THE UNIVERSITY will not implement a tuition increase for incoming college freshmen in Academic Year (AY) 2025-2026.
First-year students will continue to pay P1,959 per lecture unit, based on the Varsitarian’s comparison of the old and new table of fees.
Last year, UST implemented a 4% tuition hike for freshmen, triggering the so-called “sliding effect,” in which the University maintains tuition rates for students in higher year levels.
In the Faculty of Arts and Letters, the academic unit with the highest number of freshmen in AY 2024-2025, tuition still ranges between P29,385 (15 units with PE), P35,262 (18 units with PE), and P41,139 (21 units with PE), depending on their program.
Freshmen from the Faculty of Pharmacy, which drew the second highest freshmen turnout last year, will still pay P1,959 per lecture unit and P3,918 per laboratory unit. The same rates apply in the Faculty of Engineering.
Updated rates for tuition and other fees for freshmen are accessible via the UST website.
While tuition remains unchanged, several miscellaneous and other fees have been adjusted.
The information and development fee rose by 40% to P2,100 from P1,500 in AY 2024-2025.
Library fees increased by 10% in most academic units, except in the College of Nursing, where the fee rose 20% to P3,505 from P2,921.
The Varsitarian will increase its publication fee by P100 to P250, marking its first adjustment since 2011 to keep pace with the rising costs of operations.
Last year’s 4% tuition increase for freshmen was in step with the 3.9% consumer inflation recorded by the Philippine Statistics Authority in 2023.
Hikes applying only to incoming first-year students are not required to undergo consultation with the student government, faculty, alumni, and non-teaching staff, as per Commission on Higher Education rules.
The Varsitarian has reached out to the Office of the Vice Rector for Finance regarding the tuition rates for freshmen and adjusted miscellaneous fees, but it has yet to respond as of posting time.
