Quick answer

A Philippine school may not simply invent a tuition-refund rule after enrollment or disregard an applicable government rule, its published handbook, or the enrollment agreement. But withdrawing from school does not automatically entitle a student to a full refund.

The result usually depends on:

whether the learner is in private basic education, private higher education, or a public institution;
the school’s official first day of classes;
when a written withdrawal was received;
how much and what type of fees were paid;
the refund policy disclosed upon enrollment; and
whether classes or services were cancelled, unavailable, or materially different from what the school promised.

For private colleges and universities, the national default under Section 100 of the CHED Manual of Regulations for Private Higher Education permits a charge of up to 25% of the total amount due for the term for withdrawal during the first week, 50% during the second week, and the full amount after the second week. That provision begins with “unless otherwise provided” by the institution’s own policies, so the enrollment agreement, student handbook, prospectus, and published refund schedule must also be examined. CHED Manual of Regulations for Private Higher Education

Different rules apply to private elementary and secondary schools. Public universities, local universities, state colleges, and specialized institutions may be governed by their charters and duly adopted policies rather than the private-school default.

Start by identifying which rules govern the school

Private colleges and universities

CHED Memorandum Order No. 40, series of 2008, or the Manual of Regulations for Private Higher Education, applies to private higher education institutions operating under CHED authority.

Under Section 100, unless the institution has a different applicable policy, a student who withdraws or transfers in writing within two weeks from the beginning of classes and has paid tuition and other school fees in full or for more than one month may be charged:

Date the written withdrawal is made	Default maximum charge
During the first week of classes	25% of the total amount due for the school term
During the second week of classes	50% of the total amount due for the school term
After the second week	All school fees for the term may be charged

Actual class attendance does not change these default percentages. The important dates are the official beginning of classes and the school’s receipt of the written withdrawal.

These percentages describe what the school may charge, not necessarily the cash refund itself. The refund is generally the amount already paid minus the lawful charge and any properly applicable adjustments. If the student paid less than the amount chargeable, the school may instead claim a remaining balance.

Because Section 100 recognizes institutional policies, students should not assume that the 25%-and-50% schedule automatically overrides every published school rule. Obtain the exact policy that formed part of the enrollment transaction and ask the school to identify the legal and contractual basis for its computation.

Private elementary and secondary schools

Private basic-education schools are supervised by DepEd under the 2010 Revised Manual of Regulations for Private Schools in Basic Education, adopted through DepEd Order No. 88, series of 2010.

The basic-education refund rule traditionally allows a school to charge 10% of the total amount due for the term when written withdrawal occurs during the first week of classes and 20% during the second week. After the second week, the school may generally charge the full amount. The rule also recognizes an exception where transfer or withdrawal is for a justifiable reason, in which case the pertinent charges may be limited through the last month of attendance.

Whether a reason is “justifiable” depends on the evidence and circumstances. Serious illness, relocation, safety concerns, or another substantial event may support a request, but no reason should be presented as automatically qualifying without confirmation from DepEd or a competent authority.

The Supreme Court discussed the earlier regulatory version of this rule in cases including Non v. Dames II and University of San Agustin, Inc. v. Court of Appeals. Those decisions confirm the importance of written withdrawal, its timing, and the justifiable-reason exception. Non v. Dames II, G.R. No. 89317 and University of San Agustin, Inc. v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 100335

State universities, local universities, and other public schools

The private-school refund schedules should not automatically be applied to a state university or college, local university or college, or another public institution. Check:

the institution’s charter;
rules approved by its governing board;
the student handbook and enrollment undertaking;
published tuition and fee policies; and
rules for free-higher-education, scholarship, voucher, or subsidy benefits.

A student may still challenge a computation that conflicts with the institution’s own valid rules or governing law, but the correct reviewing office may differ from CHED’s process for private institutions.

Technical-vocational institutions

For a TESDA-registered technical-vocational program, examine the institution’s registration, scholarship or training agreement, and TESDA rules applicable to the specific program. Do not assume that either the CHED or DepEd percentage schedule governs.

What may amount to a refund-policy violation?

A dispute is stronger when documents show that the school:

applied a policy that was not disclosed until after payment or withdrawal;
used the wrong official start date or treated an inquiry as the withdrawal date despite an earlier completed written filing;
ignored a timely written withdrawal;
charged more than its own published schedule permits;
calculated a percentage using a larger amount than the policy identifies;
retained payment for a class or program that the school cancelled and did not replace as promised;
charged for goods or services that were never provided where its policy or agreement makes the charge refundable;
changed the governing policy retroactively;
refused to provide an itemized computation or relied on an unexplained “no refund” statement inconsistent with the applicable documents;
promised a refund in writing and then failed to process it; or
treated nonattendance as the same thing as formal withdrawal when its own process required written notice, without clearly explaining that requirement at enrollment.

A disagreement alone is not proof of a violation. The school may lawfully retain a substantial part—or, after the applicable period, all—of the term’s charges. A signed enrollment undertaking and a clearly published policy can materially affect the result.

“No classes attended” does not necessarily mean “full refund”

One of the most common misunderstandings is that a student owes nothing if the student never entered a classroom or logged into the learning platform. The CHED default expressly makes the first- and second-week charges applicable regardless of actual attendance.

Similarly, stopping attendance, telling a teacher, leaving a group chat, or failing to log in usually does not complete an official withdrawal. Unless the school accepts another method, use its prescribed withdrawal form and submit an unambiguous written notice to the registrar or other designated office.

Dropping one subject is different from withdrawing from school

Section 100 addresses a student who transfers or withdraws from the institution. Dropping one or several subjects may be governed by a separate add/drop schedule, academic calendar, or handbook provision.

Before demanding a particular percentage, determine whether the transaction was:

cancellation before classes;
withdrawal of enrollment;
transfer to another school;
leave of absence;
dropping one subject;
reduction of units;
dismissal or exclusion;
cancellation of a class by the school; or
closure or discontinuance of a program.

Each may carry a different financial consequence.

Tuition, miscellaneous fees, and third-party charges may be treated differently

Do not rely only on the account’s total balance. Request an itemized statement separating:

tuition;
laboratory and technology fees;
identification, registration, and admission charges;
books, uniforms, kits, or devices already delivered;
dormitory, meal, transport, or insurance charges;
examination and graduation fees;
deposits;
penalties; and
third-party payment-processing charges.

Whether a particular item is refundable depends on the governing rule, the school’s disclosed policy, and whether the corresponding item or service was actually supplied. A label such as “miscellaneous” or “non-refundable” is relevant but does not, by itself, answer every dispute. Ask what the fee covered and where the non-refundability condition was disclosed and accepted.

What students and parents should do

1. Submit a clear written withdrawal immediately

Address the notice to the registrar or office named in the handbook. State:

the student’s complete name and student number;
program, grade level, or year level;
school term;
effective date of withdrawal;
reason, if relevant;
subjects covered;
request for an itemized refund computation; and
preferred contact details.

Ask for a stamped receiving copy. For online submission, keep the sent email, attachments, automated acknowledgment, portal confirmation, and delivery details.

Do not delay while waiting for an informal meeting. The applicable percentage can change once the first or second week ends.

2. Obtain the policy that applied on enrollment day

Request copies of:

the enrollment agreement or undertaking;
student or parent handbook;
refund and withdrawal policy;
official academic calendar;
assessment and statement of account;
official receipts;
registration form;
relevant website or portal notices; and
any later amendment relied upon by the school.

A current website page may differ from the policy in force when payment was made. Preserve dated screenshots or archived copies if possible.

3. Recalculate the account

Identify the total amount the policy uses as its base. Then compare:

the amount the school may lawfully charge;
payments and subsidies actually credited;
goods or services already supplied;
authorized deductions; and
the resulting refund or unpaid balance.

Ask the accounting office to explain every deduction in writing. Avoid treating the applicable charge percentage as the refund percentage.

4. Send a written demand for correction

If the figures remain wrong, send the school head, president, registrar, or finance office a concise demand containing:

a chronology with exact dates;
the rule and school policy relied upon;
the school’s calculation;
the student’s proposed calculation;
copies of supporting records;
the exact correction or amount requested; and
a reasonable response date.

There is no single national processing deadline in the general CHED refund provision. Check the school’s policy for a stated turnaround time. A demand deadline created by the student does not automatically become a statutory deadline, but it helps document delay and gives the school a fair opportunity to respond.

5. Use the school’s internal appeal process

Escalate through the registrar, accounting office, dean or principal, grievance committee, and school president or administrator as applicable. Keep every decision and appeal acknowledgment.

Internal escalation is useful even when the student plans to complain to a regulator because it narrows the disputed facts and creates a written record.

6. Bring the matter to the proper education authority

For a private college or university, contact the CHED Regional Office that supervises the institution. Attach the policy, written withdrawal, proof of receipt, assessment, official receipts, the school’s computation, correspondence, and requested remedy. CHED publishes its Regional Offices directory and lists a Public Assistance and Complaints Desk.

For a private elementary or secondary school, begin with the Schools Division Office or DepEd Regional Office having jurisdiction over the school. Ask for the unit handling private-school regulation or public assistance. DepEd’s authority over public and private basic-education institutions is established by the Governance of Basic Education Act of 2001.

An administrative complaint can seek regulatory review and corrective action. Whether the agency can directly award all requested damages or compel a particular private-law remedy depends on its authority and the nature of the case.

7. Consider a civil money claim when necessary

Enrollment creates contractual obligations. Article 1159 of the Civil Code provides that contractual obligations have the force of law between the parties and must be performed in good faith. Articles 1170 and 22 may also become relevant to a proven breach or retention of money without legal ground. Civil Code of the Philippines

A claim solely for payment or reimbursement not exceeding ₱1,000,000, exclusive of interest and costs, may qualify for the Rule on Small Claims in a first-level court. The claim’s nature, parties, venue, prior barangay-conciliation requirements, and supporting documents must still satisfy the governing rules. Evidence should ordinarily be attached when the claim is filed. Supreme Court Rules on Expedited Procedures in the First Level Courts

Court action should be evaluated carefully where the dispute includes academic relief, injunctions, large consequential losses, disputed contract terms, or claims beyond simple reimbursement.

Evidence worth preserving

Keep original or reliable copies of:

official receipts and electronic payment confirmations;
enrollment forms and signed undertakings;
assessment sheets and statements of account;
handbook pages and refund schedules;
the academic calendar showing the first day of classes;
withdrawal or dropping forms;
stamped receiving copies and portal confirmations;
emails, text messages, and letters;
screenshots showing the policy and date accessed;
notices of class or program cancellation;
proof of any promised refund;
an itemized computation from the school;
scholarship, voucher, or subsidy documents;
proof supporting a justifiable reason, where applicable; and
proof of expenses or other losses actually claimed.

Keep unedited originals. Export complete email threads instead of isolated screenshots, and record the names and positions of school personnel involved.

Common mistakes that weaken a claim

Withdrawing only by phone or verbal conversation.
Counting two weeks from the student’s first attendance instead of the official start of classes.
Assuming that nonattendance cancels enrollment.
Confusing “25% charge” with “25% refund.”
Relying on another school’s policy.
Quoting the basic-education rule in a college dispute, or vice versa.
Ignoring a school-specific policy permitted by the applicable rule.
Demanding refund of every fee without checking whether goods or services were delivered.
Posting accusations online before securing documents and completing the complaint process.
Altering screenshots or omitting messages that do not support the claim.
Waiting until records, portal access, or receipts are difficult to recover.
Treating an administrative complaint as a guaranteed substitute for a civil money claim.

When legal help is urgent

Consult a Philippine lawyer promptly when:

the school threatens collection, litigation, or adverse credit action;
a large unpaid balance continues to accrue;
credentials are being withheld and an enrollment or employment deadline is near;
the school closed, lost authority to operate, or cancelled the student’s program;
many students appear affected by the same practice;
the disputed amount is substantial;
the documents contain an arbitration, waiver, or unusual penalty clause;
the student seeks damages beyond the refund itself;
prescription or another filing deadline may be approaching; or
the case involves fraud, falsified records, harassment, discrimination, or retaliation.

A lawyer should review the complete enrollment documents before giving a definitive opinion. Liability for damages, attorney’s fees, interest, or bad faith is not automatic merely because a refund was delayed or disputed.

Frequently asked questions

Can a school enforce a “no refund” policy?

Possibly, but not merely because the phrase appears on a receipt. Its validity and application depend on the type of school, the governing regulation, the complete enrollment agreement, when and how the term was disclosed, and the circumstances of withdrawal or cancellation. Ask the school to identify the precise policy and legal basis.

Am I entitled to 75% back if I leave college during the first week?

Under the CHED default, the school may charge 25% of the total amount due for the term, which may produce a 75% refund if the entire amount was already paid. But the exact result depends on the institution’s applicable policy, the amount paid, and lawful adjustments.

What if I withdraw during the second week?

The CHED default permits a private higher education institution to charge 50% of the total amount due for the term. The private-basic-education rule is different, so first confirm the institution’s classification and governing policy.

What if I withdraw after the second week?

The applicable rules may permit the school to charge all fees for the term. A refund could still be due under a more favorable school policy, because the school cancelled or failed to provide the program, or because another specific rule or contractual term applies.

Does illness guarantee a refund?

No. Medical circumstances can be important, particularly under a rule or policy recognizing justifiable reasons, but entitlement depends on the governing provision and supporting evidence. Submit medical records only through appropriate, secure channels and limit disclosure to what is reasonably necessary.

Is an email enough as written withdrawal?

It may be if the school accepts email or the message reaches the authorized office, but follow the prescribed process whenever possible. A message to a teacher or unofficial account may be disputed. Obtain acknowledgment from the registrar or designated office.

Can the school still demand payment if I used an installment plan?

Yes. A refund rule governs the amount chargeable, not only money already paid. If the lawful charge exceeds the installments paid, the student may still owe a balance.

Can CHED or DepEd award damages?

Their primary role is regulatory and administrative. They may investigate compliance and order action within their authority, but a claim for contractual damages or recovery beyond the agency’s powers may require court proceedings.

Should I complain to DTI?

Education complaints are generally best directed first to the regulator with specific authority over the school—CHED, DepEd, or TESDA—and to the school’s own grievance process. DTI may refer a complaint outside its jurisdiction. The proper forum depends on the institution and the relief requested.

Can the school withhold records because of a disputed balance?

For private higher education, the CHED Manual allows transfer credentials to be withheld for outstanding financial or property obligations, while CHED may order release when an institution unjustifiably refuses after due inquiry. This makes a prompt written challenge to an incorrect balance especially important.

Official references

This article provides general legal information, not legal advice or a prediction of any case’s outcome. School classification, enrollment documents, payment history, and exact dates can change the result. Primary legal and official procedural sources were checked as of September 5, 2026.