Story perspectives

Ontario Pauses OSAP Payments to Private Colleges

By Drooid · Oct 17, 2026, 2:40 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Colleges and Universities Minister Nolan Quinn paused OSAP payments to all private post-secondary institutions.
KPMG audit of OSAP use at career colleges led to an Ontario Provincial Police referral.
$385 million in provincial grants went to the seven career colleges with the highest OSAP usage in 2024-25.
Students such as Deanna Hutten and ballet student Alessia Di Palma face financial strain after OSAP was halted.

History

Historical Context

In June 2011 the U.S. Department of Education under President Obama issued the gainful-employment rule, requiring programs that failed debt-to-income thresholds—about 5 % of for-profit schools—to keep federal aid. After court setbacks and a 2014 revision, the rule shaped later oversight. Ontario’s 2024 OSAP payment pause announced by Minister Nolan Quinn, with KPMG and OPP review, echoes that federal effort to tighten aid accountability.

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Story summary

Colleges and Universities Minister Nolan Quinn paused OSAP payments to all private post-secondary institutions.
KPMG audit of OSAP use at career colleges led to an Ontario Provincial Police referral.
$385 million in provincial grants went to the seven career colleges with the highest OSAP usage in 2024-25.
Students such as Deanna Hutten and ballet student Alessia Di Palma face financial strain after OSAP was halted.

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