A Piece Written By Ben Mills

Post-secondary education should be considered as one of the most crucial institutions for a province to provide, as it acts as a gateway for the next generations of students who will one day populate the workforce, pioneer research and innovation, and teach those who will follow in their footsteps. Furthermore, post-secondary education should also foster an eagerness to learn, explore social connections, and hopefully include some fond memories for the scrapbook. However, for most people pursuing a post-secondary level education in Canada, there is some level of financial pressure involved whether that be from tuition, textbooks, commuting, accommodation or food. Furthermore, depending on the field you choose to study, university can be one of the largest investments in a young adult’s life; potentially the most stressful as well. 

For students in British Columbia (B.C.), this stress is exacerbated not only by the incessant rising of tuition, but also in combination with an astronomical cost of living on or off campus. From a student’s perspective, the compounding factors in the rising cost of school are more than a simple ‘adjustment’ of the books as it has the potential to impact much of their life, and quality of life, outside of school as well. This sentiment was echoed by a University of British Columbia (UBC) student who was quoted at the UBC Board of Governors Tuition Consultation Report when discussing a campus-wide tuition increase: “school is already so expensive … I would hope you can understand you are targeting one of the least financially stable demographics … it’s students’ whole lives you’re impacting” (Lin et al. i). Therefore, as this anecdote suggests, for those considering the affordability of post-secondary education, it is not getting any more affordable and this is the harsh reality students in B.C. are frequently reminded of. Beginning a university commitment is already accompanied by enough inherent uncertainty, particularly of the financial variety, but it is feelings such as those above which have left many wondering if investing in a quality pair of snow boots may be more economical than studying in B.C.. 

Although higher prices are hardly a new addition to the lives of students on the West Coast of Canada, it is no longer simply the higher tuition costs or textbook prices which are putting many students on edge, or pushing them over it. It should come as no surprise that when the cost of living increases, so does the cost of school, and while most students are studying with the goal of finding a career, many are working entry-level jobs until they graduate, and even after. However, across B.C. and many parts of Canada, the cost of living has steadily risen towards twice that of minimum wage. For example, the estimated living wage in Metro Vancouver is just over $25, whereas the minimum wage is only $16.75 as of June, 2023 (Macdonald). When taken into consideration with the rising cost of school fees, the average B.C. student will most likely need to make more than the estimated living wage just to survive, a prospect that many may struggle to attain, which paints a sad truth for the quality of living this entails. However, not making enough money is only the beginning. 

In the last two decades, overall prices in the province have increased by almost 50%,   with certain necessities like housing rising more than 15% in 2022 (Evans) and food rising almost 10% last year alone (Carigg). Increases such as these are undoubtedly felt province-wide, but their impact can be seen most clearly in the increased expenses of students who are forced to take on more responsibility in order to keep up, which may affect their ability to focus on their classwork. Studies have shown that one of these impacts is that post-secondary students in B.C. have been accumulating more debt than their Canadian counterparts for over a decade, with the amount increasing more than 50% between 2000 and 2015 alone, compared to just over 30% for the rest of Canada in the same period (Vancity). Furthermore, the B.C. Federation of Students has estimated current student debt in B.C. to be almost $4.5 billion, with the average debt after graduation totalling approximately $30,000. Therefore, for many B.C. graduates this means that some of their first experiences in the workforce will be paying off said debt, a prospect no one would be looking forward to as they embark on their new career path. However, for those who may require further schooling or are unable to immediately secure a position in their field, this debt may act as a barrier effectively putting their life on hold for what could amount to years. 

The current state of affairs in B.C. has left many students in a position where they must obligatorily make decisions related to their education that may negatively affect their personal life and well-being, simply because they cannot afford to choose both. Furthermore, the effects of these types of decisions are resulting in tangible consequences, as seen in studies conducted in the United States (U.S.) and Canada. A survey conducted by the educational organization Cengage revealed that 43% of college students in the U.S. who were included in the study had skipped meals so they could afford textbooks (Lin et al. xvii). From a Canadian perspective, a study conducted across five campuses found that 27% of students skipped a meal entirely simply because they could not afford it (Lin et al. xix). This is in combination with a separate study done by the Meal Exchange which provided similar results, showing that 39% of Canadian students struggle with moderate to severe food insecurity, which the majority of students accredited to the cost of food, housing, and tuition/school related expenses (Lin et al. xvii). However, housing and food prices are typically ranked top three in all the studies included in this article, something that even those outside of the educational system in B.C. are sure to recognize. 

In an attempt to combat these rising costs, many students across B.C. have taken on additional jobs or extra hours. A 2017 report done by Vancity shows that students in B.C. are having to work more hours than other students across Canada, or having to work in the first place, and the overall contentment about working while studying has lowered significantly, especially in comparison with other provinces. While this has most likely alleviated some of the financial stress, the unseen consequences are seen in students with less time and energy to focus on their studies, the reason they are having to work more in the first place. Furthermore, working more and studying less not only has negative impacts on a student’s grades and study habits, but may also result in a departure from their studies altogether. However, while this scenario is unlikely in most cases, a study conducted by the University of Victoria (UVIC) found that almost 20% of students who were not receiving financial support from their parents would consider dropping out in order to be more financially stable. An excerpt from UVIC’s study on affordability and accessibility mentioned above states: “most students are meeting their financial needs by reducing their expenses and accessing additional income. Most also expect that they will find a way to cope with further increases.” However, expecting to find a way to cope and being able to thrive and succeed in your chosen area of study are two very different things, something that B.C.’s education system does not seem to comprehend. Furthermore, what does this then imply for the quality of education? Quick version: nothing good. 

While this article has focused mainly on the general effects and reasons for student poverty, many students face the impacts of “time poverty” as a result. Time poverty is a term that is applicable to many working professionals, but also that of university students. The core concept is that time is not a limitless resource, and that many individuals do not possess the time to do much beyond what they are obligated to do, a concept that many students in B.C. are undoubtedly aware of (Lin et al. xxi). This may include missing social events with friends or not being able to enjoy past times that provide personal gratification. While this may seem insignificant in the face of homelessness or starvation, these missed opportunities can act to alienate the student and even cause them to become more isolated from their friends, leaving many to struggle with not only their financial burdens, but also that of their mental health. Furthermore, students suffering from time poverty are more likely to skip meals, avoid extracurriculars, miss family events, and simply not have time for personal use (Lin et al. xxii); all of which contribute to the overall well-being and satisfaction of the student themselves. 

However, the effects of B.C.’s unaffordability, and that of its school system, are not isolated to students alone. A professor at the University of Victoria stated that many graduates in the education program are heavily considering employment out of province, mainly due to the lack of affordable accommodation. In addition, despite what many students may think, professors themselves are not immune to the rising cost of living or the lack of appropriate funding, with a well-known absence of teachers in the province attesting to such a fact. These doubts have left many wondering, is it even worth it? 

The question of “is it even worth it” is a less often considered ramification of the cost of education, and how this lack of affordability may affect those who are considering studying in B.C., or Canada as a whole. Everyone has seen the many humorous posts about their friend with an engineering degree who works at a Starbucks, but unfortunately it seems to have become increasingly common for those with degrees to be working lower-level jobs, particularly those outside of their field. These sentiments, while many are made in gest, have left many who do not hold a degree skeptical if such an endeavour would make sense to undertake. As with anything, there is always a “risk and reward” factor, and with education in B.C., many have found the former to be too great. A general consensus online among many student-aged people in B.C. who are not studying at a post-secondary institution feel as if school has very little to offer that finding a decent job and working their way up cannot provide, especially considering the massive amount of debt incurred on average. However, while there are many degrees that do have high employment rates after graduation, a tightening job market and increasingly competitive fields have created some dissonance between graduation and employment, a prospect that makes joining the workforce from the beginning seem much more feasible. 

It has often been said that you have to spend money to make money, but they never mentioned becoming thousands of dollars in debt while spending all of your available funds to secure a degree that may or not result in gainful employment; or maybe they just missed that part. However, the fact remains that education in B.C. has become increasingly unattainable for those lacking financial support, and increasingly unmanageable even for those who do. This article has stood as a wake up call for B.C.’s educational institutions that students are struggling to make ends meet and when they do, it is at the cost of something else, much of which is taken from their overall quality of life. A university should not function as a business, where profits are put before the needs of the student body, or the professors providing such education. Whether it is a change in policy, or a change in perspective, a change is needed. 

In the meantime, learning the price of B.C.’s education system is a course that students and professors are open to take, but be careful, it is quite expensive. 

Works Cited

Carigg, David. “B.C. Food Prices Climb Almost 10 Per Cent Over The Past Year”, Vancouver Sun, March 23, 2023, https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/bc-food-prices-climb-almost-10-per-cent-over-the-past-year. Accessed April 1, 2024. 

Evans, Pete. “Think House Prices Are Too High? The Rental Market Is Even Worse — With No Relief In Sight”, CBC, November 16, 2022, https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/rent-inflation-november-1.6650777. Accessed April 2, 2024. 

Faisal, Hiba. “Opinion: The Rising Cost Of Living In Toronto Is Hurting Students”, The Varsity, November 13, 2022, https://thevarsity.ca/2022/11/13/toronto-rising-cost-of-living-inflation/. Accessed April 1, 2024. 

Gingrich, Paul. “After The Freeze: Restoring University Affordability In Saskatchewan”, Policy Commons, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, October, 2011, 20.500.12592/hqrpkx. 

Greenfield, M, Nathan. “Affordable Housing: A Crisis (Still) In Need Of A Response”, University World News, September 18, 2023, https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20230918184141343#:~:text=%E2%80%9CMany%20students%20find%20apartments%20that,high%20rent%20month%20after%20month. Accessed April 1, 2024. 

Lin, Stephanie, Joy Jiao, and Emma Gangbar. “Exploring The Dynamics Of ‘Affordability’ For Students At UBC Vancouver”,  The University of British Columbia Library, University of British Columbia. Sustainability Office; University of British Columbia. Land and Food Systems; University of British Columbia. UBC Wellbeing, University of British Columbia, April 16, 2020, https://doi.org/10.14288/1.0392736. 

Macdonald, David. “Living Wage In BC: Higher Cost Of Living Is A Challenge For Many Workers”, Allan Marshall & Associates Inc, Dec 30, 2023, https://wecanhelp.ca/living-wage-in-bc-higher-cost-of-living-is-a-challenge-for-many-workers/#:~:text=Current%20State%20of%20Affairs%20in%20BC&text=As%20of%20June%201%2C%202023,of%206.6%25%20from%20last%20year. Accessed April 1, 2024. 

“New School Year Means More Student Loan Debt”, BC Federation of Students, September 2, 2019, https://www.wearebcstudents.ca/new_school_year_means_more_student_loan_debt. Accessed April 2, 2024. 

PĂĄez-Varas, Claudia, and Gail Hammond. “Food Insecurity On Campus: A Community-Engaged Case Study With Student-Led Families At The University of British Columbia”. Canadian Food Studies, vol. 9, no. 3, 2022, pp 103-123, https://doi.org/10.15353/cfs-rcea.v9i3.576 Accessed April 1, 2024. 

Ronson, Jacqueline. “How Does The BC Budget Fare On Tackling Affordability And Inequality”, the Discourse, April 13, 2023, https://thediscourse.ca/vancouver-island/bc-budget-affordability-and-inequality. Accessed April 1, 2024. 

“Report: Affordability Issues Force B.C. Post-Secondary Students To Work More While Studying”, Vancity, September 20, 2017, https://www.vancity.com/AboutVancity/News/MediaReleases/PostSecondaryUnaffordability-Sep20-2017/. Accessed April 1, 2024. 

University of Victoria. “Study On Affordability And Accessibility”, University of Victoria Institutional Planning and Analysis, University of Victoria, 2009, https://www.uvic.ca/institutionalplanning/assets/docs/other-reports/afford/vpac2009.pdf. 

Wilson, Bill. “Loblaws Shoppers Threaten To Strike As CFO Claims Food Inflation Is The Lowest In Years”, Supermarket News, March 21, 2021, https://www.supermarketnews.com/retail-financial/loblaws-shoppers-threaten-strike-cfo-claims-food-inflation-lowest-years. Accessed April 1, 2024. 

Zeidler, Maryse. “The Decade In B.C. Prices: What Costs More And What Costs Less”, CBC, December 23, 2019, https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-price-changes-past-decade-1.5397302. Accessed April 1, 2024. 

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