Tuition Pricing and Enrollment Dynamics in Higher Education: A Longitudinal Case Analysis

Abstract

The study investigated how tuition fees and student enrollment numbers changed over time at Notre Dame of Midsayap College from the academic year 2010 to 2011 until the academic year 2025 to 2026. The study used a longitudinal case study design grounded in Business Economics principles to examine institutional tuition records and enrollment data, along with national inflation rates, to track changes in tuition rates and student enrollment patterns over time. The study found that tuition rates increased according to a systematic pricing system, maintaining stability over long periods while implementing minor rate changes and instituting tuition freezes during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results further showed that tuition pricing did not consistently align with prevailing inflation rates, suggesting that pricing decisions were influenced by both macroeconomic conditions and institutional sustainability and affordability considerations. The enrollment data indicate continued student interest in business and information technology, healthcare, and service-oriented programs, which may reflect perceptions of employment opportunities in these fields. The observed enrollment shifts appear to be more closely associated with demographic changes and external factors, including K-12 educational reforms, pandemic disruptions, institutional rivalry, and government financial aid programs, than with changes in tuition pricing. The findings indicate that the institution is required to sustain operations that depend on its capacity to set appropriate tuition rates that offer affordable options while developing academic programs aligned with market demand.