日本對於高等教育投資僅在國民總生產毛額的0.5%，相較於經濟合作與開發組織（OECD）會員國，投資明顯不足而經常被批判。高等教育機構中私立大學的校數與學生人數較公立大學為多。兩者都顯示國民在高等教育投資的比重較大，家計部門對於學費的負擔較重。本論文採用歷史研究與文獻分析法，探討日本高等教育學費政策的演變、政策內涵、相關法規與配套措施。研究結果顯示：（1）日本高等教育學費政策兼具「育英」與「教育機會均等」的雙重功能，但現今已偏向「高學費、高獎學金」方向發展；（2）國立大學與私立大學學費的差距逐漸縮小；（3）高等教育學費相關法規命令完善，獎學金種類也多；（4）利用日本學生支援機構的學生貸款人數高達48%與還款能力的問題，顯示獎學金的重要性；（5）學費彈性化可能成為個別大學招生的工其；（6）學費與學生調查相關資訊的公開有助於提升大學的社會責任。

Nowadays, the percentage of the investment on higher education in Japan is only about 0.5% of GDP. Compared to other OECD countries, it is extremely low and always criticized by Japanese people. On the other hand, the high ratios of private universities and student numbers also reveal that household sector has a very heavy burden on paying tuition fee. In the paper, through historical analysis and document analysis, the authors intend to explore transformation, contents and relative laws and supporting policies in order to figure out the characteristics policies of tuition fee and scholarship. It is concluded as follows. (1) This tuition fee policy has two important meanings of ＂elite cultivation＂ and ＂equality of educational opportunity＂ after WWII. (2) The gap of tuition fee between national universities and private universities has been narrowed since 1970s. (3) Various scholarships are based on different laws or articles. (4) There are 48% students who are benefitted by the JASSO scholarship, and it reveals the importance of scholarship system in Japan. (5)Tuition fee policy could become an important tool for student recruitment. (6) It is important to open more information about tuition and student surveys in order to promote university accountability.