Students at Dalhousie University in Halifax are calling on the Nova Scotia government to follow New Brunswick’s lead and make tuition free for low income families.

"Students are graduating with more than $37,000 in debt in this province. That's not okay," said John Hutton of the Dalhousie Students’ Union.

Word on New Brunswick's tuition announcement spread quickly around campus. Students say it's a step in the right direction.

"We need more funding for our students,” said student Chelsea Costa. “It puts us in the position where we can't afford university anymore, and we have to make that decision – do we drop out and go work? Do we take on a part-time job and jeopardize our studies?”

Students say if the Nova Scotia government can't help them reduce the cost of tuition, they may have to look at other provinces for their education.

"My younger brother left SMU because of fee hikes, he's off to Memorial where in Newfoundland, the policies are good - tuition is cheap, grants are high," said Hutton.

Michaela Sam of the Canadian Federation of Students is calling on the provincial government to bring back the cap on tuition fees.

"Nova Scotia students are looking to Minister Kelly Regan and to Stephen McNeil to say, ‘What are you going to do in this upcoming budget to ensure that we're actually reducing tuition fees and working towards a smarter form of tuition assistance?’" said Sam.  

Minister Kelly Regan says Nova Scotia is one of the best student assistance programs in the country.

“The difference is, it appears that New Brunswick is paying up front – we pay upon completion," said Regan.

Regan reiterated that every Nova Scotia student studying post-secondary in the province gets more than $1,000 off their tuition up front.

Students are preparing a rally on campus next week for when the Dalhousie board of governors vote on a tuition hike.

"As much as $2,000 in the programs of agriculture, engineering and pharmacy, but we've had fee increases every single year since 2011," said Hutton.

The Nova Scotia government says they still need to look into New Brunswick’s tuition announcement and study the details more closely.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Suzette Belliveau.