Crisis of Opportunity: Skyrocketing Alberta Competitive Averages

The newly formed independent advocacy group, Friends of Education, is launching an urgent campaign to address a critical shortage of post-secondary spaces in Alberta. This is a crisis of opportunity for our youth that demands immediate action from Premier Danielle Smith and Advanced Education Minister Myles McDougall.

The demand for higher education in Alberta has soared, but funding for new spaces has not kept up. With approximately 11,500 more Grade 12 graduates in June 2025 than in 2023, thousands of qualified young Albertans are being shut out of their dream programs -- and their futures.

The 90% Hurdle: With Alberta Competitive Averages at an All-Time High, Alberta's Post-Secondary System is Shutting Many Talented Students Out

The competition for limited seats has pushed entrance averages to unprecedented levels, with many programs effectively becoming "elite" and denying a generation of Alberta students access to high-demand programs. Here are just a few examples of the trends vis-a-vis Alberta competitive averages that are shutting many talented Alberta students out of high-demand programs:

• In 2024, the competitive average for University of Alberta Engineering was a staggering 93%.

• Many popular science programs at the U of A and U of C are now requiring averages of 90%.

• This is compounded by the fact that Alberta is the only province in Canada with Grade 12 diploma exams, which places our students at a disadvantage when competing against peers from other jurisdictions for out-of-province seats. Many post-secondary institutions in other provinces give Alberta students a "bump up" when considering them for admissions, but Alberta institutions do not do the same for their own Alberta students.

This disconnect risks creating a generation of young people facing the "underemployment and disengagement" the Alberta government itself has identified as a major concern.

Alberta is Falling Behind

A lack of investment in post-secondary capacity is undermining the Premier's commitment to economic independence and an innovation economy. We are falling behind other provinces in educating the skilled workers we need:

• Lagging Engineering Growth: From 2013-2022, graduates from engineering programs in Alberta increased by only 19%. By comparison, the increase was 55% in British Columbia, 49% in Ontario, and 42% in Quebec.

• The Seat Shortage: If Alberta had the same per capita number of engineering spaces as Quebec, we would have nearly 4,000 more seats, essentially doubling the size of a program at either UCalgary or UAlberta.

This policy mismatch is forcing Alberta students to leave the province, taking on unnecessary debt and resulting in the loss of talented individuals who may never return.

Friends of Education is calling on the government to urgently fund the creation of more university STEM program seats to be ready for the 2026-27 academic year.

Grassroots Pressure Targets Urgent Seat Shortage

Friends of Education's inaugural advocacy campaign is focused on the critical issue of post-secondary access. This lack of available spaces (in part related to skyrocketing Alberta competitive averages) is one of the most urgent issues currently facing Alberta's youth, impacting countless students and families. Yet few Albertans understand the scope of the issue and it has received little attention in the media.

Recognizing that the situation demands immediate government attention, the campaign is centered on a direct appeal to elected officials. Friends of Education is mobilizing citizens to use its online tool to quickly and easily contact their local representatives.

Albertans who want to join the call for increased post-secondary seats in advance of the 2026-27 school year can utilize the Email Your MLA tool on the Friends of Education website to make their voice heard on this important issue.