Queen’s will increase residence fees by an average of 3.5 per cent for the 2025-27 academic year following approval from the Board of Trustees.
The increase reflects rising costs in key areas, including wages, food, and utilities, Queen’s said in a statement to The Journal. Planned capital improvements, such as washroom revitalization in Leonard Hall, bedroom renovations in Waldron Tower, roof repairs, and expanded Wi-Fi access, are also factored into long-term budget planning.
According to the University’s 2026-27 Board of Trustees Approval Report on Residence Fees, Queen’s residences house 5,051 primarily first-year students across 18 buildings on campus. The residence system operates as an ancillary unit, meaning it’s required to be financially self-sustaining, covering operating costs while maintaining capital reserves.
In addition to covering its own costs, the residence system contributes funding back to the University and Student Affairs through annual overhead and dividend payments. These contributions have increased in recent years, reaching $9.3 million in 2024-25, with a projected $9.7 million in 2025-26, according to the report.
Fee increases will vary depending on room type. The highest increase, 4.25 per cent, will apply to single-plus rooms, which are typically located in newer buildings and are among the most in-demand options. Standard single rooms will increase by 3.25 per cent, while multi-occupancy rooms, including economy loft doubles, will see a three per cent increase.
This approach is intended to support affordability, the University said in its statement. Economy loft doubles remain the lowest-cost option, priced at roughly half the cost of a standard single room with a meal plan.
The report notes that approximately 70 per cent of residence spaces are single or single-plus rooms, while other room types are located in older buildings constructed in the ’60s and ’70s with shared washroom facilities.
Queen’s currently offers six residence room types, which provides students with more flexibility than most similarly sized Ontario institutions, according to the statement. The fee-setting process is guided by the Residence Advisory Committee, which includes student representatives from residence, the AMS, and the Residence Society.
Beyond housing, the University said in its statement that residence fees also support programs and services designed to “foster belonging, build resilience, and support academic success,” which are reviewed in response to student needs.
Despite these measures, some students say the increases raise concerns about both affordability and value.
Jacqueline Lord, ArtSci ’29, said in an interview with The Journal that she doesn’t think the residence fee increase is justified.
“I definitely don’t think it’s worth it,” she said.
Lord, who lives in a double, said her concerns stem largely from the condition of residence facilities. She described ongoing issues with washroom cleanliness in her building, noting that residents had to file complaints with their residence coordinator.
While she said higher pricing for premium room types may be understandable, she questioned increases applied to lower-quality spaces. “It makes no sense for them to be so expensive,” she said.
Nathan Senior, Sci ’29, said in an interview with The Journal that he wouldn’t have chosen residence if prices had been this high when he applied, but acknowledged broader economic factors.
Senior said he understands the price increase in the context of supply and demand, and the fact that other universities are raising prices as well.
The report notes that institutions across Ontario are implementing increases due to rising costs in areas such as food, utilities, and staffing. Of the five other schools mentioned in the report, the University of Waterloo reflected the biggest percentage increase in the cost for a single standard room, a rise of nine per cent, whereas the University of Ottawa had the smallest percentage increase, a rise of 3.4 per cent.
The University’s statement added it will continue to monitor the balance between financial sustainability and student access, with the Residence Advisory Committee remaining the primary forum for ongoing student input on residence fees and services.
Tags
Board of Trustees, Residence Fees
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