UPEI Board of Governors approves balanced 2026–2027 Operating Budget

Dear UPEI Community,

On March 31, 2026, the UPEI Board of Governors approved the 2026–2027 Operating Budget, fee schedule, and capital budget. The planning process started in October 2025 and included consultation with University leaders (i.e., Deans and Directors) and account authorities across campus.

UPEI has a long record of balanced budgets, and the 2026–2027 Operating Budget is no exception. However, while the budget is balanced, it reflects the second of at least four years of continued recalibration caused by lower international student enrolment and our collective efforts to address the significant, but normal, inflationary cost pressures that all post-secondary institutions in Canada face.

We have managed to achieve a balanced budget by managing costs as well as reflecting increased revenue from our government partners; tuition and fees; and ancillary revenues. In this context, the University continues to explore and budget incremental revenues and cost recoveries. We also continue to challenge traditional service models hoping to enhance the student and employee experience and reduce costs wherever possible.

The main operating budget remains aligned with University values, supporting Making Our World a Better Place: UPEI Strategic Plan 2025–2030 and our UPEI Action Plan. While clearly focused on constraint and restraint, the 2026–2027 Operating Budget also includes targeted investments in several key strategic priorities. These include strategic enrolment management, expanded investment in the Office of Continuing Education and Professional Development, and support for faculties seeking to develop or expand UPEI’s online course offerings.

UPEI’s 2026–2027 Operating Budget totals $231.5 million across three budget packages, which are treated independently and for which each has its own special funding model:

• Atlantic Veterinary College at $59.6M
• Faculty of Medicine at $26.6M
• Main operating budget at $145.3M

As of October 1, 2025, the official enrolment was 5,503 students, including 1,630 international students. This represented a 2.9% decrease compared to the 2024 count. With federal policy decisions related to international students still impacting UPEI (as with all post-secondary institutions across Canada), the 2026–2027 Operating Budget reflects an overall enrolment decrease of 4.8% from enrolment in fall 2025.

UPEI will increase tuition by 6.5% and international fees by 7.5%. The equivalent of 1.0% of the increase in international fees will be deployed toward increased emergency bursaries for international students. The Atlantic Veterinary College will increase tuition and unsubsidized fees by 4.0%. Medical learners studying at the Faculty of Medicine Regional Campus at UPEI are subject to tuition rates set by Memorial University of Newfoundland. Those tuition rates are not yet known for 2026–27.

Despite the increases, UPEI’s undergraduate annual tuition for domestic students remains one of the lowest in the Maritime Provinces. Island students also benefit from the George Coles Student Bursary, which significantly offsets the tuition costs experienced by students attending UPEI in the amount of $3,500 annually to a maximum of $14,000 over four years.

This budget is not without risk. As in previous years, UPEI must await final enrolment figures for 2026–27—particularly as they relate to international student enrolment—and assess how our strategic enrolment management efforts are affecting UPEI’s student attraction and retention rates before we can confirm our current assumptions.

In addition, the 2026–2027 Operating Budget has been approved prior to the Government of Prince Edward Island’s announcement of annual operating and restricted grant funding for the 2026–27 fiscal year and beyond. UPEI will adjust, as required, to the resulting financial realities as those details become known.

Of course, our facilities are aging. We begin to see signs that some of our infrastructure is reaching a critical point. Investment will need to be made to sustain our campus as a healthy, safe environment worthy of the student experience toward which we strive.

UPEI remains confident that it can, and will, navigate this risk. We will, as the provincial university, address the challenges presented in 2026–2027 and ready ourselves for more adjustments so that we can stabilize—and then strategically grow—to support our students, employees, and communities.

We thank the University leadership, and our broader community and partners for ongoing support in our efforts to enhance our student experience, our campus culture, and our academic and financial sustainability.

Sincerely,

Wendy Rodgers, PhD
President and Vice-Chancellor

Tim J. Walker
Vice-President Administration and Finance

2026–27 OPERATING BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS

• Operating budget – $231.5M, reflecting an increase of 3.8% ($8.5M) compared to 2025–2026 Operating Budget (restated)
• Budgeted salary and benefits – $154.9M, reflecting an increase of 5.2% ($7.5M) compared to the 2025–2026 Operating Budget (restated)
• Unrestricted operating grant (Main budget) provided by Government of PEI – $49.9M, reflecting an increase of 3.5% ($1.7M) compared to 2025–2026 Operating Budget (restated)
• Faculty of Medicine Operating Grant – $26.0M, reflecting an increase of 15.6% ($3.4M) compared to the 2025–2026 Operating Budget (restated)
• Annual Undergraduate Domestic Tuition – $8,130, among the lowest undergraduate tuition rates in the Maritimes