The verdict in three sentences
For a private college in Toronto still on Drupal 7, which no longer receives official support, a headless Next.js migration costs 35,000 to 70,000 CAD for 600 pages and 40 programs, including content transfer, 301 redirects and AODA accessibility compliance. The upper range includes a filterable program finder and a deeper content clean-up. The most visible benefit is speed: 40 to 60 % faster LCP, which directly affects information requests during the application season.
Why staying on Drupal 7 is now a risk
Drupal 7 has not received official security fixes since January 2025. Contributed modules are abandoned, hosts often force outdated PHP versions and every new feature becomes expensive. For a college collecting applicant data, it is also a privacy issue under PIPEDA and Ontario rules. The three realistic paths are an upgrade to Drupal 10 or 11, a move to another monolithic CMS, or a headless architecture where the CMS only serves content and Next.js handles the front end.
| Option | Indicative cost (CAD) | Timeline | Strengths | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extend Drupal 7 (paid extended support) | 5,000 to 10,000 per year | immediate | No project | Growing technical debt |
| Upgrade to Drupal 10 or 11 | 30,000 to 50,000 | 10 to 14 weeks | Team already trained | Near-complete theme rebuild |
| Monolithic WordPress | 25,000 to 40,000 | 8 to 12 weeks | Large ecosystem | Performance and security to watch |
| Headless (Strapi, Sanity or headless Drupal) + Next.js | 35,000 to 55,000 | 12 to 16 weeks | Speed, security, scalability | Front-end skills required |
| Headless + filterable program finder | 45,000 to 70,000 | 14 to 16 weeks | Optimised applicant journey | Highest budget |
Budget breakdown of a headless migration
The figures below are 2026 orders of magnitude for a Toronto agency or specialised studio on a 600-page site with 40 program pages. For comparison, the same scope costs 18,000 to 28,000 EUR excl. VAT in Strasbourg, France.
| Work package | Content | Price (CAD) |
|---|---|---|
| Audit and mapping | Inventory of 600 pages, obsolete content, redirect plan | 4,000 to 7,000 |
| Content modelling | Types: program, news, faculty, event | 4,000 to 6,000 |
| Migration script | Drupal export, clean-up, import into the new CMS | 6,000 to 10,000 |
| Next.js development | Templates, navigation, search, forms | 13,000 to 20,000 |
| 301 redirects and SEO | 600 to 900 URLs, tags, sitemap | 3,000 to 5,000 |
| AODA and WCAG 2.0 AA | Audit and fixes | 4,000 to 7,000 |
| Filterable program finder (option) | Credential, schedule, co-op, campus | 9,000 to 15,000 |
| Hosting and maintenance | CDN, backups, updates | 250 to 600 per month |
What an IT director measures after the switch
A headless move is judged on simple indicators recorded before launch and three months after. On this type of project, observed gains are 40 to 60 % on mobile LCP, a lower bounce rate on program pages and more information requests when the finder lets applicants reach a program in two clicks.
| Indicator | Drupal 7 (typical) | Headless Next.js (target) |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile LCP | 3.8 to 5 s | 1.6 to 2.4 s |
| Lighthouse performance score | 35 to 55 | 85 to 98 |
| Program page bounce rate | 60 to 70 % | 40 to 50 % |
| Time to publish a news item | 15 to 30 min | 5 min |
| Security alerts per year | 2 to 4 | close to 0 |
Mini case study
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David, IT director at a private college of 2,500 students in Toronto, runs a 600-page Drupal 7 site that generates 900 information requests per year. He invests 62,000 CAD in a headless migration with a program finder and AODA audit, plus 450 CAD per month for maintenance. LCP drops from 4.4 to 2.0 seconds, a 55 % gain, and information requests rise 18 % the next season, 162 more requests. With an 8 % conversion to enrolment and 18,000 CAD in annual tuition, that is about 13 enrolments and 234,000 CAD in first-year revenue.
FAQ
How long does the migration take?
Plan 12 to 16 weeks for 600 pages. Avoid switching during the peak application window, typically January to March for fall intake.
Will we lose search rankings?
Not if every old URL gets a 301 redirect and metadata is carried over. A temporary 5 to 10 % traffic dip over 4 to 6 weeks is possible.
Is AODA compliance mandatory for a private college?
Ontario organisations with 50 or more employees must meet WCAG 2.0 AA on their public websites. The audit and fixes cost 4,000 to 7,000 CAD and are best built into the migration.
Do we need to migrate everything?
No. The audit usually reveals 30 to 40 % of obsolete pages to delete or merge, which lowers migration cost.
Let's scope your project. A headless migration of 400 to 800 pages with a program finder, indicative budget of 35,000 to 70,000 CAD depending on scope and AODA work, live in 12 to 16 weeks. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
