Regional Flagship National Universities See Highest Admission Cutoffs and Competition in 5 Years... Will the 'Zero Tuition' Policy Change the Landscape?

Regular Admission Competition at Nine "Jigeoguk" Universities Hits 5.68 to 1, Highest Since 2022
Early Admission Cutoffs Also Rise: 3.69 for Humanities, 3.58 for Sciences
Tuition Support and "Establishment of 10 Seoul National University-Level Schools" Draw Regional Applicants' Attention

Competition rates and admissions cutoffs for regional flagship national universities (commonly referred to as “Jigeoguk”) are on the rise. As concerns over the cost burden of attending universities in the Seoul metropolitan area and challenges with employment continue, interest in these regional national universities is heightening. Expectations are emerging that this trend could be further reinforced, especially with the expansion of national university tuition support set for next year and the launch of the “Establishment of 10 Seoul National University-Level Schools” initiative.

Yonhap News

According to Jongno Academy on September 3, the average regular admission competition rate for the nine Jigeoguk universities nationwide for the 2026 academic year reached 5.68 to 1, the highest level in the past five years. After recording 4.67 to 1 in 2022, 4.69 to 1 in 2023, 4.58 to 1 in 2024, and 4.88 to 1 in 2025, last year the rate soared past 5 to 1.

This trend was also observed in the early admission process. The average competition rate for the nine Jigeoguk universities during early admissions dropped from 8.92 to 1 in 2022, to 8.38 to 1 in 2023, and then to 7.69 to 1 in 2024. However, it rebounded to 8.44 to 1 in 2025 and further to 8.65 to 1 in 2026.

Admission cut-off scores have also risen. For the 2026 academic year, the average accepted internal grade (Naesin) cutoff for humanities applicants via early admission at Jigeoguk universities reached 3.69—the highest among the last five years. This is an increase from 3.75 in 2022, 3.71 in 2023, 3.91 in 2024, and 3.88 in 2025.

In the natural sciences, the cutoff also climbed, rising from 3.80 in 2022, 3.82 in 2023, 3.86 in 2024, and 3.76 in 2025 to reach 3.58 in 2026, the highest in the past five years.

Experts in university admissions analysis say the previous mindset of enduring opportunity costs to insist on attending only universities in Seoul (“In-Seoul”) is shifting, particularly as employment difficulties persist for longer periods.

Additionally, with full-scale tuition support programs for first-year students at regional national universities and the “Establishment of 10 Seoul National University-Level Schools” initiative set to begin in the 2027 academic year, predictions are that interest in Jigeoguk universities will rise even further. Recently, the government announced that three schools—Busan National University, Chungnam National University, and Chonnam National University—have been selected as part of efforts to foster ten schools on par with Seoul National University.

Im Seong-ho, CEO of Jongno Academy, stated, “Among students in regional areas, there is a possibility that applications will become concentrated on Jigeoguk universities over other national and private universities.” He added, “For applicants whose academic records qualify them for both Seoul-based and Jigeoguk universities, it has become more likely they will consider Jigeoguk as an option compared to the past. Attention is now focused on how the zero tuition policy and the selection of ten Seoul National University-level schools, which will begin with this year’s early admissions on September 7, will affect actual application trends.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.