Money guides for Filipino students

Paying for college in the Philippines

Tuition is only part of the cost of a Philippine degree. Transport, board and lodging for students studying away from home, laptops and data, thesis and laboratory fees, and review classes in the final year often add up to as much as the tuition itself. Planning around the full figure, not just the enrolment bill, is what keeps a course affordable to the end.

State universities and CHED's free tuition law cover a large share of costs at public institutions, and there is a wide network of private, corporate, and foundation scholarships that go unclaimed each year simply because deadlines pass quietly. Government student loan programmes and school-run instalment schemes fill the remaining gap, but their terms vary sharply in cost.

These guides map the funding sources in order of cost: grants and scholarships first, then subsidised government loans, then school payment plans, and only last any commercial borrowing. Each option is listed with who qualifies, what documents are needed, and when applications typically open.

• Apply for grants and scholarships before considering any loan — they do not have to be repaid.
• Many scholarships require documents (ITR, barangay certificate, grades) that take weeks to obtain; start early.
• Government-backed student loans generally carry far lower rates than consumer lending apps.
• Keep a written record of every school fee deadline; late payment penalties are common and avoidable.

Student money questions

Related guides and tools

• Student loans in the Philippines: every option compared
• Scholarships in Metro Manila
• Best savings accounts for students
• Monthly Budget Calculator