**FREDERICTON** — New Brunswick’s universities recorded record-high revenue during the 2024–25 academic year, despite federal reductions to permanent resident numbers and caps on temporary arrivals, according to new data from Statistics Canada.
Combined total revenue for universities in the province reached $876.6 million for the 2024–25 academic year, representing a $44.7 million—or 5.4 per cent—increase from the previous year. While tuition revenue growth slowed, it continued to rise.
The figures follow a period of significant post-secondary expansion driven by an upward shift in federal immigration levels. In late 2024, the federal government initiated a sharp downward contraction in immigration, prompting New Brunswick universities to warn publicly of funding pressures and potential program closures stemming from a loss of international students. The latest Statistics Canada data indicates that while the steep growth trajectory was curbed, the financial crunch did not immediately halt overall revenue gains.
Statistics Canada groups the financial data by province rather than individual institutions. The dataset includes members of the Canadian Association of University Business Officers—the University of New Brunswick, l’Université de Moncton, Mount Allison University, and St. Thomas University—as well as a separate tally for non-member institutions such as Crandall University, Kingswood University, St. Stephen’s University, and Yorkville University.
Overall revenue growth in the province previously surged by 9.6 per cent in 2022–23 and 13.9 per cent in 2023–24, before recording more moderate growth in 2024–25.
For the four largest universities, government funding remained the largest single revenue source. Of the $838.6 million recorded by these institutions in 2024–25, $307.2 million came from the provincial government, while $53.7 million came from Ottawa. Provincial funding increased by $18.5 million, or 6.4 per cent, year-over-year.
Tuition and other fees across these main institutions brought in a combined $238 million, up 5.8 per cent from $225 million the previous year. The remaining revenue was generated through grants, investment gains, and donations. Non-member universities also reported tuition and fee growth, though at a slower rate than prior to the immigration policy changes.
Meanwhile, university expenses grew at a slower pace than revenue, climbing 3.4 per cent to $815.3 million for the 2024–25 academic year. Salaries and benefits were a primary driver, totaling $482.7 million—a four per cent increase—alongside rising operational expenditures.
### Ongoing Fallout and Provincial Pressures
The University of New Brunswick reported last year that it had lost roughly $8 million in revenue since Ottawa began reducing immigration numbers. The federal government has defended the reductions as necessary to address pressures on housing prices and health care access.
The Association of Atlantic Universities estimates that the region has roughly 9,500 fewer international students compared to two years ago, a shift that is expected to be more fully reflected in Statistics Canada’s revenue figures next year.
At the provincial level, the government of Premier Susan Holt has faced decisions regarding post-secondary spending. Ahead of the provincial budget, a government document circulated to university and community college presidents suggested over a dozen cost-cutting ideas intended to find between $35 million and $50 million, including a proposal to close St. Thomas University and privatize Mount Allison University.
Those sweeping changes were not implemented. Instead, the March budget froze post-secondary grant funding at 2025–26 levels, and Post-Secondary Minister Jean-Claude D’Amours called on institutions to identify savings. Citing the provincial funding freeze, several New Brunswick universities have raised tuition rates for the upcoming school year.
Concurrently, the Holt government continues to press Ottawa to modify its foreign student and immigration policies to better accommodate provincial labour needs.
Premier Holt highlighted shortages of health care workers and skilled trades professionals, emphasizing the need for a more flexible approach to immigration to support housing construction and public services.
“If it isn’t being felt at the federal level, we can certainly express to the prime minister how it’s hurting New Brunswick, our budget, and our businesses, and our ability to deliver critical health care and other services to the population,” Holt said, noting that she has not yet seen concrete movement from Ottawa on the file.
Article and image source: tj.news
