By Kayla Douglas and Victoria McMurchy
Many students joke about Ryerson being expensive, but it still hurts to see how much it actually costs.
According to the 2018 university rankings published in October by Maclean’s, Ryerson is the second most expensive university in Canada for students who move away from home.
Maclean’s magazine has been releasing university rankings since 1991 and judges institutions on a variety of criteria including faculty, resources, student support and reputation.
Students who leave home for Ryerson spend an average of $23,066 a year on tuition, food and rent compared to the national average of $19,498. The most expensive school for students leaving home in the country is the University of Toronto, where it costs students an average of $23,485.34 per year.
“Ryerson is more expensive than the majority of its contenders,” said Nashid Ahmed, a second-year business technology management student. “I know it’s a great school, but I think it would be more attractive if it was priced a little better.”
Students who avoid spending money on Toronto’s housing market by living at home are unable to escape Ryerson’s expensive tastes unscathed. Ryerson ranks as the sixth most expensive school for students who don’t move away from home.
“If you don’t live in the city, it would be nice if Ryerson took [commuting] into consideration,” said Jillian Cunningham, a second-year social work student who commutes to Ryerson. “I pay over $50 a week just on travelling and I only come three days a week. Imagine if I had [class every day].”
Cunningham also said she doesn’t always feel like she’s getting the value for her education based on the price she’s paying.
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“As far as my course goes, it’s comparable to other schools but I think it’s expensive,” Cunningham said. “I feel like I’m paying $4,000 [for the semester] for stuff I already know and have already done.”
However, Noura Hersh, a first-year masters student, finds Ryerson’s prices more affordable than what she is used to. Hersh came to Ryerson from Minnesota and said that, compared to her family members who stayed in the United States, her parents are relieved she’s in Canada for school.
“I see the difference in cost,” she said. “My one year here is [over] $7,000, [while] their minimum is USD $30,000.”
Although less expensive than universities in the United States, Hersh is using the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) to keep herself afloat.
“I have been using [it] for the whole thing,” she said. “So, I guess that illustrates how expensive [Ryerson] is.”
However, John Austin, interim vice-provost, students, said he knows OSAP might not be enough to cover the costs for all students.
“Ryerson is very committed to accessibility for all students,” he said in an email Tuesday. “[The university] provides many forms of financial support for students needing assistance beyond what OSAP can provide.”
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