Freshmen at 20 universities, including Sangji University, Chugye University for the Arts, Seoyeong University, and Yeoju University, will be unable to receive next year's national scholarships and will face limits on student loan support.
The Ministry of Education on the 24th announced a list of 308 universities, including 288 eligible for student aid for the 2027 academic year and 20 with restricted student aid.
The Ministry of Education decides student aid eligibility through university institutional accreditation and a financial assessment of private universities. Institutional accreditation is a system that determines whether a university meets the basic requirements as an educational institution. The private university financial assessment evaluates the sustainability of university operations using the settlement of account statements and disclosure information.
Sixteen universities will face a full restriction on student aid. New and transfer students for the 2027 academic year at these schools cannot receive national scholarships or either income-contingent or standard repayment student loans.
Among general universities, eight schools—Geumgang University, Daegu Arts University, Shingyeongju University, Yewon Arts University, Jeju International University, Korea Baptist Theological University, Hanil University and Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and Hwaseong University of Medical Science—are ineligible for student aid. Among junior colleges, eight schools—Gwangyang Health University, Naju University, Busan Arts College, Seoyeong University, Songho College, Yeoju University, Yeungnam University of Foreign Studies, and Woongji Tax Accounting College—are ineligible.
Among them, Seoyeong University and Yeoju University were newly designated as fully restricted for the 2027 academic year. The remaining 14 schools were also fully restricted for the 2026 academic year. Gwangyang Health University is scheduled to close on the 31st.
Four universities face partial restrictions. They include two general universities—Sangji University and Chugye University for the Arts—and two junior colleges—Kukje University and Daedeok College. New and transfer students for the 2027 academic year at these schools cannot receive national scholarships or income-contingent repayment student loans. Only standard repayment student loans are available. All four are newly designated as partially restricted for the 2027 academic year.
A total of 288 universities that received institutional accreditation or conditional accreditation and were rated financially sound in the financial assessment are eligible for both national scholarships and student loans. This includes 173 general and industrial universities and 115 junior colleges.
In principle, the student aid restrictions apply to new and transfer students entering in the 2027 academic year. Current enrolled students can use the student aid programs.
However, if a university has been continuously designated as restricted prior to the 2027 academic year, students who enrolled in the year it was designated as restricted are also subject to the limits.
Lee Hae-suk, director general for higher and lifelong policy at the Ministry of Education, said, "Examinees and parents preparing for college admission should be sure to check the lists of universities eligible for student aid and those with restricted student aid for the 2027 academic year before making a final choice of school."