Fact Check: Does Free Tuition Cover Private Colleges?

The Claim

A Facebook post shared over 80,000 times says this: "Good news! Free tuition now covers ALL colleges, including private ones. Share to inform!" The post has no link to an official source. It shows what looks like a government seal. It has been shared in family group chats across the country since mid-2024.

Why People Believe It

The Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act — RA 10931 — is real. It passed in 2017. It gave Filipino students free tuition at state universities and colleges (SUCs). That part is 100% true.

But the law's success created confusion. People assumed the coverage expanded over time. Some posts blurred the line between SUCs and private schools. Others mixed it up with the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES), which does cover some private school students — but under strict conditions, not universally.

The Facts

What RA 10931 actually covers:

RA 10931 gives free tuition and other school fees to students at:

• State Universities and Colleges (SUCs)
• Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs)
• Technical-Vocational Institutions (TVIs) under TESDA

It does NOT give free tuition at private colleges and universities. Not across the board.

The Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES):

TES exists under the same law. It gives a cash subsidy to financially disadvantaged students, even those in private schools. But this is not the same as free tuition. TES recipients still pay tuition. They get financial help, not a zero bill.

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) confirms this clearly on its official website: "Free tuition is available at SUCs and LUCs. Students in private HEIs may apply for the TES subsidy."

Verdict: FALSE

The claim that free tuition covers all private colleges is false. RA 10931 covers state and local universities only. Private school students may qualify for a subsidy — not free tuition.

[SOURCE: RA 10931 Full Text — Official Gazette: https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2017/08/03/republic-act-no-10931/] [SOURCE: CHED — Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST): https://ched.gov.ph/unifast/]

Dad Joke

Dad Joke: Why did the student bring a highlighter to the Fact Check office?

Because they wanted to make sure the truth was clearly marked — unlike that viral post.

Sources

• Republic Act 10931 — Full Text (Official Gazette)
• CHED UniFAST Program Overview [SOURCE: verify before publishing]
• CHED Memo on TES Eligibility for Private HEI Students [SOURCE: verify before publishing]

Correction Policy

If we got anything wrong here, we will add a correction note at the top of this article. We will also include a dad joke about it. Because accountability should at least be funny.