International School Manila Tuition Fees 2026–27: Costs and Admissions

International School Manila tuition for the 2026–27 school year ranges from US$9,720 plus PhP 306,400 (Preschool 3–4) to US$19,660 plus PhP 623,800 (Grades 11–12) a year, according to ISM’s official fee schedule, checked 11 October 2026. Every tuition figure has two parts that are billed together — a US-dollar amount and a Philippine-peso amount — and a new student from Grade 1 also pays a one-time US$4,500 matriculation fee, a one-time US$4,500 facilities enhancement fee and a US$700 application fee. Children moving up from ISM Preschool into Kindergarten pay the two one-time fees too.

If you searched “international school manila tuition fee”, “ISM tuition” or “how much is ISM Manila”, you are probably a family preparing for a posting to Manila and trying to work out what International School Manila really costs in the first year, how the dollar-plus-peso billing works, what is refundable, and how admission and seat confirmation work. This page answers those questions for ISM only, from the school’s own website and fee document, and then compares it fairly with Brent International School Manila, The British School Manila and NIJIN GLOBAL ACADEMY, a different kind of option: an online international school that opens in 2027. For an overview of the whole city, see our guide to international schools in Manila.

The short answer: who ISM suits — and who it doesn’t

• Suits: expatriate families who will live in Metro Manila for a few years and want a large, long-established school. ISM was founded in 1920, calls itself the oldest international school in Manila, and has more than 2,200 students on a 7-hectare campus in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Taguig.
• Suits: students aiming for the IB Diploma or US universities. ISM says it was the first school in Asia to offer the IB Diploma programme (introduced in 1976); students can take the full IB Diploma or individual IB certificates in Grades 11–12, and the school also offers limited Advanced Placement (AP) classes.
• Suits: children who need learning support. ISM publishes three levels of Learning Support, a Speech Language Program and a separate Specialized Learning Support Program (SLSP), each with its own published fee.
• Suits: families who arrive mid-year. ISM runs rolling admissions and prorates tuition by quarter for students who join after a semester begins.
• Harder fit: families whose employer does not pay school fees: a new high school student’s first year is US$27,320–29,360 plus PhP 558,400–623,800 once one-time fees are added.
• Harder fit: families who will not hold a Philippine resident visa. ISM requires the student to live with their parent(s) in the Philippines and to hold a valid temporary or permanent resident visa; tourist visas are not accepted for continued study.
• Harder fit: families who need certainty early. A place is only held once the student is accepted, enrolled and fees are paid, and an inquiry or online application does not reserve a space.

What International School Manila is

International School Manila (ISM) began in 1920 as the American School, set up by a group of American and British parents in Manila, and opened with eight teachers and fifty students. It became International School Manila in 1970 to reflect its growing diversity, and in the same year, the school says, it became the first international school to be accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). After forty years in Bel-Air, Makati, it moved in 2002 to its current purpose-built campus in Bonifacio Global City. Since 1982 ISM has been a member of IASAS, the sports and cultural association it shares with International School Bangkok, International School Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta Intercultural School, Singapore American School and Taipei American School.

The school is organised into an Elementary School (Preschool to Grade 4), a Middle School (Grades 5–8) and a High School (Grades 9–12). It describes its mission as educating expatriate students who are temporarily living in the Philippines with their parents, and it runs an Admissions Priority Policy on that basis. Graduates who meet the requirements receive the ISM High School Diploma; in Grades 11 and 12 students choose between the full IB Diploma and individual IB certificates.

Considering Brent too? See Brent vs ISM compared side by side →

International School Manila tuition and fees (2026–27, official)

These figures come from ISM’s official School Fees page and the SY 2026–27 School Fees and Payment Schedules PDF (dated 29 May 2026), checked 11 October 2026. We have kept the school’s own currency format. “US$X plus PhP Y” means you pay both amounts — they are not two alternative prices. We have not converted the peso portion, because the exchange rate moves and ISM bills each part in its own currency.

One-time fees for new students. The matriculation fee (US$4,500) and the facilities enhancement fee (US$4,500) apply to all students entering Kindergarten — including current ISM Preschool children moving up — and to new students entering Grades 1–12 or the Specialized Learning Support Program. Both are paid in full on acceptance; the matriculation fee is what holds the place. ISM’s fee policy says both can be refunded only if the application or acceptance is cancelled or the child does not enrol. If a student withdraws and later returns, nothing is charged again after a break of up to 12 months, 50% after 12–24 months, and the full fee after more than 24 months. The application fee is US$700 per child for applications submitted on or after 1 August 2026; it is non-refundable, non-transferable and valid for two academic years. New Preschool families also pay a US$1,000 non-refundable reservation fee once a seat is confirmed, which is deducted from tuition.

Programme fees, if applicable (per semester). English as an Additional Language: US$1,625 in Year 1 and US$1,100 in Year 2. Learning Support Services: US$840 (Level 1), US$1,890 (Level 2) or US$2,940 (Level 3). Speech Language Program: US$575, US$1,200 or US$1,400 by level. An educational assistant costs US$4,600 per semester full-time or US$2,300 part-time. One-off evaluations are listed at US$1,300 (full psycho-educational evaluation), US$700 (re-evaluation) and US$250 (speech-language evaluation). Musical instrument rental is US$160 per instrument.

How payment works. Tuition can be paid for the whole year or by semester; quarterly payment can be arranged for an extra US$100 per quarter. ISM asks families to pay the dollar portion in US dollars and the peso portion in pesos; payments in another currency are converted at the school’s rate, which includes a mark-up for conversion costs. All other fees must be paid in full on the due date, and unpaid balances attract a 2.5% surcharge per month. Students joining after a semester starts pay full, two-thirds, one-half or one-third of the semester’s tuition depending on the quarter they arrive, and refunds on withdrawal are calculated by whole quarter.

Not included. Bus and canteen fees are arranged directly with third-party providers; ISM publishes its 2026–27 bus zones and a separate bus rates sheet. Uniforms are bought from the on-campus Uniform Shop, which publishes a price list. IB exam fees, a sibling discount and a general needs-based bursary for expatriate families are not published on the official fee pages we checked. ISM’s scholarships are for Filipino citizens entering Grade 7 or 8 (applications for 2027–28 close at 4pm on 27 November 2026).

What the first year really costs (official 2026–27 figures). A new student entering Grade 2: US$15,160 + US$4,500 + US$4,500 + US$700 = US$24,860 plus PhP 479,600. A new student entering Grade 11: US$19,660 + US$4,500 + US$4,500 + US$700 = US$29,360 plus PhP 623,800. Two children starting together in Grade 3 and Grade 6: tuition US$15,160 + US$16,520 = US$31,680, plus 2 × US$9,700 in one-time fees = US$51,080 plus PhP 1,004,200. And one child from Grade 9 to Grade 12 at today’s rates: US$17,620 × 2 + US$19,660 × 2 + US$9,700 = US$84,260 plus PhP 2,364,400 over four years, before EAL, buses, uniforms or IB exams. ISM revises fees each year, so treat the four-year total as a floor, not a quote.

How a school day works: schedule, campus life and time zones

ISM is a full-time, in-person day school. According to its class schedules page, Kindergarten to Grade 4 runs from 7:30am to 2:15pm, and Middle and High School from 7:30am to 3:00pm. Every Wednesday starts later, at 8:30am. Middle School has a compulsory tutorial from 2:35pm to 3:00pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Preschool 3 and 4 is a morning programme, 7:30am to 12:30pm. Elementary School runs on a seven-day timetable cycle.

The 2026–27 calendar starts on 6 August 2026 and ends on 4 June 2027. The first semester covers the first and second quarters (6 August–9 October and 12 October–11 December); the second covers the third and fourth (4 January–12 March and 15 March–4 June). After school, the co-curricular programme includes athletics, fine and performing arts, a swim club and IASAS competitions with five other large schools in the region.

Time zones. Manila is on UTC+8, the same as Singapore, Hong Kong and Perth. For families arriving from the United States, the UK or Europe, this matters if your child is keeping up with an online course from home, because live sessions on US or UK time will fall in the Manila night. For a picture of how online international schools structure the day instead, see a day at an online international school.

Accreditation, diploma and university recognition

ISM’s accreditation page says the school is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACS WASC) and by the International Baccalaureate. The page quotes the March 2023 mid-cycle report, which reaffirmed accreditation for ISM (PK–12) through the end of the cycle on 30 June 2025. A newer ACS WASC decision was not published on the pages we checked, so if accreditation status matters for your employer or a future school, ask ISM for its current ACS WASC term or check the ACS WASC directory.

Graduates earn the ISM High School Diploma, which the school describes as a recognised qualification for universities worldwide. In Grades 11 and 12, students can work towards the full IB Diploma, which is recognised as a university entrance qualification in most countries, or take selected IB courses for certificates; IB students sit external exams at the end of each course. ISM also offers limited AP classes, and students can register for some self-taught AP exams such as AP Calculus AB and BC — useful for families who expect to return to US universities. High school credit requires at least 80% attendance, and ISM advises high school transfers to join at the start of a semester unless they come from a very similar programme.

International School Manila vs NIJIN GLOBAL ACADEMY vs two other options (official data)

Below, ISM is compared with two Manila schools that relocating families often consider alongside it — Brent International School Manila, an IB school in Biñan, Laguna, south of the city, and The British School Manila (BSM) in BGC — and with NIJIN GLOBAL ACADEMY (NGA). NGA is a different kind of option, not a replacement for a campus school in Manila: it is online, has not opened yet, and has no accreditation or graduates.

Sources: ISM School Fees SY 2026–27, ISM admissions process, ISM accreditation, Brent International School Manila School Fees 2026–2027 (dated 4 March 2026), The British School Manila admissions, NGA’s curriculum and timetable page — checked 11 October 2026. Manila tuition is billed in US dollars plus Philippine pesos; neither school’s peso portion has been converted.

Reviews and common concerns, answered honestly

Families who write about ISM tend to praise its campus, its diversity, its IB results and its range of activities, and to raise questions about cost, the two-currency billing and getting a place at the right time. Below are the recurring themes and where ISM addresses them on its own site.

“Why is ISM priced in dollars and pesos?”

ISM bills every tuition line in two parts and asks families to pay each part in its own currency to avoid conversion costs. If you pay the whole bill in one currency, the school converts it at its own rate, which includes a mark-up. In practice, the peso share means your total cost in dollars, pounds or euros moves with the exchange rate, so budget with a margin and check what currency your employer reimburses in.

“Why is the first year so much more expensive?”

Because of the two one-time fees: US$4,500 matriculation and US$4,500 facilities enhancement, plus the US$700 application fee. Together they add US$9,700 to year one for a new student from Grade 1 up. Families with children in ISM Preschool should note that they pay the two one-time fees when the child moves up into Kindergarten.

“Is there a waitlist or wait pool?”

ISM does not publish a waitlist or “wait pool” procedure on the admissions pages we checked. What it does say is that it admits children when there is space in the grade, that an inquiry or application does not reserve a space, and that once a place is offered the student must be enrolled and tuition paid to hold it. Applications open up to nine months before the school year. If your target grade is full, ask the admissions office directly how they handle it. (The “wait pool” fee that families often mention in Manila appears on Brent’s fee schedule, not ISM’s.)

“Can a child who is still learning English get in?”

Partly. ISM’s EAL programme serves Grades 1–10 with specialist teachers working alongside classroom teachers, and it is charged at US$1,625 per semester in the first year and US$1,100 in the second. But students are expected to meet the school’s minimum language competency requirements for their grade, and entrance testing includes English. Older students who need intensive English support should ask early, because EAL is not listed for Grades 11–12.

“What if we move mid-year?”

ISM’s rolling admissions allow students to start during the year if there is space, and tuition is prorated by quarter. The school recommends joining within the first 15 days of a semester and not in its last month, and advises high school students to start at the beginning of a semester so they can earn credits.

Alternatives to International School Manila worth comparing

Brent International School Manila — a Nursery to Grade 12 college-preparatory school in Biñan, Laguna, with the IB Diploma Programme. The dollar portion of its published 2026–27 tuition is roughly half of ISM’s and its peso portion is lower too, though it adds a yearly capital development fee, and its location suits families living in the southern part of Metro Manila. Its fee schedule says the board rarely grants discounts.

The British School Manila — a British-curriculum school in BGC, close to ISM, with the IB Diploma listed on its website. It suits families who may move back to the UK or want an English-style school structure. We could not find its 2026–27 fee schedule on the official pages we checked, so ask the school directly.

NIJIN GLOBAL ACADEMY (NGA) — an online international school for ages 6–18 focused on Asia and Oceania, opening in September 2027 (planned), with a first cohort of 100 students. Classes are small live dialogue groups of about 8, subjects are learned in English with a bilingual (English–Japanese) mentor, and English is taught by CEFR level. There is no academic entrance exam and no English requirement, and NGA can run alongside a local school or as the main school, and travels with the family if they move again. Tuition is not yet published; NGA says it will be far more affordable than a typical international school, with no enrolment, facility or uniform fees, materials included and sibling discounts. Its timetable is built for Asia–Oceania daytime, which fits Manila. The honest limitations: it is not yet open, not yet accredited, has no graduates and no campus in Manila. Free trial classes run monthly from September 2026. It is operated by NIJIN Inc. in Japan, whose alternative school NIJIN Academy has more than 1,000 students.

If you are comparing postings across the region, our reviews of UWCSEA fees and tuition and Tanglin Trust School fees cover two Singapore schools in the same price range. For online options, our overview of online international schools compared covers the main names, and our guide to online vs in-person international school costs explains where the money goes in each model.

See how NGA admissions work →

Families in Shanghai can compare a large American-curriculum option in our Shanghai American School tuition review (official 2026–27 fees in RMB with an approximate USD conversion).

FAQ

How much is International School Manila tuition per year?

For 2026–27, ISM tuition is US$9,720 plus PhP 306,400 for Preschool 3–4, US$15,160 plus PhP 479,600 for Kindergarten–Grade 4, US$16,520 plus PhP 524,600 for Grades 5–8, US$17,620 plus PhP 558,400 for Grades 9–10 and US$19,660 plus PhP 623,800 for Grades 11–12. Both the dollar and the peso amount are billed.

What one-time fees does ISM charge new students?

A US$700 application fee per child, a US$4,500 matriculation fee and a US$4,500 facilities enhancement fee, both paid on acceptance. New Preschool students pay a US$1,000 reservation fee that is deducted from tuition.

Is International School Manila accredited?

ISM’s accreditation page lists ACS WASC and the International Baccalaureate. The page quotes a reaffirmation through 30 June 2025; a newer decision was not published on the pages we checked, so confirm the current term with the school.

Can international students enrol at ISM?

Yes — the school’s mission is to educate expatriate students living temporarily in the Philippines, and its student body represents more than 90 nations. Students must live with their parent(s) in the Philippines and hold a valid temporary or permanent resident visa; tourist visas are not accepted for continued study.

What are the alternatives to International School Manila?

Families often compare it with Brent International School Manila (IB, in Biñan, Laguna) and The British School Manila (British curriculum, in BGC). For families in Asia and Oceania who want a small bilingual live-online option, NIJIN GLOBAL ACADEMY opens in September 2027 (planned); it is not yet accredited and its tuition is not yet published.

Choosing calmly before a move to Manila

International School Manila is one of the oldest and best-known international schools in Asia, and its fees reflect a large campus school with the IB Diploma, AP options, wide learning support and a full co-curricular programme. If a Manila posting is ahead of you, the most useful next steps are simple: find out which fees your package pays and in which currency, start the resident visa process early, and apply as soon as the nine-month window opens if you are sure. It also helps to keep one or two other options in view. There is no need to rush — the right school is the one that fits your child and the years you will actually spend in Manila. You can read more about why some families choose an online international school.

Tuition and admissions details were checked on the official websites on 11 October 2026. Schools revise fees every year — always confirm on the official site before applying.

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