Canadian Post-Secondary Enrolment Edges Up as Domestic Rebound Offsets Record International Student Decline
Total student enrolment at Canadian public colleges and universities rose 0.1 per cent to 2.3 million in 2024-25, according to Statistics Canada. A rebound in domestic students barely offset a 6.9-per-cent drop in international enrolment—the steepest since the early 1990s—driven by federal study permit restrictions that have strained institutional finances.
Total student enrolment in Canadian public colleges and universities reached 2.3 million for the 2024-25 academic year, representing a 0.1-per-cent increase from the previous year, according to Statistics Canada. The marginal growth was driven by a rebound in domestic student numbers to levels comparable to the 2010-11 academic year.
This domestic increase, however, only narrowly offset a significant decline in international student enrolment. International student numbers fell by 39,600, or 6.9 per cent, marking the steepest drop recorded since at least the early 1990s. The reduction is linked to federal government measures restricting the number of international study permits.
The financial consequences of fewer international students have been severe. Canadian schools charge international undergraduate students an average of five times more for tuition than domestic students. The resulting loss of revenue has left school finances under heavy strain, forcing some institutions to suspend programs and close campuses. The growth in domestic enrolment has proven insufficient to fully cover the financial gap left by the international decline.
Several provinces have invested in adding spaces for domestic students in fields experiencing labour shortages, such as health care, sciences, and trades. These provincial investments, alongside a weak job market for younger Canadians, have contributed to the rise in domestic post-secondary participation during the 2024-25 academic year.