It is important for guardians to understand the costs associated with educating a child, andtoplan accordingly for that child’s future. Education costs in Japan are relatively fixed, allowing parents and guardians to plan financially and save money ahead of time.

 

Main Education Related Expenses

・Tuition

・School lunch fees, PTA membership fees, school field trip fund contribution

・School uniforms, transportation costs

・School supplies and textbook costs

・Cram school tuition, private tutor fees, etc.

 

Cost of education in Japan

（According to data collected by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Technology in 2010, rounded to the nearest 1000 yen）

	Public School	Private School
Kindergarten（3 years）	700,000 yen（approx. 233,000 yen per year on average）	1,610,000 yen（approx 537,000 yen per year on average）
Elementary School（6 years）	1,820,000 yen（approx. 303,000 yen per year on average）	8,790,000 yen（approx. 1,465,000 yen per year on average）
Junior High School（3 years）	1,380,000 yen（approx. 460,000 yen per year on average）	3,840,000 yen（approx. 1,280,000 yen per year on average）
Senior High School（3 years）	1,180,000 yen（approx. 393,000 yen per year on average）	2,770,000 yen（approx. 923,000 yen per year on average）
Total	5,080,000 yen	17,010,000 yen

 

The data shows that sending a child to a public kindergarten costs approximately 233,000 yen. Attending a public elementary school costs 303,000 yen. Average tuition costs for junior and senior high school are 460,000 yen and 390,000 yen respectively. This means that the cost of educating a child through high school is more than 5,000,000 yen.

In addition to tuition, parents may need to shoulder costs for school uniforms, art supplies, musical instruments and sports equipment.

 

University Tuition

	Tuition	Entrance Fee	Facility Maintenance Fees	Comprehensive cost for the 1st year of university
Private University	858,265 yen	268,924 yen	188,477 yen	≈1,320,000 yen
Private Vocational School	694,225 yen	251,386 yen	185,399 yen	≈1,130,000 yen
Public (National) University	535,800 yen	282,000 yen	none	≈820,000 yen

 

The amounts shown in this chart represent the cost of the first year of university (based on data collected by MEXT from 2010). Looking at the chart, we can see that the first year of university education at a public university will cost approximately 820,000 yen. This estimate does not include the cost of transportation or textbooks and materials that the student will need to purchase.

At many universities, students must pay tuition in two installments (half of the total cost per installment for each 6 month period).

It is important for all families to calculate the cost of a senior high school and/or university education and make preparations beforehand.

 

How can you plan for education related costs?

Firstly, saving money is crucial

・Families should start saving as soon as possible.

・It is easier to save money when a child is very young. Families will need to save approximately 2,000,000~4,000,000 yen in order to pay for a child’s education through the second year of senior high school.

Examples of saving

・10,000 yen per month x 12 months x 17 years = 2,040,000 yen

・15,000 yen per month x 12 months x 17 years= 3,060,000 yen

One effective method of saving is to arrange to have child allowance benefits deposited into a bank account that is separate from the account that you use for other expenses.

You can also plan as a family by reducing unnessary or wasteful spending. It is also wise to set aside your savings for the month as soon as you receive your salary, and use the remaining amount for other expenses.

If you cannot secure the funds necessary to pay for your child’s senior high school or university education, you may want to consider applying for scholarship loans or education loans.

Scholarship loans are for students with exceptional academic performance who cannot secure funds necessary to continue their education. These loans must be repaid after the student graduates.

Those interested in applying for scholarship loans should consult with a teacher at the student’s school and enlist their help in beginning the application process, which involves confirmation of the family’s finances.

There are many systems available that provide university students with financial aid. Students generally use the Japan Student Services Organization, which assists about 30% of college students nationwide. Students can apply via their academic institutions.

Municipalities, prefectures and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Technology have their own scholarship programs. For more information, please consult with a teacher at your child’s school or your local board of education.

It is ideal to have a detailed plan for how you will pay for your child’s education drawn up ahead of time. If you begin saving from the time your child is young, you can ensure that he/she can follow their dreams.

The information in this video is based on information presented in Suzuka City at the information session titled “Let Us Plan for Our Child’s Future!” sponsored by the Mie Prefectural Government and organized by the Mie International Exchange Foundation.