Private university fees in Saudi Arabia, compared from official sources

Which private university in Saudi Arabia is the cheapest?

The order runs from the lowest full-time semester to the highest. Alfaisal University is 60% above DAU. Universities that price each programme separately sit at the bottom.

How much are Dar Al Uloom University fees?

From the DAU table¹: bachelor's SR 2,450 per credit hour, bachelor's admission fee SR 3,000 once and master's SR 4,950 per credit hour. At SR 2,450 an hour, the smallest semester DAU charges for (12 hours) is SR 29,400, and the usual maximum of 20 hours comes to SR 49,000.

Watch for this at DAU: undergraduates register at least 12 credit hours a semester and up to 20, with 24 possible.

How much are Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University fees?

From the PMU table²: architecture and Design SR 32,500 a semester, business Administration and Law SR 30,000 a semester, preparatory programme SR 30,000 a semester and business Administration and Law SR 2,500 per credit hour. At SR 32,500 a semester, a two-semester year at PMU costs SR 65,000 and eight regular semesters SR 260,000, before summer terms and books.

How much are Prince Sultan University fees?

From the PSU table³: bachelor's SR 3,000 per credit hour, bachelor's SR 2,200 per credit hour, summer SR 3,400 per credit hour and master's and doctoral SR 5,000 per credit hour. At SR 3,000 an hour, the smallest semester PSU charges for (12 hours) is SR 36,000.

Watch for this at PSU: the minimum charge each semester is 12 credit hours, even with fewer registered.

How much are Al Yamamah University fees?

From the Al Yamamah University table⁴: academic programme SR 37,000 a semester, preparatory programme SR 32,000 a semester, admission fee SR 3,000 once and english placement test SR 500 once. At SR 37,000 a semester, a two-semester year at Al Yamamah University costs SR 74,000 and eight regular semesters SR 296,000, before summer terms and books.

Watch for this at Al Yamamah University: the university lists sibling discounts and discounts for its alumni and partner-school graduates.

How much are Riyadh Elm University fees?

From the REU table⁵: dental medicine and surgery SR 45,000 a semester, medicine and surgery SR 40,000 a semester, doctor of Pharmacy SR 35,000 a semester and nursing SR 30,000 a semester. At SR 45,000 a semester, a two-semester year at REU costs SR 90,000 and eight regular semesters SR 360,000, before summer terms and books.

How much are Sulaiman Alrajhi University fees?

From the Sulaiman Alrajhi University table⁶: medical foundation year SR 35,000 a semester, medicine and surgery SR 45,000 a semester, nursing SR 30,000 a semester and midwifery SR 30,000 a semester. At SR 45,000 a semester, a two-semester year at Sulaiman Alrajhi University costs SR 90,000 and eight regular semesters SR 360,000, before summer terms and books.

How much are AlMaarefa University fees?

From the AlMaarefa University table⁷: admission fee SR 3,000 once, medicine and Surgery SR 92,000 a year, medicine and Surgery SR 46,000 a semester and medicine and Surgery SR 2,550 per credit hour. At SR 46,000 a semester, a two-semester year at AlMaarefa University costs SR 92,000 and eight regular semesters SR 368,000, before summer terms and books.

Watch for this at AlMaarefa University: pharmacy, nursing, respiratory care, emergency medical services and anesthesia technology charge a fee for the internship year equal to one study year; the computing, engineering, business and health information systems programmes have no internship year.

How much are Alfaisal University fees?

From the Alfaisal University table⁸: bachelor's programmes SR 47,000 a semester, bachelor's programmes SR 94,000 a year, preparatory programme SR 30,000 a semester and credit hour when registering 11 hours or fewer SR 3,917 per credit hour. At SR 47,000 a semester, a two-semester year at Alfaisal University costs SR 94,000 and eight regular semesters SR 376,000, before summer terms and books.

Watch for this at Alfaisal University: fees exclude 15% VAT where VAT applies.

How much are Arab Open University fees?

From the AOU table⁹: general education courses SR 229 per credit hour, specialisation courses SR 312 per credit hour, hard-of-hearing students (Executive Secretarial) SR 435 per credit hour and admission fee SR 444 once.

How much are Dar Al-Hekma University fees?

From the Dar Al-Hekma University table¹⁰: bachelor of Banking SR 2,700 per credit hour, bachelor of Banking SR 351,000 for the whole degree, bachelor of Law SR 367,200 for the whole degree and bachelor of Marketing SR 334,800 for the whole degree. The dearest programme in the table is Bachelor of Law at SR 367,200 and the cheapest is Bachelor of Marketing at SR 334,800, a 10% gap. For example, Bachelor of Law runs 136 credit hours, about SR 2,700 an hour.

Watch for this at Dar Al-Hekma University: the fee table lists a lower educational-support rate and a 40% DAH scholarship rate next to the regular fee; non-Saudi students add 15% VAT.

How much are Effat University fees?

From the Effat University table¹¹: per credit hour: English and Translation SR 2,100 per credit hour, per credit hour: College of Business (VAT not included) SR 2,150 per credit hour, per credit hour: Engineering SR 2,580 per credit hour and english language academy SR 1,200 per credit hour. The dearest programme in the table is Estimated total for the most expensive bachelor at SR 442,040 and the cheapest is Estimated total for the cheapest bachelor at SR 288,100, a 53% gap.

Watch for this at Effat University: the averages assume 32 academic hours a year and include estimated mandatory fees; the amount actually due depends on registered hours and the semester fee structure.

How much are Saudi Electronic University fees?

From the SEU table¹²: bachelor's credit hour in a regular semester SR 265 per credit hour.

Watch for this at SEU: vAT on tuition is 0% for Saudi students, because the state carries it on education services for citizens, and 15% for non-Saudi students.

How much are University of Business and Technology fees?

From the UBT table¹³: business administration SR 1,760 per credit hour, business administration SR 226,600 for the whole degree, advertising SR 1,700 per credit hour and advertising SR 220,240 for the whole degree. The dearest programme in the table is Architectural engineering at SR 339,255 and the cheapest is Advertising at SR 220,240, a 54% gap.

How much are Mustaqbal University fees?

From the Mustaqbal University table¹⁴: college of Administrative and Human Sciences majors SR 840 per credit hour, college of Engineering and Computer Science majors SR 985 per credit hour, dentistry and Oral Surgery SR 45,000 a year and admission application fee SR 500 once.

How much are University of Prince Mugrin fees?

From the UPM table¹⁵: preparatory year and general studies SR 2,300 per credit hour, international Hospitality Management SR 3,200 per credit hour, cyber Security & Forensic Computing SR 313,600 for the whole degree and artificial Intelligence SR 312,400 for the whole degree. The dearest programme in the table is Civil Engineering at SR 323,200 and the cheapest is Business Management at SR 292,400, a 11% gap. For example, Civil Engineering runs 137 credit hours, about SR 2,359 an hour.

Watch for this at UPM: non-Saudi students pay 15% VAT on top.

Which private universities and colleges does the Ministry of Education list?

This is the full list as the Ministry of Education publishes it¹⁶: 40 universities and colleges. Linked names have a tiswa page.

What mistakes do families make comparing private university fees?

• Comparing an hourly rate with a semester fee: DAU, PSU, AOU, Dar Al-Hekma University, Effat University, SEU, UBT, Mustaqbal University and UPM price by the hour.
• Leaving out admission and preparatory-year fees, which several tables list as separate lines.
• Forgetting the 15% VAT that some universities add for non-Saudi students.

For one major, open the cybersecurity major guide or the law major guide, and for living costs read the university housing guide.