University Tuition Hike Cap Lowered, but Widespread Increases Expected

2026 Tuition Cap Set at 3.19%
Lowered by 2.3 Percentage Points, but No Freeze Request Issued
Freeze Pressure Lifted... Private Universities Likely to Raise Fees

The movement to increase university tuition fees in South Korea is expected to spread. Although the legal cap for university tuition fee increases for the 2026 academic year has been set at 3.19%, lower than the 5.49% cap for the 2025 academic year, the government did not request universities to freeze tuition this year. As a result, tuition fees are expected to rise consecutively, especially at private universities that have faced years of pressure to freeze fees.

According to the education sector on January 2, the Ministry of Education, which announced the legal cap for university tuition fee increases for the 2026 academic year on December 31, began providing detailed guidance on how to calculate the tuition increase rate starting that day.

The Ministry of Education has finalized the legal cap for university tuition fee increases for the 2026 academic year at 3.19%. Although this is lower than the 5.49% cap for the 2025 academic year, tuition fees are expected to rise consecutively, especially at private universities that have faced years of freeze pressure. The photo shows a tuition fee bill from a university. Photo by The Asia Business Daily

The legal cap for tuition fee increases for the 2026 academic year is 2.3 percentage points lower than that of 2025. This is the result of applying 1.2 times the average consumer price inflation rate for the previous three years (2023-2025), as stipulated by the Higher Education Act.

Although the legal cap has been lowered, there is a prevailing sentiment on university campuses that tuition fees should be raised up to the maximum allowed. In a survey conducted by the Korean Council for University Education, a consultative body of four-year private universities, only 7 out of 87 universities responded that they plan to freeze tuition.

The Ministry of Education's announcement to abolish the "Type II National Scholarship" has also become a variable. Although the government has annually disclosed the legal cap for university tuition fees, it has effectively enforced a tuition freeze by providing budget support only to universities that froze or lowered tuition. However, the Ministry of Education has decided to remove this penalty clause starting from the 2027 academic year.

Most notably, the official document regarding tuition increase rates, which the Ministry of Education sends to universities nationwide every year, did not include a request to freeze tuition this year. For years, the Ministry has separately requested universities to freeze tuition regardless of the legal cap, but this time, it only provided information on the calculation method for the increase rate.

Some interpret this as the government being mindful of the private universities' position. While the government has announced plans to concentrate support on national universities in line with its "Establishing 10 Seoul National Universities" policy, the financial situation of private universities continues to deteriorate.

However, universities cannot raise tuition fees at their own discretion. The increase must be approved by the Tuition Review Committee, which includes student representatives. Student organizations, such as the National University Student Association, have stated their intention to thoroughly block any attempts by universities to increase tuition fees.