Yukon College tuition fees to increase in September

Tuition increases at Yukon College slated for this September will cost some students up to $300 more per year. 

The 1.8 per cent fee increase for credit courses means the cost of a full year of credit courses will go up by $60.

The trades pre-employment program see a 13 per cent increase to $2,500 per course, a jump of $300.

Culinary arts, renewable resources management and practical nurse programs will see no tuition increases. 

The college's registrar says the tuition increase is lower than at comparable colleges in Western Canada. 

Jennifer Moorlag says the college doesn't want students to face a big increase. 

"I think what we need to do is ... make sure an education [students] can get in the Yukon is affordable and accessible so they don't have to leave home to get an education."

Moorlag says the college has policies to ensure tuition increases are incremental and predictable.

The Yukon College Student Union wants the school's board of governors to change its policy on tuition adjustment to reflect factors relevant to the north.

"If the cost of studying, the cost of living, increased, we would hope the tuition would not also increase to further burden the students," says Lewis MacKay, the union's president. 

Tuition and registration fees made up 3 per cent of Yukon College's revenue in 2013/14, with Yukon government funding and third party contracts making up the rest. 

Last year's tuition increase was 1.9 per cent. In 2014, the college did away with its $50 application fee.