Additional seats for Northern post-secondary institutions

By Rosalind Russell – The Ontario government has invested $60 million to fund 2,946 additional seats at northern Colleges, including Algoma University, Sault College, and Cambrian.

Lorne Coe, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security says the funding, part of larger $1.7 billion dollar investment in post-secondary education, supports the province’s plan to protect Ontario and build a more competitive economy by continuing to develop a world-class workforce. 

She adds the high-demand areas that are receiving additional seats at these institutions include programs in STEM, health, education and trades, with seats available for student enrollment as early as the fall 2026 academic year.

Other schools that received funding include Nipissing University, Collège Boréal, Northern College, Canadore College and Université de Hearst to connect more students to good-paying, in-demand careers.

The 432 newly funded seats at Algoma University include:

386 seats for health programs

46 seats for STEM programs

The 1,113 newly funded seats at Nipissing University include:

687 seats for education programs

281 seats for health programs

85 seats for STEM programs

60 seats for trades programs

The 334 newly funded seats at Collège Boréal include:

163 seats for health programs

121 seats for education programs

34 seats for STEM programs

16 seats for trades programs

The 136 newly funded seats at Sault College include:

68 seats for STEM programs

36 seats for health programs

32 seats for trades programs

The 268 newly funded seats at Northern College include:

103 seats for health programs

76 seats for trades programs

52 seats for education programs

27 seats for STEM programs

10 seats for other labour-market driven programs

The 92 newly funded seats at Canadore College include:

64 seats for health programs

25 seats for STEM programs

3 seats for education programs

The 547 newly funded seats at Cambrian College include:

333 seats for health programs

182 seats for trades programs

32 seats for STEM programs

The 24 newly funded seats at Université de Hearst are all for health programs.

Photo by Rosalind Russell