Tuition Fee Rebates Across Canada

 UPDATED July 2014...

Let's focus on the universal programs here - the ones most grads can obtain.

Some provinces, such as BC, only offer tuition fee rebates or loan forgiveness to small groups of people -- such as recent grads now working in B.C.'s civil service ("Pacific Leaders"). This can limits aid to an elite group of chosen employees. 

 But other provinces have more universal programs. They offer a generous tuition tax rebate for all, or for all with an undergraduate degree (each province varies).

The principle with all of these tuition tax rebates is to reward relatively new grads for working in these provinces over a handful of years. With most you don't need to have been received your degree in that province. Other things being equal, they offer an extra financial strategy for grads, since they can pay their loan debts more cheaply and quickly with the rebate money.

Here's a summary of each, plus direct government links if you want more info.

 SASKATCHEWAN has a 'Graduate Retention Program' that offers up to $20,000 against your tuition costs. I've written about that before, regarding some other advantages of moving to this province.

Here is an info resource for Saskatchewan's Grad Retention Program.  

 NEW BRUNSWICK has expanded their 'New Brunswick Tuition Fee Rebate' to offer 50% of tuition fees up to the same $20,000 maximum rebate. (In NB, this used to be called the 'Tuition Tax Cashback Credit'. 

 New Brunswick offers this tax break to all students from 2005 onwards. 

 Here is the NB government’s description, which includes changes made to the rebate back in 2009-2010. 

NOVA SCOTIA has offered residents the 'Graduate Retention Rebate.' This is a $2,500 rebate for the year of university graduation and for the next five years up to a maximum of $15,000.

Nova Scotian graduates of diploma or certificate programs get half that amount. They get $1,250 per year to a total $7,500.

But Nova Scotia is ending their program this year (2014). So this is your last chance with that one. To see if you'd qualify for the final tax year - 2013 - check out this government website.

 MANITOBA started offering its 'Tuition Fee Income Tax Rebate' to college and university graduates in 2007. It offers 60% of your fees to a maximum $25,000.

This is currently Canada's most generous tuition rebate program.

 Below are three Manitoba government links. Between them, you'll find all the details about it's own tuition fee rebate program:

http://www.gov.mb.ca/tuitionrebate/

http://www.gov.mb.ca/tuitionrebate/faq.html

http://www.gov.mb.ca/asset_library/tuitionrebate/tuition_rebate.pdf

Oh and if you're still planning for post-secondary, check out Manitoba's relatively low tuition rates...