Top 10 Most Expensive Colleges And Universities In The Philippines 2016

Top 10 Most Expensive Colleges And Universities In The Philippines 2016

How much does it take to send your child to college these days? How about five or 10 years from now?

With most universities in the Philippines implementing a tuition fee hike every year, you’re probably uncertain what the future holds for your kids—and well, for your finances.

According to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), there is an average increase of 6.17%, or around P29.86, per unit, as of academic year 2015-2016. Other school fees increase by an average of 6.55%, or around P135.60.

Here’s a list of the colleges and universities in the Philippines with the most expensive tuition fees and other school fees:

1. Southville International School Affiliated with Foreign Universities (SISFU)
Las Piñas

Total: $9,435 (or about P434,010) per year

Tuition and other fees per term:
First term: $3,365, or about P154,790
Second term: $ 3,035, or about P139,610
Third term: $3,035, or about P139,610

2. Enderun Colleges
Taguig

Total: P250,000 to P320,000 per year

Tuition and other fees:
For local students: P115,116.30
For foreign students: P149,729.30

3. De La Salle University
Manila

Total: P196,000 to P230,000 per year

Tuition and other fees:
Lowest: P65,148 (College of Education)
Highest: P76,233 (College of Engineering)

4. University of Asia and the Pacific
Pasig

Total: P180,000 to P190,000 per year

Tuition and other fees per term:
First semester: P98,031
Second semester: P91,201

5. CIE British School
Makati, Cebu, Tacloban

Total: P180,000 to P280,000 per year

Tuition and other fees per term:
Regular school fees: P141,724.50 per semester
P89,224.50 per semester for Filipino national scholars

6. De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLSU-CSB)
Manila

Total: P180,000 to P240,000 per year

Tuition and other fees per term:
P60,000 to P80,000 per term, x 3 terms

7. iAcademy Information and Communications Technology Academy
Makati

Total: P181,000 to P211,000 per year

Tuition and other fees per term:
P60,230 to P70,000 per term, x 3 terms

8. Ateneo de Manila University
Quezon City

Total: P180,000 per year

Tuition and other fees per term:
P89,120.40 per semester

9. San Beda College
Manila

Total: P146,000 to P155,000 per year

Tuition and other fees per term:
P73,000 to P77,000 per semester

10. Miriam College
Quezon City

Total: P120,000 to P160,000 per year

Tuition and other fees per term:
60,000 to 80,000 per semester

What you need to know about tuition fee increase in the Philippines

In 2015, 1,683 private higher education institutions (HEIs) applied for an increase in tuition or other fees, or both. Only 313 of which were approved by CHED.

For the academic year 2016-2017, approximately 400 schools filed petitions for an increase in tuition and other school fees. This time, CHED only granted approval to 304 private HEIs.

According to chairperson Patricia Licuanan, the average increase in tuition is 5.10%, or P43.39 per unit. On the other hand, the upsurge of other school fees is rated at 5.41%, or P115.58. “Considering the total population of private HEIs, the average increase in tuition or other school fees is less than one percent,” the commission noted.

Though such increases are not favorable to many, the government aims to regulate the fluctuation of tuition fees and other fees for both public and private academic institutions. This includes the most expensive colleges and universities in the Philippines. Below are the essential parameters that govern the upsurge of increases:

1. Section 42 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 232 or the “Education Act of 1982,” which provides that “each private school shall determine its rate of tuition and other school fees or charges… subject to rules and regulations promulgated by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports” (now DepEd, TESDA and CHED).

2. “Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education Act,” which requires HEIs, for every incremental tuition increase, to allocate 70 percent of the increase for the payment of salaries, wages, allowances, and other benefits of teaching and non-teaching personnel; 20% for the improvement and/or acquisition of facilities, or modernization of buildings, equipment, libraries, laboratories and other similar facilities and the payment of other costs of operation; and 10% for the return on investment if they are stock corporations, otherwise, the remainder is to be utilized for the operation of the institution.

3. Third, CHED Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 3, series of 2012, or the “Enhanced Policies, Guidelines and Procedures Governing Increases in Tuition and Other School Fees, Introduction of New Fees, and for Other Purposes,” which takes into account the following factors: “regional inflation rate, financial standing of the institution, financial capacity of the general studentry, impact of force majeure or calamities, quality track record of the school, and the mission and vision of the institution.

4. The “education deflator,” which measures the average cost of providing education services based on the regional inflation rate. The use of this framework will be further strengthened and fine-tuned in the coming years. –Diana Lyn Balbalosa

Do you agree with the government’s guidelines for tuition and other fee increases? How do you prepare for your child’s education? Share your thoughts in the comments.