TL;DR: Yes, UP is free for eligible Filipino undergraduates. Under Republic Act 10931, the University of the Philippines waives tuition and other mandatory school fees for Filipino students pursuing their first bachelor's degree within the normal program period plus one year. Students who already hold a degree, exceed that timeline, or are non-Filipino pay full rates, based on UP Diliman's published schedule the no-discount tuition rate is PHP 1,500 per unit, plus miscellaneous and student fund charges. Books, dorm, food, and transport are never covered and remain out of pocket.
Introduction
"Is UP free?" is one of the most searched questions about Philippine higher education, and the short answer is yes, for most Filipino undergraduates. But the full picture is more nuanced than a headline. Free tuition at the University of the Philippines comes from a specific law, applies to a specific group of students, and does not cover everything you will spend during college. This guide breaks down exactly what RA 10931 covers, what UP's older Socialized Tuition System (STS) rates look like for students who do not qualify, what non-eligible groups like second-degree and foreign students actually pay, and how to get admitted through the UPCAT. Whether you are a graduating high schooler weighing UP against a private university, or a parent budgeting for a child heading into UP, you will find the concrete numbers here, along with a clear note on where to confirm the latest figures.
Is UP Free? Yes, for Eligible Filipino Undergraduates
Yes. Under Republic Act 10931, the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act signed in 2017, tuition and other mandatory school fees are free for Filipino students enrolled in bachelor's degree programs at state universities and colleges (SUCs), including every constituent university of the University of the Philippines system: UP Diliman, UP Los Baños, UP Manila, UP Visayas, UP Cebu, UP Mindanao, UP Baguio, UP Open University, and UP Tacloban.
The law's Section 4 makes tuition and other school fees free for units enrolled in qualifying undergraduate programs. Section 3(h) defines "other school fees" to include library fees, computer fees, laboratory fees, school ID fees, athletic fees, admission fees, development fees, and similar mandatory charges. In practice, this means an eligible UP undergraduate pays nothing to enroll each semester beyond costs the law does not classify as a school fee.
This is not a scholarship you apply for separately. It applies automatically once you are admitted to UP and enrolled as a regular undergraduate, provided you remain within your eligibility window (explained below). There is no household income requirement for the basic free-tuition benefit itself, unlike the income-based subsidy programs layered on top of it.
Who Is NOT Covered by Free Tuition at UP
RA 10931's Section 6(a) spells out clear exceptions. Free tuition does not apply to:
- Students who already hold a bachelor's degree or comparable undergraduate degree, whether from a public or private institution. Anyone pursuing a second bachelor's degree at UP is billed at the standard tuition and fee rate.
- Students who exceed the normal duration of their program plus one year. For example, if your program is designed to finish in four years, you generally have five years from first enrollment to complete it under free tuition; beyond that, you revert to paying full rates.
- Non-Filipino students. The law is explicitly for Filipino citizens; foreign nationals studying at UP pay a separate, non-subsidized fee schedule.
- Students who voluntarily opt out of the free tuition benefit, which some students with capacity to pay choose to do so the subsidy can go to students who need it more.
If you fall into any of these categories, understanding the actual per-unit cost matters, which is where UP's older tuition structure comes in.
What Is the UP Socialized Tuition System (STS)?
The Socialized Tuition System, or STS, is UP's income-based tuition bracket structure that existed before RA 10931 and still forms the reference rate structure for students outside the free-tuition umbrella. Under STS, the "no discount" bracket at UP Diliman pays the full base rate, published by UP Diliman's admissions office as PHP 1,500 per unit. Discounted brackets historically paid less: reported partial-discount rates at UP Diliman scaled down to roughly PHP 1,000, PHP 600, or PHP 300 per unit depending on bracket, while fully subsidized brackets paid PHP 0.
Since RA 10931 took effect, the large majority of Filipino undergraduates no longer interact with STS brackets for tuition purposes, because tuition is simply free. STS-style income brackets still matter mainly for students excluded from free tuition, and for determining eligibility for supplementary aid like living stipends.
UP Diliman Fee Snapshot (for Non-Eligible or Reference Purposes)
| Fee Type | Reported Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition, no-discount rate (per unit) | PHP 1,500 | UP Diliman published schedule; base "sticker" rate |
| Tuition, partial-discount brackets | Roughly PHP 300 to PHP 1,000 per unit | Varies by bracket; pre-RA 10931 era, largely superseded by free tuition for eligible students |
| Matriculation (tuition + misc + student fund), foreign/non-eligible students | Roughly PHP 4,661.50 to PHP 31,490.50 | For a maximum 12-unit load, per UP Diliman admissions |
| Entrance fee | PHP 30 | Applies to certain non-regular or foreign enrollees |
| Deposit | PHP 100 | Applies to certain non-regular or foreign enrollees |
| Laboratory fee (per subject) | PHP 150 to PHP 1,800 | Varies by college and lab-heavy course |
These figures are reported rates from official UP Diliman admissions materials and may not reflect every constituent university or the current academic year. Confirm exact, current figures with the registrar of the specific UP campus you are applying to before budgeting.
What Free Tuition Does NOT Cover
Even for a fully eligible, tuition-free UP student, college is not PHP 0. Here is what remains out of pocket.
| Expense | Covered by RA 10931? | Typical Situation |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (per unit) | Yes | Fully waived for eligible undergraduates |
| Library, lab, computer, admission fees | Yes | Classified as "other school fees" under the law |
| Books and modules | No | Student expense |
| Dormitory or boarding | No | Only relevant if living away from home |
| Daily transport and food allowance | No | Ongoing personal expense |
| Uniforms or PE attire | No | Required in some programs |
| Optional or non-mandatory fees | Partly | Insurance, org dues, and similar charges may still apply |
A student who lives at home near a UP campus will spend far less overall than one who needs to rent near campus. Either way, budget for these categories separately, since free tuition only removes the single largest line item, not the full cost of attendance.
How Do You Get Into UP? The UPCAT
Admission to UP as an incoming first-year undergraduate runs through the UP College Admission Test (UPCAT). You cannot access free tuition, or any other UP benefit, without first being admitted and enrolled, so the UPCAT is the real gatekeeper.
- Eligible applicants are typically current Grade 12 students (or Grade 11 students on track to graduate senior high the following year) who have not taken the UPCAT before.
- The application opens through UP's official online portal during an announced window; recent cycles ran the Form 1 application in March with the exam itself around August.
- The UPCAT has four subtests: Language Proficiency (English and Filipino), Reading Comprehension (English and Filipino), Science, and Mathematics.
- Applicants are ranked for admission using a combination of UPCAT scores, high school grades, and applicable equity factors, not a single cutoff score.
- After the exam, applicants submit their Grade 8 to Grade 11 final grades through a follow-up form for final ranking.
Because the process and exact dates shift each cycle, always check the current schedule directly on the official UPCAT portal before applying. Our UPCAT reviewer guide breaks down how to prepare for each subtest.
How UP Compares to Other Free and Low-Cost Options
If your main goal is minimizing tuition cost, UP is one of many free options for Filipino undergraduates, not the only one. Every SUC nationwide offers the same RA 10931 free-tuition benefit, so the choice between them often comes down to program strength, location, and admission difficulty rather than cost alone. See our full breakdown of free tuition universities in the Philippines for the wider list, and our CHED free tuition guide for how the law is implemented across all SUCs and LUCs.
If you are also weighing a private option like the Philippine Normal University (itself a state university with its own fee structure) or comparing overall costs across schools, our guides on affordable colleges in the Philippines and cheapest vs. most expensive universities in the Philippines put UP's cost profile in context against both public and private alternatives.
Disclaimer
Tuition rules, fee schedules, and admission timelines change. The free-tuition status under RA 10931 is a matter of national law and has been in force since 2017, but specific peso figures for non-eligible students, foreign students, and miscellaneous fees can vary by UP constituent university and by academic year. Always confirm current figures and your specific eligibility with the registrar or admissions office of the UP campus you are applying to before making financial decisions.
Sources
- Republic Act No. 10931, Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (full text)
- University of the Philippines Diliman, Admissions Fees and Other Information
- UP Open University, Free Tuition for Undergraduates (RA 10931)
- UP Open University Office of the University Registrar, Free Tuition
- University of the Philippines, Infographic: Student Eligibility for Free Higher Education
- University of the Philippines, Frequently Asked Questions
- GMA News Online, At least 36,000 of 40,000 UP undergrads apply for socialized tuition discounts
- UPCAT 2027 Online Application Portal
- GMA News Online, UPCAT 2027 set for Aug. 1-2
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