Sask. tuition rates see highest increases in country

It is getting more costly to get a higher education in the province, and students in Regina are feeling the pressure.

Tuition costs in Saskatchewan are rising at a rate higher than every other province in the country, according to a Statistics Canada report.

This year, tuition in Saskatchewan will jump by four per cent.

Sofia Aman, a third year international studies at the University of Regina, estimates her tuition debt is up to $13,000.

"It's not funny anymore. We know we're going to have a lot of debt when we get out of school. We're know we're not going to be able to do the things we do by certain periods in our life because we're held down by debt so we're just kind of stuck it feels like," said Aman.

Sask. has second highest tuition costs

According to Statistics Canada, Saskatchewan has the second-highest average tuition in the country behind only Ontario.

The provincial government said those numbers aren't a fair representation because there are only two schools in Saskatchewan compared to more than 20 in Ontario.

And when comparing the universities in Regina and Saskatoon to similar ones across the country, the province says tuition costs are on the middle to lower end of the spectrum.

Still, the Centre for Policy Alternatives predicts tuition in Saskatchewan will jump 16 per cent by 2017.

Planning for the future

Jessica Gibson lives in Regina and attended Ryerson University in Ontario to become an architect.

Her tuition rose $500 a year each year she was in school, so she has decided it is time to start saving for her three year-old daughter's education.

"Very honestly that's part of the reason we're only having one because the financial implications of trying to put more than one kid through university is pretty crazy," said Gibson.

The provincial government does offer a financial incentive program for graduates who stay in the province.

Eligible grads can receive up to $20,000 over seven years on their tax returns as part of the Graduate Retention Program.