Universities in Liberia: Admission, Costs and How to Apply
By Muntasir Minhaz • Published Apr 07, 2026 • African Countries & Cities, Africa Admissions & Exams
Liberia's main public universities, University of Liberia and William V.S. Tubman University, charge no tuition under a government free-tuition policy, but you pay registration and exam fees. Entry runs through WASSCE results plus a university entrance exam.
🎓 Public tuition is free; you pay registration fees of roughly $50-150
📩 The UL Entrance and Placement Exam costs LD$2,500 and runs twice a year
💵 Private universities like Cuttington charge tuition per credit hour
🏠 The National Commission on Higher Education licenses every degree-granting school
Universities in Liberia at a glance
Liberia runs a small but functioning higher-education system built on public universities, private universities, and county community colleges. The University of Liberia in Monrovia is the oldest and largest, followed by William V.S. Tubman University in Harper and a cluster of private institutions led by Cuttington University. Liberia's National Commission on Higher Education (NCHE) , created by an act of the national legislature in 1989, regulates and licenses institutions that grant degrees and sets the standards each must meet.
Whichever university you choose, you apply after finishing secondary school and passing the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), administered by WAEC. Public universities add their own entrance exam on top of your WASSCE results, so plan for two separate steps rather than one.
Public universities
The University of Liberia (UL), founded in 1862, sits in Monrovia and hosts the country's main colleges of science, law, medicine, and agriculture. It stays the first choice for most Liberian students because of its size and the range of programs it offers, spread across its Capitol Hill and Fendall campuses.
William V.S. Tubman University, based in Harper, Maryland County, gives students in the southeast a public option without traveling to the capital. Several county community colleges, including in Nimba and Grand Bassa, offer two-year associate programs that feed into bachelor's programs at the larger universities.
Private universities
Cuttington University in Suakoko, Bong County, founded in 1889, is Liberia's oldest private university and one of the oldest in West Africa. Run under the Episcopal Church, it offers programs across agriculture, business, nursing, and theology alongside the sciences. A handful of smaller private universities and colleges, many run by churches, add options for students who want a smaller campus or a specific religious affiliation.
Admission requirements
To register for the University of Liberia Entrance and Placement Exam , you need a WASSCE, GCE, or Advanced Level certificate showing you finished high school. The exam runs twice a year, between June and August, and registration costs LD$2,500. You submit two passport photos with your registration form.
Once you pass the exam, UL asks for your high school transcript covering grades 10 to 12, a signed and stamped recommendation letter from your school, your diploma and WAEC certificate, and a health certificate from a recognized hospital. Tubman University and the private universities run similar processes, though exact document lists and exam dates vary by school. Check each university's admissions office directly before you apply, since dates get announced only a couple of months ahead.
What it costs to study
Public university tuition in Liberia is free under a long-standing government policy, so your main cost is registration and exam fees rather than tuition itself. Private universities charge tuition, often by credit hour, and international students pay more than Liberian citizens at every institution.
| University | Tuition | Registration and fees |
|---|---|---|
| University of Liberia | Free (public policy) | $75 for Liberian students, $100 for international students, $150 for graduate registration |
| Tubman University | Free (public policy) | $50-60 per semester |
| Cuttington University (graduate programs) | $100 per credit hour for Liberian citizens, $200 per credit hour for foreign students | $300 registration for Liberian citizens, $600 for foreign students, plus a $150 admission exam fee |
Add your own budget for housing, food, books, and transport on top of these figures. Fees change from year to year and Liberia runs a dual-currency economy of Liberian dollars and US dollars, so confirm the current amount and currency directly with the admissions office before you pay anything.
Academic calendar and language
Instruction runs in English across every Liberian university, and most degree programs follow a semester system with a bachelor's degree typically taking about four years to finish. Public university calendars shift more often than private ones because of funding and scheduling issues, so confirm your semester start date with your registrar rather than relying on a previous year's calendar.
How to apply, step by step
Finish secondary school and sit WASSCE through WAEC.
Pick your university and check whether it requires its own entrance exam.
Register for the exam, pay the registration fee, and submit your passport photos.
Gather your transcript, certificate, recommendation letter, and health certificate.
Sit the entrance exam and wait for your placement results.
Complete registration at your assigned college and pay the semester fees.
Choosing between public and private
Choose a public university if cost matters most to you and you're comfortable with larger class sizes and a competitive entrance exam. Choose a private university if you want a smaller campus, a specific program strength such as nursing or theology, or a more predictable registration process. Whichever path you pick, confirm your university's NCHE licensing status and check that the program you want runs that year before you commit to an entrance exam.