Funding

The financing of education in Spain comes from both public funds and contributions from private institutions and citizens. Therefore, the total expenditure on education is defined as the set of funds allocated to education (both public and private) from public and/or private sources.

Bodies responsible for public funding

Organisation of the public financing system

The education funding system in Spain follows the country's decentralised model. The majority of public funds are provided mainly by the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports (MEFD) and regional education authorities, with smaller contributions from other ministries and administrations. 

The state stablishes annually in the General State Budget (PGE) the amounts allocated to education and its distribution by educational stages, managing directly the funds of Ceuta, Melilla and educational institutions abroad. The autonomous communities manage the educational resources in their territories, as defined in their annual budgets and derived from their own revenues and state transfers, allocated according to mainly population-based criteria.

Local administrations, although they do are not educational bodies, cooperate in education policy, specifically in the creation and maintenance of school buildings, financing themselves through their own revenues and state and regional transfers.

The funding of publicly-funded private schools

Educational agreements guarantee the right of families to choose, allowing private schools to receive public funds. This funding must ensure that these  schools are free of charge and is allocated within the budgets of the national and regional governments, which may not set amounts lower than those contained in the General State Budget.

In 2023, public expenditure on private subsidised schools reached  EUR 7 883 million, distributed mainly between pre-primary and primary education (EUR 3 926 million; 49.8%), secondary education and vocational training (EUR 3 481 million; 44.1%) and special education (EUR 391 million; 5.0%). Source: drawned up by Eurydice España - rediE (INEE, MEFD) from Statistics on public expenditure on education 2023. Transfer of fundings from education administrations to private schools by education administration and levels. General Subdirectorate for Statistics and Studies of the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports (last accessed 27/02/2026).

Funding for programmes managed by the MEPD and collaboration in programmes with the autonomous regions

The MEFD develops, territorial cooperation programmes with the autonomous communities to improve educational outcomes, strengthen skills, promote cultural and linguistic diversity and reduce inequalities. These include the following:

1. the creation of public nursery schools for early childhood education for 0-3 years;
2. programme for educational guidance, development and enrichment (PROA+);
3. personal and family guidance service and accompaniment units (UAO) for vulnerable students on Education;
4. aids for textbooks and teaching materials;
5. inclusive education programme;
6. emotional well-being in education programme.

These programmes are financed by the MEFD and the regional education authorities. The state allocation is agreed at the Sectoral Committee for Education and is ussually based on the number of public schools and students involved. 

Financial autonomy and control

The education authorities in each community establish the financial and human resources allocated to public schools each academic year. they take into account factors such as the educational stage, number of units, size, timetable, services provided, students characteristics, and the school’s specific needs. 

In addition, public institutions may obtain additional resources from local administration, European funds or international organisations, legacies and donations, agreements, the sale of movable property, and the use of their facilities by municipalities or other entities. 

School autonomy

Schools are provided with pedagogic, organisation and management autonomy within the current legislation. Their own management project defines the organisation and use of their human and material resources.

The education administrations should encourage this autonomy, allocate more resources where necessary, fix limits for additional funding and promote strategic planning to improve the quality of education.

Control and accountability of educational institutions

Public schools manage their financial resources according to the regional regulation, being able to assume purchases, contracts and services. They must provide an accounting through a report detailing funds received, expenses and balance, along with a report on results and performance indicators for the academic years. The granting of additional funding depends on this justification.

Supplementary resources cannot come from activities of families and students' associations, and must be used entirely for school expenses. The school administration prepares the management report and submits it to the education administration once it has been approved by the school council. All documentation is made available for official inspections and audits.

Fees within public education

Pre-primary education: first (0-3 years of age) and second cycle (3-6 years of age)

Fees for public schools depend on the titular administration. The first cycle is not free, whereas the second cycle is and has almost universal schooling. It is planned to gradually introduce free education for children aged 0-3, giving priority to students at risk of poverty and social exclusion.

The education authorities set maximum public prices, taking into account factors such as siblings already attending the school, family income, extended school hours or the use of the canteen.

Primary education and secondary education

It is provided free of charge in publicly-funded schools. Families only pay for materials, textbooks and such as meals or transport, although scholarships and programmes offering free books and curriculum materials are available. 

From 3rd year of compulsory secondary education (ESO) a small school insurance fee is paid, which the school transfers into the Social Security Treasury, reporting to the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration (MISM).

In order to carry out after-school activities, voluntary fees may be established for parent associations.

Financial support for learners’ families

The different administrations, national, regional, and local, provide financial support for those students' families with children under 18 years old, whether they are of school age or not. These benefits are direct, tax related or specific.

Direct financial support

It is general in nature and provided by the Social Security. They include: 

• child support supplement for the minimum vital income beneficiaries;
• child or minor benefits for low income families. Incompatible with the previous supplement;
• benefits for birth and adoption, for large families, single parents or parents with disabilities;
• benefits for multiple birth or adoption;
• support for families with children with disabilities, with no income limit and according to the degree of disability.

Tax deductions

There are tax benefits in the Personal Income Tax settlement  depending on the number of children. They include the increase of the personal and family minimum according to the number of children (with the increase in the amount if they are under 3 years old) and deductions from the social security contribution. To qualify, the children must meet certain requirements. In addition, some autonomous communities increase this personal minimum for the calculation of the regional tax.

Women with children under the age of three maybe deducted up to EUR 1 200 per year per child, plus an additional EUR 1 000 for childcare expenses.  

The autonomous communities apply different tax deductions for birth, adoption or educational expenses. The Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and the 2030 Agenda publishes a guide of social benefits and services for families.

Specific financial support

These grants are aimed at single-parent families, parents who are chronically ill, large families (with bonuses, exemptions or tax benefits among others) and victims of gender-based violence whose children under the age of 25 can receive full scholarships according to Royal Decree 201/2024.  

Financial support for families of pupils with Specific Educational Support Needs

Families with children with specific educational support needs may receive may receive grants and subsidies from the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports to cover school fees, transport, meals, accomodation, learning materials and pedagogical or language therapy. These grants are awarded based on family income and require proof of speciald educational needs, to be aged 2 years or older and to be enrolled in regulated education.

Gifted students may only receive a maximum amount of 913 euro for attendance to specific programmes if they meet the requirements and their income does not exceed the thresholds.

Financial support and subsidies are not available whenever the concepts are covered by public funds.

In addition, for the 2024/2025 call there are two types of allowances, for which no economic requirements apply:

• for large families: urban transport (up to 308 euro), interurban transport (up to 617 euro) and meals (up to 574 euro);
• for general expenses: 400 euro for those who have a specific need for educational support.

Financial support for learners

There are three types of economic support to begin or pursue a programme of studies which are valid throughout the country: 

• financial support: awarded on the sole basis of the applicant’s socio-economic circumstances;
• grants: awarded based on income and academic achievement;
• awards: aimed at students with high academic achievement.

The requirementsand the income thresholds are annually updated.

Support and grants

Compulsory education

In addition to state scholarships and grants, the MEFD co-finances grants with the autonomous communities. These in turn provide support for supplementary services, such as meals, transport, residence, and boarding.

Post-compulsory education

The MEFD annually awards grants (according to income and academic results) and aid schemes (based on income only) for students in non-university post-compulsory studies. 

To be eligible for these grants and aid schemes, the following requirements are established:

• general: not have a degree of the same or higher level; be Spanish or a citizen of the Union with permanent residence or worker status;
• academic: minimum full or partial enrolment; not to repeat the course; to exceed a specific percentage of subjects, modules or credits (between 85% and 90% depending on studies); minimum grade of 5.00 for certain first courses. Grants can only be obtained for the duration of the programme, with an extra year for distance learning or adult modalities.

The grant awarding system cobines:

• fixed amounts: tuition grant, amount linked to income, residence,  academic excellence and basic grant;
• variable amounts: dependent on income and academic performance (more important for lower income and higher performance).

The income and wealth thresholds for access to scholarships and study aids are established by Royal Decree 163/2025.

In the 2023/24 school year, a total of 3 066 160 students in pre-primary education, primary education, compulsory secondary education, special education, basic vocational training, bachillerato and intermediate vocational training received a grant. The total amount was EUR 3 785.1 million. Source: Financial resources. Scholarships and study grants. Year 2023-2024. Subdirectorate General for Statistics and Studies, MEFD (last accessed 27/02/2026).

Number of grant holders and percentage they represent, according to educational level. 2023/24 school year 

Source: Drawn up by Eurydice España - rediE (INEE, MEFD) on the basis of data obtained from Statistics of education (2023/24: students enrolled on general non-university levels and number of students who received grants and amount in compulsory child and special education, and post-compulsory non-university levels). Subdirectorate General for Statistics and Studies, MEFD (last accessed 27/02/2026).

Awards

The education administrations call for annual Excellence Awards for students in compulsory secondary education, upper secondary education (bachillerato), intermediate vocational training and other educational programmes. The aim is to officially recognise effort and excellent academic performance. Each administration establishes the nature of the award, which can be a reduction in university tuition, cash award, etc.

Private education

Publicly-funded private schools

The education authorities fund school units in private schools through agreements. A single school may have both subsidised and non-subsidised units. Teachers are selected by the school, but their salaries in subsidised units are paid by the government. The management of both non-teaching staff and material and economic resources must comply with public funding regulations.

There are two types of educational agreements:

• general educational agreements: units providing the second cycle of pre-primary education, primary education and compulsory secondary education which are free for families;
• singular educational agreements: other educational levels, which are partly funded with fees that vary by autonomous community. In bachillerato, in 2025, the amount ranges from EUR 18 to 36 per student per month, ten months a year, except in legally stablished exceptions.

Publicly-funded private schools may supplement their income with voluntary, non-profit activities and servvices outside of school hours, always with administrative approval. Their accountability generally follows the same mechanisms as in public schools. Pre-university education is exempt from VAT and some communities apply tax deductions to families. The grants and subsidies for this group of students are the same as in public schools.

Private non publicly funded schools

These schools have autonomy in managing their organisation, teaching staff and economic regime. They are mainly financed by compulsory fees for education, activities, services and other ítems. May also receive private contributions.

Pre-university teaching is exempt from VAT and some autonomous communities offer tax deductions for school expenses. The authorities may provide grants for early childhood education, although students do not receive state aid for books or learning materials. Autonomomus communities may offer specific support for these expenses.

In post-compulsory non-university levels, students can access the same scholarships as those studying in publicly-funded schools, in addition to a specific component for students in private schools intended to cover school expenses, provided they do not exceed a certain income threshold.