Next Year, Nationwide 4-Year Universities + Junior Colleges Enrollment Quota Surpasses Applicants

Jongno Academy Haneul Education, "16,000 Students Short for 2021 Academic Year... Regional Universities Expected to Have Unfilled Quotas"

On the 5th, examinees and parents attending the 'Jongno Academy, 2020 Regular Admission Strategy Briefing' held at Jangchung Gymnasium in Jung-gu, Seoul, are listening to an explanation about the regular admission strategy. Photo by Jin-Hyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] Due to the decline in the school-age population, it is predicted for the first time in history that the number of applicants for the 2021 academic year university entrance exam will be less than the admission quota.

According to Jongro Academy Haneul Education, an entrance exam company, on the 22nd, the number of applicants for the 2021 university entrance exam is estimated to be 533,941, combining high school seniors and repeat test takers this year, which is 16,718 fewer than the total admission quota of 550,659 for four-year universities and junior colleges combined.

This estimate is based on approximately 403,000 high school seniors nationwide applying to universities and 130,000 repeat test takers.

Jongro Academy compiled data from the Korea Council for University Education and others, estimating that the admission quota for the 2021 academic year will be 347,500 for four-year universities and 203,159 for junior colleges.

Oh Jong-woon, Evaluation Director at Jongro Academy Haneul Education, predicted, "Considering that about 48% of high school students are in the metropolitan area, and that highly preferred major universities are concentrated in Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon in the metropolitan area, the under-enrollment phenomenon at universities located in provincial areas will be even more severe in the 2021 university entrance exam."