The official Fall Day 10 enrolment numbers show an overall decrease in students enrolled at St. Clair College campuses compared to 2024, despite continued success attracting domestic students.
The College has seen a 23 per cent reduction in the number of students enrolled at Windsor and Chatham campuses for Fall 2025. At the Day 10 mark of the semester, St. Clair has 9,383 students, compared to 12,235 at the same time last year.
The decline is tied directly to a shrinking international student population, which dropped from 4,641 in 2024 to 1,732 students at the Windsor and Chatham campuses in Fall 2025. This reduction of international students represents a nearly 63 per cent decrease in the international stream, year-over-year.
Of note, there was also no new enrolment at any of the three campuses of the Ace Acumen Academy in the Greater Toronto Area this September. This alone represents a loss of 3,526 students.
At the same time, the domestic market continues to see growth, with 7,645 domestic students enrolled in 2025, compared to 7,594 last Fall. This reflects a continued rise in domestic student enrolment in College programs and represents the highest number of domestic students attending St. Clair College since 2018.
The Schools of Community Studies and Nursing saw significant gains at both Windsor and Chatham campuses. Interest has been especially robust in programs including Powerline Technician, Personal Support Worker, Early Childhood Education, Practical Nursing, Electrical Techniques, Police Foundations and Border Services, among others. This boost aligns with in-demand professions in our region and beyond.
The domestic to international student ratio at St. Clair College is now 82 per cent to 18 per cent.
This demographic shift is not unique to St. Clair College. Post-secondary institutions across Ontario have experienced a sharp decline in international student enrolment this year.
Policy changes related to the shift include:
Study permit cap: In 2024, the federal government placed a two-year cap on the number of new international student study permits, resulting in a significant reduction.
Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) restrictions: The federal government restricted eligibility for PGWPs, a key incentive for many international students who seek a path to permanent residency in Canada.
Provincial attestation letter (PAL): A new requirement mandates that most prospective international students obtain a PAL from the College before applying for a study permit. This added a new layer of bureaucracy, with many international students opting to study in other countries with more relaxed requirements.
St. Clair College remains committed to delivering outstanding educational opportunities to both domestic and international students while developing a job-ready workforce that will positively contribute to the economy.
