Free college in the Philippines is not a promise or a proposal — it is law. Republic Act No. 10931, the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, was signed on 3 August 2017 and took effect for Academic Year 2018–2019. Under it, charging tuition to a qualified student at a state university is a criminal offence.
Yet every year students still pay fees they do not owe, or lose free tuition without understanding why. This guide covers what the law actually grants, the exact exceptions that disqualify you, and the two safety nets it created for students it does not cover.
What RA 10931 Actually Provides
The law has four distinct components. Most people know only the first.
| Component | Who it covers |
|---|---|
| Free Higher Education (FHE) | All Filipino undergraduates in SUCs and CHED-recognised LUCs |
| Free TVET | Students in post-secondary TVET programs at state-run TVIs under TESDA |
| Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) | Filipino students in SUCs, LUCs, private HEIs, and all TVIs |
| Student Loan Program (SLP) | Students who need repayable financing, mainly in private HEIs |
All four sit under UniFAST — the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education, created earlier by RA 10687 in 2015. RA 10931 strengthened UniFAST and made it the single body governing all government-funded student financial assistance.
Section 4: Free Higher Education in SUCs and LUCs
All Filipino students enrolled in bachelor’s degree, certificate degree, or undergraduate degree programs in state universities and colleges and CHED-recognised local universities and colleges are exempt from paying tuition and other school fees.
Two points students routinely miss:
- There is no income requirement and no age limit. Free Higher Education is universal, not means-tested. A wealthy student at a SUC pays nothing, the same as anyone else.
- Coverage is by units enrolled for SUC and LUC programs — it is tied to your enrolment, not to a fixed peso ceiling.
The only condition is that you pass and continue to meet the admission and retention policies of your institution.
The opt-out mechanism
SUCs and LUCs must create a mechanism allowing students with financial capacity to opt out of the subsidy or make a voluntary contribution to the school. This is voluntary. No school may pressure you into opting out, and institutions must report tuition payments and contributions collected from such students to CHED.
Section 5: Free Tech-Voc Education and Training
All Filipino students in post-secondary TVET programs leading to non-degree certificates or diplomas at state-run TVIs under TESDA are exempt from tuition and other school fees. Coverage extends to tuition and other school fees for those post-secondary non-degree programs. State-run TVIs operate the same opt-out mechanism as SUCs and LUCs.
Section 6: The Exceptions — Who Does NOT Get Free Tuition
This is the part that costs students their benefit. The law names specific categories of ineligible students.
In SUCs and LUCs, you are ineligible if:
- You have already attained a bachelor’s degree or comparable undergraduate degree from any higher education institution, public or private.
- You fail to comply with the admission and retention policies of the SUC or LUC.
- You fail to complete your bachelor’s degree within one year after the period prescribed in your program.
The third exception is the one that catches people. A four-year program gives you five years of free tuition — the prescribed period plus one year. Shifting courses, repeating subjects, or taking reduced loads can push you past that line. Once you exceed it, you are charged tuition like any other student, and no appeal to the law will change it.
The first exception also matters for career-changers: if you already hold a bachelor’s degree, a second undergraduate degree at a SUC is not free. Similar restrictions apply in state-run TVIs for students who already hold a comparable qualification.
Section 11 and 12: It Is a Crime to Charge You
Under Section 11, it is unlawful for any person, SUC, LUC, or state-run TVI to collect tuition and other school fees from qualified students. The only carve-out is for students who voluntarily opt out or make a contribution.
Section 12 sets the penalty: imprisonment of not less than six months but not more than one year, or a fine. Very few students know this provision exists. If your SUC is charging you a fee you believe is covered, you are not asking a favour when you raise it — you are pointing to a prohibited act.
If You Are Not Covered: TES and the Student Loan Program
Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES)
Section 7 establishes TES for Filipino students in undergraduate and post-secondary programs at SUCs, LUCs, private HEIs, and all TVIs. Crucially, TES reaches private-school students whom Free Higher Education does not. It may cover:
- Tuition and other school fees in private HEIs and private or LGU-operated TVIs, pegged to the tuition of the nearest SUC or state-run TVI in the area
- An allowance for books, supplies, transportation, and miscellaneous personal expenses
- Additional allowances for students with disabilities and for those studying away from home
See our full TES application guide for eligibility and how to apply.
Student Loan Program (SLP)
For students whose household income exceeds the thresholds for non-repayable subsidies, the law establishes a loan facility instead. See our UniFAST Student Loan Program guide.
How to Claim Free Higher Education
- Enrol in an SUC or CHED-recognised LUC. Check the recognised list — not every institution calling itself a local college is CHED-recognised.
- Pass the admission requirements of that institution. The law does not override entrance exams or admission standards.
- Do not sign an opt-out form unless you genuinely intend to pay.
- Meet retention policies every term. This is the most common way students lose coverage.
- Finish within the prescribed period plus one year. Track this if you shift courses or drop subjects.
- Apply separately for TES if you are in a private HEI or need allowance support.
What RA 10931 Does Not Cover
- Graduate studies — master’s, doctorate, law, and medicine are outside Free Higher Education, though the Student Loan Program can extend to graduate study, licensure review, medicine, and law
- Private HEI tuition directly — private students go through TES or SLP, not FHE
- Living costs — FHE covers tuition and school fees, not board, lodging, or daily expenses. That is what TES allowances and other scholarships are for
- A second undergraduate degree
This is why most students still combine free tuition with a CHED scholarship, a provincial grant, or a DOST-SEI scholarship covering stipends and allowances.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is college really free in the Philippines?
Tuition and other school fees are free for Filipino undergraduates at state universities and colleges, CHED-recognised local universities and colleges, and state-run TVIs, under RA 10931. Living costs, private school tuition, and graduate study are not covered by Free Higher Education.
Do I need to be poor to get free tuition?
No. Free Higher Education has no income requirement and no age limit. Only admission and retention policies apply. TES, by contrast, is prioritised by need.
Does RA 10931 cover private colleges?
Not through Free Higher Education. Private HEI students access support through the Tertiary Education Subsidy or the Student Loan Program instead.
How many years of free tuition do I get?
Your program’s prescribed period plus one year. Failing to complete your degree within a year after that period makes you ineligible.
Can I get free tuition for a second degree?
No. Students who have already attained a bachelor’s or comparable undergraduate degree from any institution are ineligible in SUCs and LUCs.
What if my school still charges me?
Collecting tuition and other school fees from qualified students is a prohibited act under Section 11, punishable by imprisonment of six months to one year or a fine. Raise it with your registrar, then your CHED Regional Office if unresolved.
Does free tuition cover miscellaneous fees?
The law covers tuition and other school fees. Charges outside that definition may still apply, so ask your registrar for a written breakdown of any fee billed to you.
When did RA 10931 take effect?
It was signed on 3 August 2017, and free tuition began with Academic Year 2018–2019.
Is this the same as UniFAST?
Not quite. UniFAST was created by RA 10687 in 2015 as the governing system for all government student financial assistance. RA 10931 strengthened UniFAST and added Free Higher Education, free TVET, TES, and the Student Loan Program under it.
Sources: Republic Act No. 10931 (Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act) as published by the Supreme Court E-Library and the Philippine Commission on Women, its Implementing Rules and Regulations, and CHED-UniFAST program materials. Verified September 2026. Implementation guidelines are updated periodically — confirm current rules with your school’s registrar or your CHED Regional Office.
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