St. Thomas University Operating and Ancillary Budgets for 2025-26

The Board of Governors has approved the operating, ancillary, restricted, and capital budgets for 2025-26.  The budgets were developed in consultation with a President’s Advisory Committee which had representation from faculty, administration, and students. There was also a Budget Town Hall, and the community had the opportunity to make submissions to the Advisory Committee.

 

Operating Budget 2025-26

 

The 2025-26 Operating Budget reflects objectives to maintain high-value academic programming and student services along with the financial sustainability of the university while keeping tuition comparable with other universities in the region.

 

The budget projects a deficit of $2.1M on revenues of $34.6M. Revenues include a Provincial Government operating grant increase of 1% and a 3% tuition increase in the Bachelor of Arts for domestic students ($258) and 5% for international students ($968). The Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Social Work tuition will increase by 5%. Student fees remain the same, except for a $50 increase to both the technology and facility fees.  

 

Last year, STU had the fourth lowest domestic tuition and fourth lowest international tuition among 14 universities in the region. As well, the university provides $2.8M of financial support annually to students in the form of scholarships, bursaries, and awards. 

 

Highlights    

 

• Operating Budget revenues are projected at $34.6M, which includes the operating grant from the Provincial Government ($14M to STU and a $2.2M direct transfer to UNB from the Provincial  Government) and tuition and fees ($16.2M). Additional revenues include student fees, government and other grants, advancement fundraising, and miscellaneous totaling $2.3M.  

• Academic expenses total $19.7M comprised primarily of salary and benefits at $18.7M. Administrative and general expenses total $6.3M with the main component being salaries and benefits of $3.9M.  

• The Ancillary Services Budget, covering student residence and conference services, projects a surplus of $438K after principal payments on long-term debt of $456K. The prices for rooms will increase by 3%, while meal plans will increase by 3%. 

 The Budget Summary Report 2025-26, which has comprehensive information on each budget, may be found here, while tuition and fee information may be found here.