University Actual Tuition Fees Fell 23% in 15 Years... "Need to Strengthen Financial Support"

Daekyohyeop, Analysis of Tuition and Education Expenses Through Information Disclosure

On the 12th, with the autumn weather showing a large temperature difference between day and night, students are strolling around the campus at Yonsei University in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] An analysis revealed that the real university tuition fees in 2022, considering inflation rates, were more than 23% lower than in 2008, just before government regulations began.

The Korea Council for University Education (KCUE) announced a report titled "Analysis of Tuition and Education Expenses Based on Information Disclosure" on the 12th, containing these findings.

According to the report, as of the disclosure in October last year, the average tuition fee per student at four-year general universities (excluding teacher training and cyber universities) was 6,794,000 KRW. This is 1.0% higher compared to 2008, just before the government introduced tuition regulations.

The research team explained that the real tuition fee in 2022, adjusted for consumer price inflation, was 6,326,000 KRW, which is 23.2% lower than in 2008.

Furthermore, the Higher Education Act stipulates that tuition fees can be increased within 1.5 times the average inflation rate of the previous three years. The real tuition fee last year was 27.1% lower than the tuition fee applying this upper limit (9,319,000 KRW).

In 2021, the net tuition fee burden per student (tuition fees excluding scholarships, etc.) was 3,426,000 KRW, with a net tuition burden rate of 50.6%.

In 2021, the education expense per university student was 17,096,000 KRW, and the education expense return rate (education expenses relative to tuition fees) was 252.4%. The education expense per student at national and public universities was 21,069,000 KRW, which was 5,172,000 KRW higher than that of private universities (15,891,000 KRW).

A KCUE official stated, "Universities have fulfilled their social responsibilities by reducing or freezing tuition fees to ease student burdens and increasing investment in education." He emphasized, "Now, it is necessary to strengthen financial support at the national level to alleviate university burdens and improve the qualitative level of education."