The transition from government care to adulthood is one of the most vulnerable and uncertain times in a young person’s life. For too long, youth aging out of care have faced systemic barriers to post-secondary education — barriers rooted in trauma, lack of financial support, and absence of traditional family safety nets. In response to these challenges, Vancouver Island University (VIU) took a bold step in 2013 by launching the Tuition Waiver Program for former youth in care. This act of institutional leadership inspired the Province of British Columbia, four years later, to introduce a province-wide policy that now allows all former youth in care to attend any of BC’s 25 public post-secondary institutions tuition-free.

This policy brief explores the origins and expansion of the tuition waiver program, its tangible benefits, and the crucial role that universities—and their collaborative networks—can play in driving transformative social change. It makes the case for continued investment in, and communication of, the program’s metrics to maximize both its moral and economic impact.

In partnership with the British Columbia Collaborative for Social Infrastructure. This collaborative is designed to strengthen social infrastructure across the province and advance Reconciliation by uplifting Indigenous communities.

Proudly supported by:

Dr. Ralph Nilson, PhD, CM, FRSC

Dr. Nilson, currently President Emeritus in Residence at Fulbright Canada and former President of Vancouver Island University, played a key leadership role in advancing the BC Collaborative for Social Infrastructure—an initiative funded by the McConnell Foundation and involving four BC-based universities. His leadership helped drive transformative initiatives like the Provincial Tuition Waiver Program, which contributed to major policy changes that ensure tuition-free access to post-secondary education for former youth in care across the province.Dr. Nilson, currently President Emeritus in Residence at Fulbright Canada and former President of Vancouver Island University, played a key leadership role in advancing the BC Collaborative for Social Infrastructure—an initiative funded by the McConnell Foundation and involving four BC-based universities. His leadership helped drive transformative initiatives like the Provincial Tuition Waiver Program, which contributed to major policy changes that ensure tuition-free access to post-secondary education for former youth in care across the province.

This policy brief builds on that legacy, offering new insights and pathways for advancing access to education and social innovation in British Columbia.

The early success of BC’s tuition waiver program is cause for celebration, but also for deeper accountability. Communicating the right metrics can help strengthen public trust, inform policy decisions, and inspire replication across Canada and beyond.

Key Metrics to Track

• Enrolment Trends among former youth in care;
• Retention and Graduation Rates;
• Employment and Income Outcomes post-graduation;
• Reduction in Public Dependency, such as decreased use of income assistance or housing supports; increase in individual prosperity, and fiscal independence; and
• Psychosocial Impacts, including increased resilience, confidence, and community participation.

By tracking and sharing these data points transparently, BC can build a robust, evidence-based case for continued investment in former youth in care—and support new policy interventions that break the cycle of poverty and social exclusion while building human capacity for nation building.

Moral Rationale

The legacy of colonization and the child welfare system has disproportionately affected Indigenous and low-income youth. Offering tuition-free post-secondary education is a clear act of reconciliation and social justice—an acknowledgment that every young person deserves a chance to thrive, regardless of the circumstances of their upbringing.

Economic Rationale

Education is a key driver of economic mobility. By enabling former youth in care to complete post-secondary education:

• We increase labour market readiness and participation;
• We reduce long-term public costs in health care, justice, and social services;
• We generate higher tax revenues from a more educated, engaged, and higher-earning workforce.

A 2018 study from the Office of the Representative for Children and Youth noted that youth from care in BC are less likely to graduate from high school and more likely to experience homelessness and unemployment. Policies like the tuition waiver are not just morally right—they are economically smart and socially impactful.

The origin of this values-based movement at VIU demonstrates the extraordinary leadership potential of post-secondary institutions. As founding partners of the BC Collaborative for Social Infrastructure, BC post-secondary institutions are uniquely positioned to act as:

• Policy innovators who pilot programs before governments follow;
• Research and data hubs that track outcomes and evaluate social interventions;
• Community anchors that provide safe, empowering spaces for vulnerable youth;
• Leaders in equity who walk the talk of Truth and Reconciliation.

By championing programs like the Tuition Waiver and working in collaboration with ministries, Indigenous nations, and youth-serving organizations, universities help shape public policy from the ground up. Further, given the recent restrictions in international student recruitment by the federal government, investment in the education success of all Canadians to contribute to Canada’s evolving economy is essential.

What began as a compassionate act by a single university has evolved into one of BC’s most important policy innovations in youth empowerment. The Tuition Waiver Program represents a shift in how we view access to education, not as a privilege, but as a right that must be extended to all.

As governments consider how best to support vulnerable populations and grow a dynamic, knowledge-based economy, the success of this initiative offers a clear path forward. This is not just a good policy; it is nation-building in its most human form, led by institutions that see education as a public good and social infrastructure as a shared responsibility.

The moral case is clear. The economic case is strong. The social impact is significant. The leadership of BC’s post-secondary institutions shows us what is possible when values and vision align. Let us continue to tell this story—with data, with voices, and with hope.

To further explore the impact of tuition waiver programs and the educational challenges faced by former youth in care, the following comprehensive reading list includes policy documents, research studies, and reports that provide rigorous data and insights into these critical issues: