This year, more than 50 private universities raised tuition by 2.5% to 3%.
The Korea Association of Private University Presidents (KPU Presidents' Council) said on the 28th that in its first survey of the "2026 academic year university tuition status," 51 schools (26.8%) out of 190 nationwide (151 private, 39 national and public) have finalized tuition increases.
The most common increase range was 2.51% to 3% at 23 schools (45.1%), followed by 3.01% to 3.18% at 12 schools, and 5 schools raised tuition up to the legal cap of 3.19%.
Thirty-seven schools froze tuition—10 private and 27 national and public. Notably, Seoul National University froze tuition as 2026 academic year government contributions rose 6.4% from a year earlier.
However, with tuition deliberation committees still discussing the issue at 93 schools (48.9%), nearly half of all universities, the number of schools deciding to raise tuition is expected to grow.
Hwang In-seong, Secretary-General of the KPU Presidents' Council, said, "Since this administration took office, there has been no visible policy or plan for financial support for private universities," adding, "It is also a problem that they cannot present concrete plans to expand higher education funding." Hwang added, "With the legal cap on tuition increases, it is difficult to enhance domestic universities' global competitiveness."
Recently, the KPU Presidents' Council has been considering filing a constitutional petition regarding the legal ceiling on university tuition increases specified in the Higher Education Act. In Jul. last year, the National Assembly passed an amendment to the Higher Education Act lowering the cap on tuition hikes from 1.5 times to 1.2 times the average inflation rate of the previous three years.