2025 Cheapest Law Schools in Manila, Philippines

Studying law is definitely not a cheap choice. Aside from books & printing costs, one of the biggest things you will soon spend on is your semestral tuition fee.Thus, looking for the cheapest law school in Manila, Philippines in 2025 is of utmost importance.

This article will detail factors to consider, additional law school costs, and of course, the cheapest law schools in Manila, Philippines. Further, this will also contain general tips on how to maximize your money in law school.

Factors to Consider in Choosing a Law School 

Choosing a law school in the Philippines is not only limited to the tuition fee. There are many factors that come into play since the school you will choose will be your home and friend for the next 4 to 5 years until you take the bar. Listed below are some additional factors that can help you decide where to study law.

Tuition and Miscellaneous Fees Financial Aids

Additionally, law schools can offer scholarship programs, both need-based & merit-based. Take a survey on which of the law schools you chose accommodate law students who need financial aid so that you can see if you qualify & attempt to apply for a further decrease in your law school costs. 

Accreditation and Bar Exam Eligibility

One of the requirements for taking the bar exams is completing the Juris Doctor degree in a Legal Education Board (LEB)-accredited law school. Thus, it is important to first check if your law school choices are accredited by the government here to ensure that you can take the bar exams in the future.

Campus Location and Resources

Before deciding on a law school, check if there are campuses near where you live, especially since some law schools offer their Juris Doctor program in multiple branches.

Aside from the location of the school, some typically offer free wifi, charging ports, computers for free use, and libraries for their students. For instance, a library with a full collection of law books can significantly decrease your book expenses. Thus, before deciding on a law school, check how far it is from you and what resources they can provide you with to further minimize your costs.

Working Student Options and Evening Programs

Law school, being a post-graduate degree, welcomes various students, especially working students. Some law schools offer evening programs for students with jobs to accommodate their work hours. Check your chosen law schools’ website to see if they offer evening programs or flexible curricula for you.

Top 5 Cheapest Law Schools in Manila, Philippines

Now that you’ve asked yourself if your shortlisted law schools have the above accommodations, you can then focus on their tuition & miscellaneous fees. Below are just some of the law schools in Manila which offer cheap tuition fees per unit:

Polytechnic University of the Philippines

The PUP College of Law (PUP CL), established in 2001, offers a post-graduate degree in Bachelor of Laws (LL.B). To be able to apply for their law school, you have to possess 1) a Bachelor’s Degree (Graduate of 4 to 5-year course), 2) pass their 3 exams and interviews: Written Examination, Psychological Examination and Panel Interview, and 3) pass the Dean's interview.

Manila Law College

Manila Law College, formerly known as Escuela de Derecho de Manila and established in 1899, is among the first institutions to embrace hybrid education by offering online law school classes. This law school is perfect for working students.

University of the Philippines - College of Law

The UP College of Law boasts a passing rate of 90.51% during the 2024 Bar Examinations. This law school is not only a law school but it also possesses a Law Complex with a triad of functions: 1) instruction, 2) research, and 3) extension service. It also offers a 5-year evening program geared towards helping working students finish their degree while still having a day job.

Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Manila College of Law 

The Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila College of Law (PLM-CL) was established in 1989. Applications to its Juris Doctor degree requires a student to have 1) a general Weighted Average (GWA) of at least 2.00 or (84%) in the bachelor's degree, 2) 12 English units, and is a Manila resident.

Philippine Law School

Philippine Law School is one of the oldest privately-held law schools in the Philippines. To apply to this institution, their website completely lists down the academic documents & payment deadlines you need to comply with.

Tips to Minimize Law School Costs in the Philippines

Paying for law school, even in institutions considered “cheap”, is no joke. Other expenses such as books, writing materials, and gadgets also have to be taken into consideration thus minimizing costs can be a big help. Below are just some of the things you can do to make law school a little less stressful.

1. Borrow books

Each codal and commentary per law subject approximately costs P500-P1,000. Thus, borrowing secondhand books from upperclassmen or friends can easily cut these costs down to 0.

2. Maximize Free Online Resources

Printing costs take up the other half of academic expenses in law school. Having access to a digital collection of full-text cases and digests can help decrease this by half. For as low as P199/month you can have access to unlimited full-text cases as well as digests at Digest.ph.  

3. Look for Financial Aids/Scholarships

Finally, your chosen law school can provide you with a list of foundations or organizations that offer their students financial aid. Some even provide additional book allowance, internet allowance, and monthly stipends to ensure that scholars no longer need to worry about their school fees.

Key Takeaways

• Aside from the tuition fee, you also have to consider if the school is government accredited, convenient to go to, has Working Student accommodations, wide availability of campus resources, and financial aids.

• The top 5 cheapest law schools in the Philippines are PUP College of Law, Manila Law College, UP College of Law, PLM College of Law, and Philippine Law School.

• To minimize costs in law school you can opt to borrow books, use free online resources, and apply for financial aids/scholarships.

Frequently-Asked Questions

Which law school has the lowest tuition?

PUP College of Law has the lowest recorded tuition fee at P500/unit.

What is the cheapest online law school?

The cheapest online law school is Manila Law College at P800-P1000 per unit.

How much is the tuition fee in PUP law school?

The tuition fee at PUP College of Law is P500/unit.

Conclusion

Choosing the cheapest law school does not have to mean sacrificing the quality of the legal education. The top 5 listed law schools above ensure that their students graduate from their institutions and uphold the rule of law at all times.