberals were re-elected with a minority government on the signature platform commitment to "support all middle-class Ontario families with a 30% across-the-board post-secondary undergraduate tuition grant. That means – every year – the families of five out of six students will save $1,600 per student in university and $730 per student in college." It also included a commitment to keep OSOG debt cap at $7,300 and added an additional six-month grace period for graduates who work in the not-for-profit sector.
2012–2015 The 30% Off Ontario Tuition grant was launched in January 2012, only for dependent students in first-entry programs, offset in part by the elimination of the Textbook and Technology Grant and some smaller merit-based programs. A revised four-year tuition framework was announced in 2013 that dropped the overall tuition increase cap from 5% to 3% and the professional/graduate cap from 8% to 5%. The additional six-month grace period was also extended to entrepreneurs starting a new business in 2013. The Liberals were re-elected to a majority government in 2014 under Kathleen Wynne with its only post-secondary platform commitment being to continue the 30% Off Ontario Tuition grant. In their 2015 Budget, the government made a number of need assessment changes in concert with the federal changes: a fixed student contribution, eliminating the vehicle asset test and indexed maximum student aid levels to inflation while increasing the OSOG debt cap to $7,400.
2016–2018 In the 2016 Budget, the Ontario government announced an overhaul of student financial assistance in Ontario. This included eliminating tuition and post-secondary education tax credits and multiple OSAP grants (Ontario Access Grant, Ontario Student Opportunity Grant, Ontario Distance Grant, 30% Off Ontario Tuition grant, Child Care Bursary) and pooling the associated funding into a single new Ontario Student Grant. The new grant was designed to cover average tuition costs for all those under $50,000 of family income (or $30,000 for independent students) regardless of assessed need, with a sliding scale above that up to $160,000 receiving 30% of tuition costs. The result was that the proportion of Ontario aid provided in the form of non-repayable grants increased from 60% grant/40% loan in 2016–17 to 98% grant/2% loan in 2017–18.
2019 A new PC government was elected in June 2018, which announced significant changes to OSAP in January 2019. It included a 10% tuition fee reduction for all programs in 2019–20, followed by a freeze in 2020–21. It also cut the OSAP budget from approximately $2 billion to $1.4 billion, making significant changes to the program including: • changing eligibility requirements for the Ontario Student Grant to only be provided up to assessed need and reducing income cut-offs to about $140,000 of family income. • requiring that at least 10% of assessed need be provided as loan for those with family income under $50,000. • requiring that at least 50% of assessed need be provided as loan for those in second-entry or out-of-province programs. • increasing the fixed student contribution to $3,600 from $3,000. • increasing expected parental contributions. • making the annual $500 computer allowance one-time. • changing the definition of independent student from four to six years out of high school; and • having interest accrue on provincial loans during the six-month grace period after graduation.
2026 In early 2026, the Ford government announced changes to the OSAP and billions in new funding for Ontario's financially struggling colleges and universities. The government announced the end of the tuition freeze for public colleges and universities, allowing them to raise fees by up to two percent per year over three years, and announced changes to OSAP funding, with grants reduced to a maximum of 25 percent for grants, and loans increased to a minimum of 75 percent; the changes saw protests from students across the province. == Financial resources ==