Competition for regional national universities hits 5-year high amid free tuition push
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…
The Korea Times reports that competition for admission to regional flagship national universities in South Korea has reached a five-year high, with the latest data showing a record high competition rate of 5.68 to 1 for regular admissions in 2026. This surge in competition is attributed to the government's push for balanced regional development, which includes expanding support for these universities.
The competition rate for early admissions, based primarily on high school academic performance and extracurricular activities, also hit a record high of 8.65 to 1 in 2026. This trend is particularly notable at nine regional flagship universities, including Kangwon National University, Gyeongsang National University, and Chonnam National University, which have seen their competition rates rise from 4.67 to 1 in 2022 to 5.68 to 1 in 2026.
Brief written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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