Skyrocketing tuition fees are nothing new. While the Commission on Higher Education has named more institutions covered by the free tuition law, Manila’s top universities are still exempted by this. On top of steep tuition fee costs, parents still have to consider their children’s everyday expenses such as food, transportation, and accommodation if needed.
Nonetheless, getting a college degree–or an education for that matter–is still one of the best investments that you can make. Planning ahead is crucial, especially when tuition fees are constantly rising every year. To give you a clearer picture of how much to expect, here are some of the projected undergraduate tuition fee costs of some of Manila’s top universities.
Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU)
Known for their business and humanities courses, ADMU is one of the oldest private schools in the country. Ateneo has a semestral system from August to May. According to the university’s website, a semester is estimated to cost around P100,000, which already includes tuition and miscellaneous fees. Additional laboratory fees are dependent on the student’s program of choice.
Staying at Ateneo’s standard in-campus dormitory will cost you P50,500 per semester. On the other hand, the International Residence Hall, which houses both international and local students, will cost P90,500 per semester.
De La Salle University (DLSU)
At the southern end of the bustling Taft Avenue is DLSU, a research university specializing in engineering and business programs. DLSU is one of the very few educational institutions in the country that follow a trimestral system, meaning that the school year is divided into three terms comprising of 12 to 13 weeks.
For school year 2019 to 2020, a term is estimated to cost around P90,000 to P110,000, depending on the student’s program. This fee already covers tuition, miscellaneous, and laboratory fees. While DLSU only limits its housing facility to female athletes, there are a plethora of choices available near the campus.
University of Santo Tomas (UST)
The oldest university in the country is widely recognized for its architecture and medicine programs. As of this academic year, the estimated tuition fee of one semester ranges from P50,000 up to P80,000, which excludes miscellaneous fees, depending on the student’s program of study. The breakdown of expenses can be found on the university’s website. Off-campus accommodations are available around the area.
Mapúa University
Mapúa University hails itself as one of the top schools in the metro specializing in engineering. Mapúa has campuses in Intramuros and Makati. They follow a “quarterm” system, which splits the academic year into four terms. Tentative fees for college freshmen range from P27,000 to P50,000 per term depending on the student’s program. The fee already includes tuition, miscellaneous, and other fees. Housing facilities are available off-campus.
Far Eastern University (FEU)
Situated at the heart of the university belt, FEU offers a variety of undergraduate programs from business to arts and sciences courses. For this academic year, tuition fee estimates are at P50,000 to P65,000 per semester, which already includes other fees. Dormitories and housing accommodations are available off-campus.
Header image courtesy of Unsplash
Read more:
It’s final: Filipino no longer a required college subject
The student fare discount is going to be a lot more powerful
Writer: JILL CHUA
