Master's, PhD, international students, and students in professional programs have faced the steepest increases in tuition fees. Unlike most undergraduate students, graduate students are enrolled year-round, and therefore have to pay tuition fees during the summer months. Thus, not only do graduate students pay higher fees, they also pay them for four months more than undergradu- ate students on the typical fall and winter academic schedule.

The higher fees for graduate and professional students are often justified by arguing that those with advanced degrees earn more during their lifetimes in the workforce. However, the increased earnings of professionals has been notoriously exaggerated by university and college presidents in their campaign for higher fees. In addition, advocates for higher fees also ignore the fact that those who earn higher incomes as a result of post-secondary education also pay higher income taxes that pay for the cost of their post-secondary education. Finally, the earnings-potential argument for higher fees does not address the up-front impact of sky-high tuition fees on entry to these programs.

Students studying in Canada from other countries probably fare the worst of all, since tuition fee regulation has rarely applied to international students. Tuition fees for these students are typically triple those of Canadian students.