Paying for university in Liberia without a public student loan
Liberia has no national student loan fund comparable to Ghana's: higher education is paid for by families, public or foreign scholarships, part-time work and sometimes a bank loan taken out by a salaried parent.
No public student loan in Liberia
No Liberian body lends directly to students on the model of a national fund repaid after graduation. Banks licensed by the Central Bank of Liberia do not finance a student who has neither income nor a salaried guarantor either.
The University of Liberia and its campuses
The main public university, the University of Liberia, had close to 19,000 students in 2019 across its Capitol Hill campus in Monrovia, Fendall, Sinje in Grand Cape Mount and its medical campus in Congo Town.
Tuition-free public universities, in principle
In 2018, the government announced the abolition of undergraduate tuition fees at public universities and colleges. Students must nonetheless still pay certain administrative fees, plus housing, transport, supplies and a computer, which together weigh heavily on family budgets.
Private and faith-based universities
Cuttington University in Suakoko, Bong County, United Methodist University and AME University in Monrovia charge fees each semester, often in US dollars. Families pay in several instalments when the institution allows it.
Liberian government scholarships
Each year the government awards national scholarships and relays scholarships offered by partner countries for study abroad. Criteria and timetables vary, and applications must go through the official channels of the Ministry of Education.
Scholarships from companies and NGOs
Some mining concessions, plantations and international organisations fund scholarships in technical trades, health or agriculture. These sometimes come with a commitment to work in the county or for the company after graduation.
A bank loan in the salaried parent's name
The most common solution remains a personal loan granted to a parent whose salary is paid into the bank. The personal loan in Liberia guide details the conditions Monrovia banks set for this kind of family need.
From WASSCE to a Liberian university
Families already paying for private secondary school in stages know these mechanisms well. The school loan in Liberia guide covers primary and secondary fees, including fees for the WASSCE exam organised by WAEC.
Working while studying in Monrovia
Many Liberian students teach in private schools, sell at the market or work in services during their degree. This often lengthens their studies, because enrolment is interrupted whenever fees cannot be paid on time.
Paying university fees via Orange Money or MoMo
Some universities accept payment by bank or mobile money, which lets a parent living in a county or abroad pay directly. Always keep the receipt and check the official merchant number before sending any money.
Studying abroad with diaspora support
Liberian families often rely on relatives in the United States to fund studies abroad. No local bank offers a specific loan for these plans, which are paid entirely in US dollars or in the host country's currency.
How students in Guinea pay for university
In Guinea, a student loan in Guinea also depends largely on scholarships and family. The comparison shows that across the subregion, Ghana aside, a public student loan is the exception rather than the rule.
Putting together funding for a university year in Liberia
- Obtain the WASSCE, then pass the entrance exam of the chosen public or private university.
- Draw up the full budget: fees, housing, transport, supplies, computer and internet connection.
- Apply for public and private scholarships as soon as official calls open.
- If a loan is needed, have the salaried parent prepare the file at the bank receiving the salary.
- Negotiate payment of fees in instalments with the university and keep every receipt.
A Liberian student's budget
| Item | Situation | What makes it vary |
|---|---|---|
| Public tuition fees | Undergraduate declared free since 2018 | Other fees still charged |
| Private university fees | Per semester, often in USD | Institution and programme |
| Housing in Monrovia | Rent paid in advance | Neighbourhood and room sharing |
| Daily transport | Taxi, kekeh or motorbike | Distance to the Fendall campus |
| Loan to the parent | Bank's rate grid | Salary paid into the bank and term |
Papers for a Liberian scholarship or a parent's loan
- WASSCE results and admission letter
- Student's ID card or birth certificate
- University transcripts for a renewal
- Employment letter and payslips of the borrowing parent
- Official fee invoice issued by the university
Risks when funding studies in Liberia
- Paying an intermediary who promises a government or foreign scholarship in return for processing fees.
- Sending fees to a mobile money number that is not the one officially announced by the university.
- Borrowing in US dollars in the name of a parent paid in LRD without assessing four years of exchange rate risk.
- Overlooking extra fees and having to suspend studies mid-year for lack of money.
Higher education in Liberia: funding your degree
Is there a government-backed student loan in Liberia?
No, as far as we know no national student loan scheme exists in Liberia. Students rely on the announced free tuition in public institutions, scholarships, family and, more rarely, a bank loan taken out by a salaried parent.
Is the University of Liberia really free?
The free tuition announced in 2018 covers undergraduate tuition at public institutions. Other fees remain payable by students, and living costs in Monrovia often make up the largest part of the budget.
Will a Monrovia bank lend to a student?
Rarely, since a student usually has neither a salary paid into the bank nor collateral. A student who already works, such as a teacher or civil servant returning to study, can however get a personal loan on the same terms as any employee.
How do you spot a fake scholarship offer?
A genuine scholarship never requires fees paid to an individual by mobile money. Official calls are published by the Ministry of Education, embassies or universities, and results are announced through those same channels.