In order to protect and strengthen Ontario's current and future workforce, the Ontario government is investing $750 million to support Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programs at colleges and universities across the province. This investment will fund up to 20,500 STEM seats per year, building a skilled, made-in-Ontario talent pool that will cement the province as one of the most competitive places in the G7 to invest, create jobs and do business.
"Our government is working to protect Ontario by building a more resilient economy that can withstand whatever comes our way, including tariffs and economic uncertainty from the U.S.," said Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security. "Colleges and universities play a vital role in arming our economy with a highly skilled workforce. This investment will expand training capacity at our world-class publicly funded colleges and universities, connecting students to good-paying jobs and securing our world-class workforce for decades to come."
Publicly assisted colleges and universities have access to this STEM funding immediately upon signing their 2025-2030 operating funding agreements, which have recently been finalized. Together with the government's previously announced $1.3 billion investment to ensure the long term financial stability of our colleges and universities, Ontario has made the largest investment in postsecondary education in the province's history.
As part of the government's plan to protect our workers, industries and economy from the impact of President Trump's tariffs, this historic investment in STEM education will strengthen the province's key sectors, such as advanced manufacturing, life sciences and technology, ensuring businesses have the highly skilled workers to retain and grow Ontario's economic advantage for decades to come.
Quick Facts
- Applications from Ontario students to STEM undergraduate programs at Ontario universities increased by 34 per cent from 2020 to 2024.
- On average, STEM graduates have lower unemployment and higher wages post-graduation than their non-STEM counterparts.
- This investment will be administered through the government's Strategic Mandate Agreements, which are five-year funding agreements that detail the support Ontario provides our publicly assisted colleges and universities.
- For 2024-2025, the government is suspending funding recoveries for institutions that have fallen below their enrolment floor, ensuring that affected institutions can use the over $17 million in waived recoveries to support enrolment in STEM programs.
- As part of the government's previously announced $1.3 billion investment to help stabilize the colleges and universities, the province is:
- Investing $903 million over three years through the Postsecondary Education Sustainability Fund starting in 2024-25, including $203 million in funding for top-ups for institutions with greater financial need.
- Increasing funding through the Efficiency and Accountability Fund to $17 million to support third-party reviews that will identify actions institutions can take to drive long-term cost savings and positive outcomes for students and communities.
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