Ultimate Guide for Tuition Fee Cost in the Philippines to Plan for Your Child's Education

Nothing is more essential to parents than providing for the long-term needs of their children. That's why they've always put education at the top of their priority list. But, hey! What's to stop them if their child's education will not only improve their minds but will also open doors of opportunity for their personal development as well?

Despite the fact that parents want the best for their children, the cost of a great education may be exorbitant for many families.

When it comes to your child's education costs, the cost of attending a school is the most important one. It's sponsored by the government for public schools, thus tuition for elementary education isn't charged to students. The Free Tuition Law has also been extended to public institutions and colleges since the school year 2018-2019.

Meanwhile, private schools have varying costs based on the kind of institution as well as its location.

If you're searching on how much budget you need to prepare for your child's education, then this ultimate guide is for you!

Tuition fees and education costs of private schools in PH

We know that you might now be thinking about how much money you need to spend preparing for your child's education as we get ready to reopen classrooms for face-to-face teaching.

Here are the anticipated costs for your child's education in the Philippines to assist you in making a decision:

An Overview of Estimated Annual Tuition for Private Schools in Metro Manila

For Preschool: Php 29, 000 - Php 280, 000

For Elementary: Php 70, 000 - Php 200, 000

For High School and Senior High School: Php 100, 000 - Php 250, 000

For College: Php 110, 000

As a parent of a school-aged kid, you should always allow for a 10% rise in tuition costs every year. Your savings account won't be shocked year after year as a result of this strategy.

Below are the estimated costs for tuition fees for private schools from Preschool to College education with the 10% increase applied:

Preschool 

Annual Tuition Fees: Php 40, 000

Average number of school years: 1

Estimated total cost of education: Php 40, 000

Elementary 

Annual Tuition Fees: Php 80, 000

Average number of school years: 6

Estimated total cost of education: Php 480, 000

High school and Senior High School 

Annual Tuition Fees: Php 150, 000

Average number of school years: 6

Estimated total cost of education: Php 900, 000

College 

Annual Tuition Fees: Php 110, 000

Average number of school years: 4

Estimated total cost of education: Php 440, 000

Estimated Total Tuition fees from Preschool to College: Php 1, 860, 000

Estimates of what a typical Filipino family may spend for schooling are provided in these costs. Most parents send their children to preschool or nursery before kindergarten, which is just a year long. Depending on the number of units your kid will take and how long he will be attending college, the fee may vary. If your kid decides to forego college education, you may be able to save some money on the tuition. With the Department of Education's K to 12 program, it is possible for your kid to go to work following graduation from high school.

But wait, even with this seemingly costly price of education, your bill for your child's education hasn't been paid in full. 

On top of the cost of tuition, your children's extracurricular activities account for a significant portion of your family's budget. Class money, supplies, and even field excursions may be covered by these grants. Inclusion of this expense early on in the planning process may save you some money at length so make sure to take note of them, too!

Below are the common additional fees that you might encounter throughout your child's one school year:

Elementary 

PTA: Php 200 (Public School) | Php 250 (Private School)

Other fees: Php 150 (Public) | Php 1, 500 (Private)

Books: Php 3, 000 (Private)

School supplies: Php 800 (Public) | Php 1, 600 (Private)

Other instructional materials: Php 200 (Public) | Php 800 (Private)

Uniforms: Php 500 (Public) | Php 1, 000 (Private)

***Total: Php 1, 950 (Public) | Php 8, 550 (Private)

High school

PTA: Php 300 (Public) | Php 350 (Private)

Other fees: Php 200 (Public) | Php 2, 000 (Private)

Books: Php 3, 800 (Private)

School supplies: Php 900 (Public) | Php 2, 000 (Private)

Other instructional materials: Php 260 (Public) | Php 950 (Private)

Uniforms: Php 600 (Public) | Php 1, 400 (Private)

***Total: Php 2, 160 (Public) | Php 10, 000 (Private)

College

PTA: Php 450 (Public) | Php 560 (Private)

Other fees: Php 266 (Public) | Php 2, 660 (Private)

Books: Php 4, 807 (Private)

School supplies: Php 1, 012.50 (Public) | Php 2, 500 (Private)

Other instructional materials: Php 338 (Public) | Php 1, 275.75 (Private)

Uniforms: Php 720 (Public) | Php 1, 960 (Private)

***Total: Php 2, 785.50 (Public) | Php 13, 612.75 (Private)

And if you think that all the education expenses will end here, well it's not quite!

It's time to think about how much baon your kid should eat each day now that they're all prepared for the new school year. It is a good idea to set aside a little amount of money for the necessities, such as food and transportation, even though allowances vary widely from one kid to another.

How to budget my child's school allowance?

Keep in mind the following points while thinking how much to give them:

Your child's age

The baon of a primary school kid is quite different from that of a college student. Giving little amounts of money to children on a regular basis is the ideal strategy since they aren't yet capable of handling enormous sums of money.

Hours to spend in school

Your child's daily routine will make it easy for you to budget money for the day's activities. You might want to consider if they need lunch money for the day or if they are going on a field trip. Basically, expenses for this vary based on the kind of event.

Transportation method

It's important to know the optimal route to school since transportation costs a significant portion of the daily budget. Is the school bus the most cost-effective alternative, or is there another practical way for them to go to school? You'll save time and money if you know what to look for.

It's true that public universities offer free college education in the Philippines but if you aim to get your kid into a private college school, then it's important for you to know the estimated tuition fees for some of the top universities in the Philippines.

Top Universities Tuition fees for your child's college education

Here are the annual cost of tuition and other fees for some of the best institutions in the Philippines that can make you better understand how much you should save for your child's education:

San Beda University (Annual Cost: Php 180, 000 - Php 300, 000)

Founded in the year 1901, San Beda has campuses in Manila, Alabang, and Rizal. In January 2018, CHED awarded university-level status to the establishment. A wide range of academic programs are available at the University of San Beda such as accountancy, marketing, economics, and law.

De La Salle College of Saint Benilde (Annual Cost: Php 180, 000 - Php 240, 000)

CSB was started in the 1980s as a night school, but now it provides a wide range of courses in the departments of arts and design, international studies, and hospitality and management. There are three terms at the school, with each term costing an average of Php 105, 000.

De La Salle University (Annual Cost: Php 200, 000 - Php 230, 000)

Students at De La Salle University or DLSU may take courses in communication, science, engineering, business, and technology. There are three semesters at the institution, and each one costs between Php 70, 000 and Php 90, 000 or more on average.

The basic cost per unit is Php 3, 604 which means if your kid takes 25 units in a semester, you'll have to pay an average tuition charge of Php 90, 100. Students at DLSU also pay Php 992 for Orientation, Php 1, 453 for the library, and Php 872 for registration, among other things.

Mapua University (Annual Cost: Php 145, 000 - Php 210, 000)

Engineering and architecture are well-known majors at Mapua University. Eight of the university's programs have been designated as a CHED Center of Excellence. Mapua has campuses in Intramuros and Makati, with four terms each year, each term costing an average of Php 51, 000.

University of Asia and the Pacific (Annual Cost: Php 180, 000 - Php 190, 000)

Courses in economics, humanities, management, and information technology are available at UA&P. An international student exchange program is also in place at the university, with institutions in Europe, Latin America, and the Asia Pacific participating.

Silliman University (Annual Cost: Php 180, 000 - Php 190, 000)

It is at Siliman that the biggest number of programs are certified in the Philippines. The institution, which was established in 1901, offers degrees in a variety of fields, including computer technology, nursing, biology, and marine science.

Ateneo de Manila University (Annual Cost: Php 170, 000 - Php 190, 000)

Ateneo de Manila University is a premier private university in the Philippines, offering programs for students from pre-kindergarten through graduate school. The university's science, liberal arts, law, management, and engineering departments are among the best in the country.

The estimated child's education expenses in Ateneo are:

Tuition – Php 92, 064

Basic fees – Php 12, 385.45

Other fees – Php 3, 750

Consider the fact that tuition prices in the Philippines might vary greatly depending on the kind of study your kid is enrolled in. Take note that additional fees may apply in addition to those previously listed.

University of Santo Tomas (Annual Cost: Php 100, 000 - Php 150, 000)

It is said that UST is Asia's oldest university, and it contains nine schools that provide a variety of programs, including architecture, physical therapy, and journalism. Over ten CHED Centers of Excellence are also located here.

Xavier University — Cagayan De Oro (Annual Cost: Php 100, 000 - Php 120, 000)

The patron saint of the insitution is St. Francis Xavier. Ateneo de Cagayan was founded in 1933 as a private Catholic institution in Cagayan de Oro, Mindanao. In 1958, it became the first university in the area of Mindanao to be given university status.

Saint Louis University, Baguio City (Annual Cost: Php 80, 000 - Php 120, 000)

In 1911, this institution was established to serve the needs of the local youths. It became the first university in Northern Manila when it was awarded university status in 1963. There are over 40,000 students on this campus, and it has been recognized by the CHED as a Center of Excellence, as well as by PAASCU.

University of San Carlos (Annual Cost: Php 75, 000 - Php 100, 000)

The University of San Carlos, one of Cebu's major institutions, is home to the Vis-Min region's most comprehensive CHED Center of Excellence network. It provides degrees in physics, engineering, anthropology, and teaching.

Mindanao State University — Iligan Institute of Technology (Annual Cost: Php 7, 000 - Php 18, 000)

MSU-IIT is the flagship and biggest campus of the MSU system and is located in Iligan City, Philippines. Located in the area of Visayas and Mindanao, this university is one of the greatest in the country.

University of the Philippines Diliman (Annual Cost: Free for qualified students)

In the nation, the most CHED Centers of Excellence are located at UP Diliman, which is home to more than 20,000 students and a large faculty. All kinds of courses are available at this institution ranging from journalism to computer engineering to anthropology to creative writing.

A complete tuition subsidy is provided for students at UP under the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (Republic Act 10931). This implies that qualifying students at UP will be able to receive free tuition.

A home close to schools and universities

Tuition prices in the Philippines are astronomical, making education too expensive for many Filipinos. In any case, it's a gift you'll want to give to your kid as a way of ensuring his or her financial security in the years to come. Find a method that won't put your money in jeopardy and start saving immediately!

Talking about savings and budget practicality, the best way to ensure that your kids can get a quality education that won't hurt your child's education fund that much is by investing in a brand new house and lot in the suburbs that has proximity to state colleges and universities.

Thankfully, Lumina Homes is a community that can give you both of these benefits. With the strategic location of each of our subdivisions all over the country, schools, colleges, and institutions in the vicinity are easily accessible from any of these neighborhoods.. Another great thing about it is that our projects are situated in the suburbs which can give you a more affordable cost of living-- not to mention cheaper tuition fees and less expensive transportation arrangements.

Check out Lumina Homes' over 50 projects nationwide and our available home model units and make your home reservations as early as now!