St. Clair College doesn't expect layoffs or domestic tuition hike with international student cap

St. Clair College doesn't expect any layoffs or a reduction in service after word of Canada's international student study permit reduction.

The school also doesn't intend on bumping up domestic tuition fees anytime soon.

Ron Seguin, vice president of international relations, said they're bracing for a $40-million hit to their bottom line for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. Pre-registrations completed before January 2022 will still be allowed through for the next school year, he added.

"We think we can continue [as is]. If we have to move to a break even model, protect the reserves that we have."

"The student, who understandably is dealing with inflation, high cost and everything else right now … the last thing they need is a tuition increase. But we put money aside, and we are not in crisis. What two or three years down the road looks like, I don't know."

Ottawa announced last week it's capping the number of student permits. This comes amid concern about the impact growing numbers of international students are having on the housing market. The feds say approximately 360,000 undergraduate work visas will be approved for this year — a 35 per cent reduction from 2023. 

St. Clair College had nearly 5,300 international students in 2023. A sharp 52 per cent increase from the previous year. As a comparison, the school said its domestic student enrollment was at nearly 7,000 last year — up 2.1 per cent from 2022. 

"What's unknown is he's clearly said this is a two-year freeze, so to speak. So what the discussions look like a year into that freeze, we don't know," said Seguin.

"But in all fairness to [immigration] minister [Marc] Miller, he had to do something. He had to make a decision, to put some control into the system."

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The school believes as many as 50 per cent fewer international students will be allowed at St. Clair in the second year of the temporary cap, according to Seguin.

St. Clair makes up four per cent of the international enrollment in the public college system, he said, with students from 88 different countries — predominantly from Southeast Asia and India. 

"If you look at the Indian market, those are typically young people who want to come to Canada, study and stay as a permanent resident. So that will close that opportunity, at least in the next two years."

The loss of international tuition dollars will affect the pace of on-campus infrastructure activity, according to Seguin, but that they've been prepared to financially bridge the gap.