This Year, 3,485 Special-Purpose and Autonomous Private High School Graduates Entered "SKY" Universities... Lowest in Five Years

Average Proportion of Special-Purpose and Autonomous Private High School Graduates at 25.9%

Yonhap News

This year, the number of freshmen at Seoul National University, Korea University, and Yonsei University (collectively known as "SKY") who graduated from special-purpose high schools, autonomous private high schools, or science academies has reached its lowest point in the past five years.

According to Jongro Academy on July 6, an analysis of the "2025 University Freshman High School Background" data disclosed by University Alimi showed that a total of 3,485 students from special-purpose high schools, autonomous private high schools, and science academies were admitted to SKY universities this year. This is the lowest number since the 2021 academic year.

By university, Seoul National University had the highest number at 1,372, followed by Korea University with 1,124, and Yonsei University with 989.

Over the past five years, the number of SKY freshmen from these types of schools was 3,768 in the 2021 academic year, 3,702 in 2022, 3,635 in 2023, and 3,748 in 2024. This year’s figure is 263 students (7.0%) lower than last year, with the largest decrease coming from autonomous private high schools, which saw a reduction of 210 students.

By university, Seoul National University admitted 1,372 students from these schools, a decrease of 18 from last year (down 1.3%). Korea University’s number dropped from 1,232 to 1,124, a decrease of 108 students (down 8.8%). Yonsei University saw the largest drop, from 1,126 to 989, a decrease of 137 students (down 12.2%).

This year, the proportion of students from special-purpose high schools, autonomous private high schools, and science academies was 36.3% at Seoul National University, 21.9% at Yonsei University, and 21.7% at Korea University, with the average for the three universities at 25.9%.

Jongro Academy explained that several factors contributed to this result, including the possibility that top-performing students shifted from science and engineering to medical schools due to the expansion of medical school quotas, the increase in cross-application by science students to humanities majors, and the operation of admissions processes centered on non-major-specific tracks.