In a historic move to safeguard and grow Ontario’s skilled workforce, the provincial government is investing $750 million into Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programs at publicly funded colleges and universities.
The investment aims to create up to 20,500 additional student seats annually, ensuring Ontario remains a top destination for innovation, business investment, and job creation.
The funding—available immediately to institutions signing new 2025-2030 operating agreements—comes alongside the government’s broader $1.3 billion postsecondary education stabilization effort, marking the largest such investment in Ontario’s history.
“Our government is working to protect Ontario by building a more resilient economy that can withstand whatever comes our way, including tariffs and economic uncertainty from the U.S.,” said Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security.
“This investment will expand training capacity at our world-class publicly funded colleges and universities, connecting students to good-paying jobs and securing our world-class workforce for decades to come.”
The province highlighted the increasing demand for STEM education, with applications from Ontario students to STEM undergraduate programs rising 34% between 2020 and 2024. STEM graduates are statistically more likely to secure employment and command higher salaries compared to their non-STEM peers.
The funding will be delivered through Ontario’s Strategic Mandate Agreements, five-year commitments outlining the financial support each institution will receive. In a further show of support, the government is also waiving more than $17 million in funding recoveries for institutions that fell below enrolment targets, allowing those funds to be redirected into STEM program development.
The investment is part of a broader economic strategy aimed at shielding Ontario’s industries from global uncertainty—including potential trade tensions with the United States—and securing long-term competitiveness in key sectors such as advanced manufacturing, life sciences, and technology.
Of the $1.3 billion stabilization package, $903 million will flow through the Postsecondary Education Sustainability Fund over three years starting in 2024-25. An additional $17 million will be allocated to the Efficiency and Accountability Fund to help institutions identify long-term savings and improve outcomes for students and communities.
With these investments, the province hopes to not only meet growing demand for STEM education but also cement Ontario’s leadership within the G7 as a hub for skilled talent, innovation, and economic resilience.
Image: Nolan Quinn