70% of University Presidents Propose Tuition Increase This Year... National and Public Universities Likely to Join Increase Trend Next Year

Survey of 84 University Presidents
Proposals for Tuition Hikes Submitted to Deungsimwi... 85% of Private, 21% of National/Public Universities
Most Common Increase Range: 5.0~5.49%
National/Public Universities Expected to End Freeze Policy in 2026
74% of National/Public University Presidents "Favor or Lean Toward Increase"

About 7 out of 10 university presidents have proposed or plan to propose a tuition increase to the Tuition Deliberation Committee (Deungsimwi), the internal body that decides on tuition hikes. The most common increase range was 5.0?5.49%.

National and public universities leaned towards 'freezing' tuition this year in response to the government's request for a freeze, but this stance is expected to change starting next year. While only 21% of national and public university presidents planned to propose a tuition increase to Deungsimwi this year, 74% stated that they would 'consider an increase or lean towards an increase' next year.

On the 26th, a survey conducted by the Ministry of Education's press corps among 84 university presidents attending the recent Korea Council for University Education (KCUE) regular general meeting revealed that 67.9% (57 respondents) had proposed or planned to propose a tuition increase for the 2025 academic year to Deungsimwi this year.

By location, 84.4% (27 presidents) of universities in the metropolitan area responded this way, while 57.7% (30 presidents) of non-metropolitan universities did so. The most common proposed increase was '5.0?5.49%' at 50.9% (29 presidents), followed by '4.0?4.9%' at 36.8% (21 presidents), and '2.0?3.9%' at 12.3% (7 presidents).

Private and national/public universities showed a difference in stance. Among private university presidents, 85.2% (52 respondents) said they had proposed or planned to propose a tuition increase this year, whereas only 21.7% (5 respondents) of national/public university presidents said the same. Recently, nine flagship national universities decided to freeze tuition for the 2025 academic year in response to the government's request.

However, starting next year, national and public universities are expected to join the ranks of those increasing tuition.

When asked whether they are considering a tuition increase for the 2026 academic year, 69.0% of all respondents (19.0% definitely increasing, 50.0% leaning towards increase) indicated plans to raise tuition. This included 67.2% (18.0%, 49.2%) of private universities and 73.9% (21.7%, 52.2%) of national/public universities.

As measures to resolve the recurring tuition controversy, the most common responses were 'significant expansion of financial support for higher education (46.4%)' and 'tuition autonomy including lifting the legal cap on increase rates (41.7%)'. These were followed by 'improving efficiency in university financial management such as reserves and income-generating basic assets (6.0%)' and 'decoupling financial support such as national scholarship programs (3.6%)'.

Amid forecasts that some universities will close due to low birth rates, aging population, regional extinction, and declining school-age population, about 7 out of 10 respondents predicted that more than 10% of current four-year general universities will close within 10 years.

Among 197 four-year general universities, 28.6% responded that '21?30 universities will close,' and 16.7% said 'more than 51 universities will close.' Other responses included 9.5% for 31?40 closures and 10.7% for 41?50 closures.

When asked about considering mergers with other universities, 15.5% said they are 'currently pursuing a merger,' and 3.6% said they are 'considering a merger and currently looking for possible universities.' Additionally, 33.3% said they 'have no current plans but would consider if approached.' Those who said they 'have no intention at all' accounted for 47.6%.

Expectations and concerns were mixed regarding 'RISE' (Regional Innovation-centered University Support System), which expands local government investment in regional universities. When asked if RISE is expected to contribute to the development of regional universities, 39.3% answered 'yes,' 23.8% said 'no,' and 36.9% responded 'don't know.'

The biggest concern regarding RISE implementation was 'local governments' low understanding of higher education (53.6%),' followed by 'budget concentration on some large comprehensive universities (22.6%),' 'intensified competition among regional universities (13.1%),' and 'complex decision-making structures (13.5%).'

Finally, when asked about the perceived competitiveness of universities during the current administration's 2 years and 7 months in office, the majority (79.7%) responded that it was 'similar to the previous administration (46.4%)' or 'weakened (33.3%),' while only 15.5% said it had 'strengthened.'

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.