It should come as no surprise that education in the Philippines is expensive, frequently involving five to six-digit figures. If you haven’t yet saved for your child’s education, it will undoubtedly be a huge burden on your shoulders.
You could believe that the cost of education has dropped dramatically since the pandemic. That is not the case, however.
Even though students are not physically at school, education remains expensive, especially when internet connection bills and equipment for online classes are factored in.
The amount you’ll need to fund your children’s education will vary depending on their age and where they go to school, but it’s clear that the expense of education in the Philippines is something you’ll need to budget for.
For example, if you want to take your child to public school from preschool through college, expect to pay anywhere from P300,000 to P840,000 or more.
In a Facebook post, the financial adviser Facebook group “Save, Invest, Harvest” even stated that if you have a 3-year-old child today, you will need at least P3 million1 to send them to school in the future.
They took into account things like inflation and tuition cost increases. In this guide, we’ll show you how much money you’ll need to prepare for school in the country, as well as some options for reducing the cost.
Average Cost of Grade School Tuition in the Philippines
In the Philippines, private grade schools begin at the Nursery level and continue until Grade 6.
Tuition (per school year) – P25,000 to P100,000
Books – P10,000
School Supplies – P5,000
Uniform – P5,000
Miscellaneous expenses – P7,000
Average Cost of High School and Senior High School Tuition in the Philippines
Since the K-12 education system was implemented in the country, both public and private schools have added two years to this level.
When compared to grade school, junior high and senior high school cover a lot more specialized subjects. This means that to complete school, more books and prerequisites are required.
Tuition (per school year) – P45,000 to P150,000
Books – P15,000
School Supplies – P7,500
Uniform – P5,000
Miscellaneous expenses – P10,000
In the Philippines, the average cost of college tuition is
Without a scholarship, this is unquestionably the most difficult and costly stage for parents to deal with. A college education will be challenging not just for parents, but also for their children, as the prerequisites and subjects will become increasingly complex.
Tuition (per year) – P70,000 to P250,00
Books – P17,000
School Supplies – P8,000
Uniform – P5,000
Miscellaneous expenses – P15,000
The average cost of tuition at the Philippines’ top ten universities
Are you curious about the average tuition costs at the country’s Top 10 Universities? Continue reading to learn more.
Diliman, University of the Philippines
P40,000 to P50,000 per year (free for qualifying students)
This university was founded in 1949 as the major component of the University of the Philippines School System, and it has maintained a constant ranking2 as one of Asia’s and the world’s top 500 universities.
This university also has a plethora of Centers of Excellence, which correspond to its high-quality courses and programs.
Ateneo de Manila University
P160,000 to P200,000 per year
The Ateneo de Manila offers primary, secondary, and post-secondary education.
It is one of the country’s oldest universities, having been founded by Jesuits in 1959. It is known for having some of the greatest graduate programs in business, science, government, art, education, and law.
De La Salle University
P200,000 to P225,000 per year
This school, founded by the De La Salle Brothers in 1911, is one of only two in the Philippines to have Level IV accreditation from the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities (PAASCU).
De La Salle University is also included in Asian University Rankings.
University of Santo Tomas
P100,000 to P160,000 per year
This is Asia’s oldest university. In terms of student enrollment, it is also the world’s largest Catholic university. The Archbishop of Manila founded UST in 1611, and it is now one of the top choices for students in the Philippines.
Several Centers of Excellence and Centers of Development accreditations are available at this school. In 2013, the PACUCOA awarded them the title of having the most approved programs in the Philippines.
San Carlos University
P60,000 to P90,000 per year
This university, which is located in Cebu, was founded in 1935 by Jesuit missionaries. It is now one of Cebu’s largest and most successful colleges, with five campuses spanning over 90 hectares.
This university is consistently ranked as one of the best universities in the Philippines and Asia. It has the most Centers of Development and Centers of Excellence in Visayas and Mindanao, according to CHED.
Mapua University
Cost per year: P130,000 to P220,000
This university, formerly known as Mapua Institute of Technology, has campuses in Makati and Manila.
This university, which was founded in 1925 by Tomas Mapua, the country’s first registered Filipino architect, is noted for its engineering degrees, with seven I.T. departments. CHED has designated engineering and science courses as Centers of Excellence.
Iligan Institute of Technology, Mindanao State University
P7,000 to P18,000 per year
MSU-IIT is the flagship and largest campus of the MSU system, located in Iligan City.
This public, coeducational university is regarded as one of the best in the Visayas-Mindanao area and the Philippines as a whole.
CHED has designated this university as a Center of Excellence, and the Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities of the Philippines, or AACCUP, has granted them Accredited Status.
Bottomline
Education is expensive, especially in the Philippines, where tuition prices are exceptionally high. It can, however, help to ensure your child’s future a legacy you’ll want to leave behind for your child.
Begin today to develop a savings strategy that will not damage your finances. You can also invest your money to earn a profit.
A loan could also be beneficial. Make certain, however, that the repayments will not bankrupt you.
