▲ Test-takers and parents receive consultations at the 2027 College Admissions Info Fair held at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on July 23.
Regular admissions competition rates at major regional national universities reached a five-year high last year, while early admissions competition rates also hit a four-year high, data showed.
With incoming freshmen at regional national universities set to receive full tuition coverage starting next year, industry watchers predict that student interest in these institutions will grow even further in the early admissions for the 2027 academic year.
According to Jongro Academy today (the 3rd), the average regular admission competition rate for the nation's nine major regional national universities for the 2026 academic year stood at 5.68 to 1, the highest in the past five years.
The competition rate, which was 4.67 to 1 for the 2022 academic year, recorded 4.69 to 1 for 2023, 4.58 to 1 for 2024, and 4.88 to 1 for 2025, before surging significantly to 5.68 to 1 for the 2026 academic year.
The average early admission competition rate for the 2026 academic year was 8.65 to 1, marking a four-year high.
After fluctuating between 8.92 to 1 for 2022, 8.38 to 1 for 2023, 7.69 to 1 for 2024, and 8.44 to 1 for 2025, the rate rebounded to 8.65 to 1 for the 2026 academic year.
The number of early admission applicants itself also reached a five-year high at 280,252.
Along with competition rates, admission thresholds have also risen.
For the 2026 academic year, the final school record cutoffs for successful applicants in general early admission tracks at regional national universities averaged grade 3.69 for humanities majors and grade 3.58 for natural science majors.
Both figures represent the highest levels in the past five years.
Jongro Academy analyzed that amid persistent job shortages, students and parents are choosing regional national universities—which carry relatively lower financial burdens—rather than insisting on metropolitan-area universities at high costs.
The free tuition policy for regional national universities is expected to further accelerate this trend.
Starting next year, incoming freshmen at regional national universities will be able to complete their studies without paying a single penny in tuition.
By 2030, free tuition will be implemented across all grade levels at regional national universities.
The selection of Pusan National University, Chungnam National University, and Chonnam National University as the initial beneficiaries of the "Creating 10 Seoul National Universities" project is also cited as a variable.
About 70 billion won in additional budget will be injected into each of the three schools this year, with roughly 80 billion won slated for additional support annually from next year through 2030.
Lim Sung-ho, CEO of Jongro Academy, said, "Policies such as zero-won tuition at regional national universities and the designation of universities under the 'Creating 10 Seoul National Universities' initiative could trigger significant changes in students' early application patterns," adding, "Particularly, students in regional areas are expected to have a high likelihood of flocking to regional national universities."
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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