Thinking about going to a reputable university but unsure of the costs? You’re not alone! Figuring out university tuition fees in the Philippines can feel like a guesstimate. Whether you’re a student or a parent, understanding these fees is crucial for preparing financially on the next big step. From private universities to public schools in the Philippines, the price tags can vary widely.
Public University Tuition Fees in the Philippines
In no particular order, we’ll go first with the public schools in the Philippines.
Note: The Philippine legislature established free tuition and exemption from other fees in state universities and colleges (SUCs) and local universities and colleges (LUCs) with the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, officially known as RA 10931.
Thus, all public schools are free of fees with terms and conditions except for graduate and master programs.
1. Polytechnic University of the Philippines
- Website: www.pup.edu.ph
- Location: The main campus is located at Sta. Mesa, Manila
PUP (Polytechnic University of the Philippines), a public and nonsectarian university, is largely tuition-free for undergraduate programs. However, graduate programs have associated fees. For master’s programs, tuition ranges from ₱7,200 to ₱14,500 per year, while doctorate programs cost around ₱500 per unit.
Being the largest university in terms of total enrollment, PUP’s key component in teaching is research which is also one of its missions. In fact, the university received money for research from both the public and private sectors throughout the years. Also, PUP being one of the best universities in the Philippines was able to receive numerous awards like the 2024 Global Top 300 Innovative Universities.
2. UP Diliman
- Website: upd.edu.ph
- Location: Roxas Ave, Diliman, Quezon City, Metro Manila
At UP Diliman or UPD (University of the Philippines Diliman), the tuition fee for undergraduate students is generally ₱1,500 per unit. For a typical semester with 21 units, this comes to ₱31,500, excluding other miscellaneous fees like registration fees. This can add around ₱2,000 to the total. In addition, UPD offers a Socialized Tuition System, which provides various discounts depending on the financial capacity of the student’s household. The discounts range from 33% (₱1,000 per unit) to 100%, with some students receiving full tuition coverage, including miscellaneous and laboratory fees.
Renowned for its demanding academic programs, UP Diliman places first in the 2024 Philippine University Ranking. In Asia UP Diliman ranks #374 and #1367 worldwide as shown in the image below. Well, UPD is the largest institution that makes up the UP System in the Philippines and that’s definitely supports being on top among the universities.
3. UP Los Banos
- Website: uplb.edu.ph
- Location: Pedro R. Sandoval Ave, Los Baños, Laguna
Another public school in the Philippines that ranks #6 in 2024 Philippine University Ranking is UP Los Banos or UPLB for short (University of the Philippines Los Banos) where tuition fee is generally around ₱1,500 per unit plus miscellaneous fees ranging from ₱2,000 to ₱3,000 per semester. However, many students qualify for the Free Higher Education Law, which covers tuition and other fees for eligible undergraduate students.
As a founding member of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), UPLB supports cooperative initiatives aimed at improving graduate education in the fields of agriculture, environment, and natural resources throughout the region through partnerships with other academic institutions.
4. UP Manila
- Website: www.upm.edu.ph
- Location: Zone 72, 670 Padre Faura St, Ermita, Manila
As part of the best and top universities in the Philippines, UP Manila (University of the Philippines Manila) follows the Socialized Tuition System (STS), which adjusts fees based on the student’s family’s financial capacity. However, as of recent data base tuition is approximately ₱1,500 per unit and miscellaneous fees vary between ₱2,000 to ₱3,000 per semester. Moreover, if a student qualifies under the free tuition law (RA 10931), they can study tuition-free.
Amazingly, UP Manila is known as the health sciences center which is why the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) and the Philippine Medical School (PMS, presently known as the College of Medicine) were integrated into the institution. Lastly, due to its continued providence of high-quality education based on the outcomes of the licensing exams, its contributions to the university have excellent rankings both nationally and internationally.
Private University Tuition Fees in the Philippines
Now, let’s tackle the private universities in the Philippines.
1. UST Philippines Tuition Fee
- Website: www.ust.edu.ph
- Location: España Blvd, Sampaloc, Manila
Being a private university in the Philippines, the tuition fees at UST (University of Santo Tomas) is quite expensive which vary depending on the program and academic year. For the academic year 2024-2025, tuition fees for freshmen have increased by about 4%. The tuition per unit is now ₱1,959 for first-year students, compared to ₱1,884 previously. For example, a full-load freshman in the Faculty of Engineering would pay around ₱43,098, while fees for the Faculty of Arts and Letters range from ₱29,385 to ₱41,139 depending on the program. For specific fees related to your chosen course and program, check on this link.
As a Catholic research university in Manila, UST Philippines is known for its superior academic programs where every year UST graduates rule the top 10 board exams in medicine, nursing, engineering, education, and more. Well, it’s proven and tested as this institution belongs to the top 5 best universities in the Philippines as of this year’s record.
2. De La Salle University
- Website: www.dlsu.edu.ph
- Location: Main campus is in Taft Ave, Malate, Manila, and satellite campuses are in Makati, Bonifacio Global City, and Laguna
Another expensive university tuition fees in the Philippines is De La Salle University (DLSU) which usually between ₱190,000 and ₱240,000 per year, though this could change based on the course and other variables which you can check here.
Even though DLSU is one of the most expensive universities in the Philippines as you can see from the above estimated fees, it has high requirements for admission, a top-notch faculty, and part of the top 5 schools in the Philippines. Besides, DLSU has made a substantial contribution to business, economics, science, engineering, and liberal arts education in the Philippines.
3. Ateneo De Manila University
- Website: www.ateneo.edu
- Location: Katipunan Ave, Quezon City
Ateneo De Manila University is one of the top 5 Philippine University Ranking 2024 as reflected below image. Its tuition fees for the academic year range from ₱160,000 to ₱180,000 per year for undergraduate programs. For graduate studies, the tuition typically falls between ₱50,000 and ₱70,000 annually. For the detailed breakdowns or any potential additional fees, suggest to always check its website as given above.
Strong in its liberal arts heritage, Ateneo provides a broad selection of undergraduate and graduate programs in humanities, sciences, business, and social sciences. Also, the same with DLSU and UST, Ateneo is a Catholic private school in the Philippines.
4. NU Philippines Tuition Fee
- Website: national-u.edu.ph
- Location: Main school at Jhocson St, Sampaloc, Manila with branches in MOA, Laguna, Fairview, Dasmariñas, Baliwag, Nazareth, and APC
Approximately NU Philippines (National University), a private non-sectarian university, has ₱30,000 to ₱50,000 per year school fees. This estimate varies based on the specific department and level of study (e.g., undergraduate or graduate), depending on the course and degree program. There may also be additional costs for books, materials, and other fees. Keep in mind that accommodation, transportation, and personal expenses will also add to the total cost.
As one of the best universities in the Philippines based on this year’s record, NU is regarded as the first university in the Philippines to use English as its primary language of instruction. Moreover, NU is a founding member of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) and the Association of Southeast Asian Institutions of Higher Learning (ASAHIL) is one of its worldwide associations.
5. Centro Escolar University CEU
- Website: www.ceu.edu.ph
- Location: San Miguel Manila City, Gil Puyat Ave Makati City, and McArthur Highway Malolos Bulacan
For Manila campus estimates, CEU’s (Centro Escolar University) fees for undergraduate programs like Political Science and Social Work range from ₱38,000 to ₱44,000. More specialized programs like Medical Technology and Pharmacy are around ₱57,000 to ₱62,000. And degrees in Music Performance can go up to ₱80,000. Again such figures are based on Manila campus, fees for other campuses like Malolos may slightly differ as shown here.
With three campuses to date, CEU or Centro Escolar University continues to provide a solid staff development program, a strong research tradition, high standards of instruction, successful community extension initiatives, fruitful collaborations with other organizations and schools, and a long-lasting quality assurance system. That’s why CEU is among the 100 best and top schools in the Philippines.
6. University of the East UE Manila
- Website: www.ue.edu.ph/mla
- Location: Recto Ave, Sampaloc, Manila
The tuition fees at the University of the East (UE) Manila generally range between ₱38,000 to ₱40,000 per semester, or about ₱76,000 to ₱80,000 per academic year for undergraduate programs.
In terms of assets, UE is among the most financially secure universities in the Philippines and is considered the largest university in Asia. UE has three campuses and UE Manila is one of them. UE Manila maintains its Autonomous Status recently given by the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd). And it contributes to how this institution continues to provide quality service from basic to graduate education.
7. Mapua
- Website: www.mapua.edu.ph
- Location: Muralla St, Intramuros, Manila
Mapua University is labeled as the premier engineering school in the Philippines which ranks #9 as of this year’s university ranking. At Mapua, the tuition fees for undergraduate programs range from approximately ₱130,000 to ₱195,000 per year. Take note that the university operates on a quarterly term structure, meaning the yearly cost is divided into multiple payments per quarter. Graduate programs have different rates, with fees ranging from ₱44,000 to ₱92,000 for master’s degrees and ₱65,000 to ₱74,000 for doctorate programs.
Furthermore, Mapua’s chemical, civil, computer, electrical, electronics, mechanical, environmental and sanitary, and information technology engineering courses have been recognized as centers of excellence by the Philippine Commission on Higher Education (CHED). True enough, Mapua is one of the best schools worldwide.
8. Lyceum of the Philippines
- Website: www.lpu.edu.ph
- Location: Muralla St, Intramuros, Manila
Another private and nonsectarian university, also located in Intramuros Manila just like Mapua University, is the Lyceum of the Philippines University or LPU. When it comes to LPU’s fees, for undergraduate programs typically ranges from ₱100,000 to ₱120,000 per year. Graduate program fees tend to be higher, ranging from ₱120,000 to ₱140,000 annually, though these amounts can vary based on specific courses and locations.
LPU is the first educational institution in the Philippines to be awarded with Full International Accreditation for Hotel & Restaurant Management and Tourism (Undergraduate and Graduate Programs). Also, a certification from Investors-in-People International with a Silver award. Well, amazingly, LPU has its spot in the best universities ranking, not just in the Philippines but globally too.
Homeschool Philippines Tuition Fee
Compared to traditional schooling as discussed earlier, homeschooling can be surprisingly affordable, but prices can vary depending on the provider and curriculum you choose. Well, according to a survey in the Philippines, the cost of basic tuition for homeschooling can range from ₱5,000 to over ₱100,000 year.
Here are sample homeschool providers in the Philippines that are DepEd accredited:
- Homeschool Global – One of the largest homeschooling providers that offers a range of fees depending on the grade level as follows: Kinder to Grade 2 – ₱74,900, Grades 3 to 6 – ₱70,300, Grades 7 to 10 – ₱72,900, and Grades 11 to 12 – ₱79,750. Additionally, there is a curriculum materials fee that can range from ₱20,000 to ₱30,000 depending on the grade level.
- School of Tomorrow Philippines – This provider uses the Accelerated Christian Education (ACE) system, integrating character-building lessons into academic content. Its school fees include matriculation fee – ₱4,000 per year per child (one-time fee), family fee – ₱18,000 (one-time fee, covering all children in the family), registration fee – ₱3,000 per child (one-time fee), and academic fee – between ₱3,000 to ₱4,000 per child.
- Kairos Homeschool Academy – Offering a specialized curriculum for preschool and elementary students, Kairos allows parents to customize lessons to fit their child’s needs. Its tuition fees range from ₱41,500 to ₱61,000. This fee typically covers books, learning materials, and assessment fees.
- Victory Christian International School (VCIS) – Offers a home study program where tuition fees vary on grade level as follows: preschool – ₱75,000 to ₱90,000, elementary – ₱100,000 to ₱110,000, junior high school – ₱115,000 to ₱120,000, and senior high school – ₱120,000 to ₱130,000.
Are University Tuition Fees in the Philippines Worth Your Money?
In the end, deciding whether university tuition fees in the Philippines are worth your money really depends on your personal goals and situation. While the costs can be high, especially for private universities, the potential payoff in terms of career opportunities and earning potential might be worth the investment.
On the flip side, there are plenty of other paths that can lead to success—think vocational courses, online certifications, or even entrepreneurship. And let’s not forget about scholarships, government subsidies, or choosing public universities, which can make higher education more accessible without leaving you in heavy debt.
At the end of the day, the value of your education depends on how wisely you manage your finances. Whether you decide to go the traditional route or explore alternatives, make sure you’re investing in something that will pay off—not just financially, but also in terms of personal growth and satisfaction. So, take your time, do your research, and make the decision that feels right for you and your future!