University Tuition and Cost of Study in Ghana
By Muntasir • Published Mar 22, 2026 • Updated Sep 20, 2026 • African Countries & Cities
Public university tuition in Ghana runs roughly GHC 2,000-18,000 a year depending on programme, while private universities charge anywhere from GHC 4,000 to over GHC 100,000 a year. Add hostel fees, feeding, and transport, and total cost climbs well beyond the tuition line alone.
💵 KNUST full-year fees: GHC 2,000-18,000+ depending on programme, 2025/26.
🏠 University of Ghana traditional hall fee: GHC 2,250 a year (GHC 1,125 per semester) for continuing local students, GHC 2,500 a year for freshers, 2025/26.
🏠 UGEL hostels at University of Ghana: roughly GHC 4,400-7,000 a year for local undergraduates, 2025/26.
💵 Ashesi University: about GHC 100,869 a year for Ghanaian undergraduates.
Trotro (shared minibus) transport in Accra runs GHC 300-600 a month for a regular commuter.
Public university tuition
| Cost item | Typical range, 2025/26 |
|---|---|
| KNUST tuition and fees, full year | GHC 2,000 - 18,000+ |
| KNUST hall accommodation, per semester | GHC 267 - 2,305 |
| University of Ghana traditional hall, per year (continuing local) | GHC 2,250 (GHC 2,500 freshers) |
| University of Ghana UGEL hostel, per year (local undergraduate) | GHC 4,400 - 9,060 |
| Ashesi University tuition, per year, Ghanaian student | Roughly GHC 100,869 |
| Central University tuition, per year | GHC 3,900 - 9,000 |
Fees at KNUST for the 2025/26 academic year range widely because science, engineering, and health related programmes cost more to run than arts and social science programmes. Other large public universities such as University of Ghana and University of Cape Coast follow a similar spread by programme type.
What tuition does not include
Fee schedules list tuition, but universities separately charge academic facility fees, examination fees, library fees, student representative council dues, medical fees, and ID card charges. KNUST requires students to pay at least 70% of total fees before sitting first-semester examinations, according to its official 2025/26 fee schedule. Budget for these as part of the total bill, not as an afterthought once tuition is paid.
Housing costs
On-campus halls cost less than most off-campus alternatives but fill up fast. At the University of Ghana, a room in a traditional hall such as Legon Hall Main costs GHC 2,250 a year (GHC 1,125 per semester) for continuing local students, and GHC 2,500 a year for freshers, per the 2025/26 residential fee schedule . Fresh students also pay a one-off GHC 100 generator levy and GHC 300 electronic access fee. Overflow hostels run by University of Ghana Enterprises Limited (UGEL) cost more, roughly GHC 4,400-7,000 a year for local undergraduates depending on room type (shared facility at the low end, self-contained at the top), per the 2025/26 UGEL hostel fee schedule , but offer better facilities and higher availability than traditional halls.
Monthly living costs
Beyond fees, day-to-day living adds up. In Accra, street food and local restaurant meals cost roughly GHC 20-50 per plate, and groceries for one person run higher again over a full month. Trotro fares for a short route cost GHC 5-8, medium routes GHC 8-15, and a regular commuter spends roughly GHC 300-600 a month on transport, according to cost of living data comparing Ghana's major cities . Kumasi and other regional cities run substantially cheaper than Accra, with overall living costs around 40% lower.
Budgeting by student type
Public university, living in a hall: tuition, GHC 2,000-8,000 for most non-professional programmes, plus a hall fee of GHC 2,250-4,600 a year, plus feeding and transport.
Public university, living off campus: add rent, which runs cheaper outside Accra and Kumasi city centres but adds a commute cost.
Private university: tuition dominates the budget, from GHC 4,000 a year at smaller colleges to over GHC 100,000 at the most expensive institutions.
Ways to cut costs
Apply for a Students Loan Trust Fund loan or a GETFund scholarship to cover part of tuition and living costs. Cooking in a shared kitchen instead of eating out daily cuts feeding costs. Choosing a technical university or a public university outside Accra brings both tuition and living costs down.