In 1978 behaalde Macapagal-Arroyo haar Masters diploma in de economie aan de Ateneo de Manilla, waarna ze in 1985 doctor in de economie werd aan de University of the Philippines. ###>She pursued a Master's Degree in Economics at the Ateneo de Manila University (1978) and a Doctorate Degree in Economics from the University of the Philippines Diliman (1985).