This year, it has been found that more than one quarter of universities have raised undergraduate tuition fees. Some universities have decided to raise tuition fees up to the cap set by the Ministry of Education. Among those universities that have not yet decided on this year's tuition, many are also considering increases.
According to various universities and the University Information System on 2nd, a total of 56 universities (based on general four-year universities and colleges of education) have decided to raise undergraduate tuition fees for the 2025 academic year after recently holding a tuition review committee meeting. This accounts for 28.1% of the total 199 institutions, which includes 189 four-year universities and 10 colleges of education.
The increase rates of major universities are ▲Kyunghee University 4.65% ▲Gyeonggi University 5.2% ▲Korea University 5.0% ▲Duksung Women's University 4.85% ▲Dongguk University 4.98% ▲Dongduk Women's University 4.2% ▲Sungkyunkwan University 4.9% ▲Ewha Womans University 3.1% ▲Inha University 5.2%.
Twenty-five universities have decided on an increase rate in the 5% range. Ten universities, including the University of Seoul, Busan Teacher's College, and Korea National University of Education, plan to raise tuition close to the upper limit set by the Ministry of Education at 5.49% or above, specifically at 5.4%.
The universities that decided to raise tuition fees mainly include major private universities in Seoul and small regional universities. Most national universities, including Seoul National University and nine key national universities, decided to freeze tuition, but many colleges of education have increased fees even among national universities. Last year, 26 universities raised their tuition.
The average tuition fee for universities based on the 2024 academic year is 6.82 million won. This is an increase of 100,000 won (1.5%) compared to 2020 (6.72 million won). During the same period, the consumer price index rose by 14.9%.
Since 2009, the government has continued the policy of freezing tuition fees. When a university raises tuition, it is induced not to do so by limiting the national government support for the National Scholarship Program Type II. While the financial burden on students and parents is alleviated, universities have experienced financial difficulties. In the university community, it has been said that tuition fees are "cheaper than English kindergartens ("English crammer schools" for preschoolers).
The Ministry of Education has strongly requested universities to freeze tuition fees again this year. Deputy Minister of Education Lee Joo-ho, during a regular meeting of the Korean Council for University Education held on the 22nd of last month, expressed, "I apologize for not meeting expectations," but also stated that "in terms of students and parents, the economy is tough and living conditions are difficult, so there are requests for universities to hold back a bit more," seeking cooperation.