Beyond the Books: The Real Cost of Tertiary Education in Ghana

By Jasmine

Legon, Ghana — Under a corrugated-roof hostel near the University of Ghana, 22-year-old Maame Esi carefully scoops rice into containers for lunch orders. It’s 6:30 a.m., and her day as a food vendor is just beginning — well before lectures start at 10 a.m.

“I have to hustle to stay in school,” she says. “My fees are paid, but there’s no money for anything else.”

Maame is one of tens of thousands of Ghanaian university students navigating a complex web of tuition, housing, feeding, and social pressures. While headlines often focus on admission numbers and academic rankings, the untold story is what it really costs to survive and succeed at university.

A Price Tag That Keeps Climbing

Ghana’s public universities have historically been seen as the more affordable option. But with annual tuition ranging between ₵1,500 to ₵6,000 depending on program and institution, affordability is fast becoming a myth.

“Add accommodation, books, meals, and transport, and you’re looking at ₵10,000 or more per year,” says Dr. Kofi Addo, an education policy analyst. “It’s out of reach for many families.”

Private universities, while more flexible, can cost up to ₵15,000 annually — excluding extra fees.

Breaking Down the Costs

Here’s a typical semester cost estimate for a student at a public university in Accra:

Tuition & academic fees: ₵2,200
Hostel fees: ₵1,800
Feeding: ₵1,000
Books and supplies: ₵400
Transportation: ₵300
Internet and data: ₵200
Total (per semester): ₵5,900

For a household earning ₵2,000/month or less — the reality for many Ghanaians — that figure is staggering.

The Burden on Families

Many students are sponsored by a patchwork of sources: parents, aunties, church scholarships, susu groups, or money transfers from relatives abroad.

“My uncle in Italy helps me when he can,” says Yaw, a sociology major. “But he has his own problems too. I can’t keep asking.”

Some students resort to crowdfunding or seeking support from NGOs. Others pause school to work — or drop out entirely.

Hostels: Another Battlefield

On-campus accommodation is scarce and highly competitive. Those who miss out must turn to private hostels, where costs are higher and landlords often demand payment in full upfront.

“Last semester, I couldn’t pay my hostel rent in time,” says Maame. “I had to sleep on a friend’s mattress for three weeks. It was humiliating.”

Side Hustles to Stay Afloat

Part-time gigs have become a lifeline. From baking and hair braiding to delivery jobs and freelance writing, students are monetizing every possible skill.

“Weekdays I attend class. Weekends I do photography,” says Kwame, a political science student. “It’s the only way to afford data and food.”

But balancing work and academics is exhausting — and often affects performance.

Mental Health Struggles

The financial pressure is fueling anxiety, burnout, and depression on campuses.

“We’re seeing more students break down emotionally,” says Dr. Linda Tetteh, a campus psychologist. “They smile in public but are overwhelmed inside.”

Many students say they can’t afford therapy or medication. Some universities offer free counselling services — but stigma remains a barrier.

Government Support: Inadequate?

The Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) and the Students Loan Trust Fund (SLTF) offer financial support — but many students report delays, difficult application processes, and insufficient amounts.

“I applied for the student loan last year,” says Serwaa, a second-year economics student. “I got it after the semester had ended. It didn’t help me when I needed it most.”

Critics argue that until education financing is modernized and depoliticized, these schemes will remain patchy at best.

Campus Politics and Inequality

A growing divide exists between students who are well-resourced and those who are not.

“You can tell by who eats at the mall and who eats gari,” says Kwame. “We’re not the same, even if our grades are.”

Some students express frustration over perceived favoritism in campus elections, scholarships, and leadership appointments.

Hope Through Resilience

Despite these challenges, students continue to adapt — driven by dreams of a better future.

“I came from a village school,” says Maame. “Everyone said I couldn’t make it. But I’m here. I won’t quit.”

Alumni networks, church fellowships, and mutual aid groups are helping students stay afloat and stay inspired.

What Needs to Change?

Experts recommend:

Reforming loan and scholarship disbursement to be timely and transparent
Expanding on-campus accommodation at subsidized rates
Introducing meal plans and feeding stipends for low-income students
Mental health support integrated into all public universities
Digitized financial aid portals to reduce paperwork and corruption

“Education is a right, not a luxury,” says Dr. Addo. “If we don’t ease the burden, we’ll lose brilliant minds to poverty.”

Final Thought

For every Ghanaian graduate who walks across a convocation stage in cap and gown, there are untold sacrifices behind the scenes: food skipped, jobs juggled, rent owed.

The cost of tertiary education in Ghana is not just financial — it’s emotional, physical, and deeply personal.

But in the face of adversity, the students keep showing up — to class, to campus, to hope.