Competition for regional national universities hits 5-year high amid free tuition push

Regional flagship national universities saw their 2026 regular-admission competition rate rise to a five-year high as the government prepares to expand support for balanced regional development. Jongro Academy said the rate reached 5.68 to 1 across nine schools. The early-admission competition rate also hit 8.65 to 1, the highest in four years. The Ministry of Education plans a 328 billion won scholarship fund next year, with full tuition coverage from 2027 for incoming freshmen at 30 regional national universities.

The nine schools are Kangwon National University, Gyeongsang National University, Kyungpook National University, Pusan National University, Chonnam National University, Jeonbuk National University, Jeju National University, Chungnam National University and Chungbuk National University.

Their regular-admission competition rate was 4.67 to 1 in 2022, 4.69 to 1 in 2023, 4.58 to 1 in 2024 and 4.88 to 1 in 2025.

The Ministry of Education created a 328 billion won scholarship fund for balanced regional development in next year’s budget.

Starting with admission in 2027, the fund will cover full tuition for all incoming freshmen at 30 regional national universities who hold Korean citizenship, regardless of household income.

Pusan National University, Chonnam National University and Chungnam National University were selected Tuesday for the making 10 Seoul National Universities initiative and will each receive up to about 70 billion won in government funding.

Published Sep 3, 2026 1:18 pm KST

Updated Sep 3, 2026 2:00 pm KST

Students prepare for a mock exam for Korea's College Scholastic Ability Test in Daegu, Wednesday. Yonhap

Regional flagship national universities are drawing increasing interest as the government prepares to expand support for balanced regional development.

The competition rate for regular admissions, based on Korea's College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), reached 5.68 to 1 for admission in 2026 at nine regional flagship national universities, the highest in five years, according to an analysis released Thursday by Jongro Academy, a private university admissions prep institution.

Their competition rate for regular admissions was 4.67 to 1 for admission in 2022, 4.69 to 1 in 2023, 4.58 to 1 in 2024 and 4.88 to 1 in 2025.

The competition rate for early admissions, based primarily on high school academic performance and other extracurricular activities, reached 8.65 to 1 for admission in 2026, the highest in four years.

Jongro Academy attributed the trend to the free tuition policy, adding that students on the admissions borderline between universities in Seoul and regional flagship universities may now be leaning toward the latter.

Amid a severe job market for college graduates nationwide, a growing number of students are avoiding the opportunity cost of entering universities in Seoul, it added.

The Ministry of Education created a 328 billion won ($241.6 million) scholarship fund for balanced regional development in next year's budget. Starting with admission in 2027, the fund will cover full tuition for all incoming freshmen at 30 regional national universities who hold Korean citizenship, regardless of household income.

“The free tuition policy for national universities could accelerate this trend,” said Im Seong-ho, head of Jongro Academy. “Students in regional areas, in particular, are increasingly likely to choose regional flagship universities over other national or private universities.

The government is also pushing a “making 10 Seoul National Universities” initiative to strengthen leading universities outside the capital region into regional hubs for education, research and development, linking them with strategic local industries.

Pusan National University, Chonnam National University and Chungnam National University were selected for the initiative Tuesday and will each receive up to about 70 billion won in government funding.

Pusan, Chonnam, Chungnam national universities selected for '10 SNUs' initiative

随着政府准备加大对区域均衡发展的支持力度，各地区旗舰国立大学2026年的常规入学竞争率升至五年来的最高水平。钟路书院表示，九所院校的竞争率达到5.68比1。提前录取竞争率也达到8.65比1，为四年来的最高水平。教育部计划明年设立3280亿韩元的奖学金基金，从2027年起为30所地区国立大学的新生提供全额学费资助。

这九所大学分别是：江原大学、庆尚国立大学、庆北国立大学、釜山国立大学、全南国立大学、全北国立大学、济州国立大学、忠南国立大学和忠北国立大学。

2022 年，他们的常规入学竞争率为 4.67 比 1；2023 年为 4.69 比 1；2024 年为 4.58 比 1；2025 年为 4.88 比 1。

教育部在明年的预算中设立了3280亿韩元的奖学金基金，用于促进区域均衡发展。

从 2027 年入学开始，该基金将为 30 所地区性国立大学所有具有韩国国籍的新生支付全部学费，无论其家庭收入如何。

釜山国立大学、全南国立大学和忠南国立大学周二被选入“打造首尔十大国立大学”计划，每所大学将获得高达约700亿韩元的政府资助。

发布于2026年9月3日下午1:18（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年9月3日下午2:00（韩国标准时间）

周三，学生们在大邱准备参加韩国大学入学考试（CSAT）的模拟考试。（韩联社）

随着政府准备加大对区域均衡发展的支持力度，区域旗舰国立大学越来越受到关注。

据私立大学入学考试辅导机构钟路学院周四发布的一份分析报告显示，根据韩国大学入学考试（CSAT）的成绩，2026年韩国九所地区性旗舰国立大学的常规入学竞争率达到5.68比1，为五年来最高。

2022 年常规入学竞争率为 4.67 比 1，2023 年为 4.69 比 1，2024 年为 4.58 比 1，2025 年为 4.88 比 1。

2026 年，以高中学业成绩和其他课外活动为主要依据的提前录取竞争率达到 8.65 比 1，为四年来最高。

钟路学院将这一趋势归因于免学费政策，并补充说，那些在首尔大学和地区旗舰大学之间徘徊的考生现在可能更倾向于后者。

报告还指出，在全国大学毕业生就业市场严峻的情况下，越来越多的学生为了避免进入首尔大学的机会成本而选择就读。

教育部在明年的预算中设立了一项3280亿韩元（约合2.416亿美元）的奖学金基金，用于促进区域均衡发展。从2027年入学开始，该基金将为所有持有韩国国籍、就读30所地区性国立大学的新生提供全额学费资助，不限家庭收入。

钟路学院院长任成浩表示：“国立大学免学费政策可能会加速这一趋势。特别是地方地区的学生，越来越倾向于选择地方旗舰大学，而不是其他国家级或私立大学。”

政府还在大力推进“打造10所首尔国立大学”计划，旨在将首都地区以外的一流大学发展成为区域教育、研究和开发中心，并将它们与战略性地方产业联系起来。

釜山国立大学、全南国立大学和忠南国立大学周二被选中参与该计划，每所大学将获得高达约 700 亿韩元的政府资助。

釜山、全南、忠南三所国立大学入选“10所首尔国立大学”计划