In the 2027 college admissions cycle, a clear trend has emerged among top students opting for regional national universities instead of solely focusing on schools in Seoul. The proportion of high-achieving students with grades in the top two tiers has significantly increased in general programs, excluding medical fields. Among the nine regional national universities, eight reported a rise in the average grades of applicants for the academic track compared to the previous year.
This shift is interpreted as a strategic choice by students, influenced by expectations surrounding government policies aimed at supporting regional universities, such as tuition assistance and initiatives to create ten universities comparable to Seoul National University, alongside practical considerations regarding employment opportunities.
On October 28, the admissions information platform JinHakSa released an analysis based on data from students who entered their preferred universities into its 2026-2027 admissions score disclosure service. This analysis excluded applicants from medical fields such as medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy.
According to JinHakSa's findings, the average grades of applicants for the academic track at the nine regional national universities for the 2027 academic year were 3.61 for humanities and 3.68 for natural sciences, reflecting increases of 0.17 and 0.15 grades, respectively, from the previous year (3.78 for humanities and 3.83 for natural sciences).
Notably, the proportion of applicants with top grades (1st and 2nd tiers) rose from 20.5% last year to 26.3% this year, indicating that more than one in four applicants are high achievers.
A closer look at the data reveals a clear upward trend in the grades of applicants to regional national universities. For the integrated track, which does not differentiate between humanities and natural sciences, the average grade increased from 3.88 last year to 3.55 this year.
Among individual universities, all eight institutions (excluding Jeju National University) reported increases in average grades for applicants in both humanities and natural sciences compared to the previous year. The increase ranged from 0.04 to 0.29 grades for humanities and from 0.13 to 0.28 grades for natural sciences. The integrated track also showed rising acceptance thresholds across all seven comparable universities.
The preference for regional national universities among top students is further underscored by changes in applicant proportions. The share of applicants with top grades among those applying to the academic track at the nine regional national universities expanded significantly from 20.5% last year to 26.3% this year.
Breaking it down by field, the proportion of top-tier applicants in the humanities increased from 20.4% to 24.4%, a rise of 4.0 percentage points, while in the natural sciences, it grew from 20.8% to 26.2%, an increase of 5.4 percentage points. The integrated track saw a remarkable surge, with the proportion of top-tier applicants jumping from 19.2% to 33.0%, a staggering increase of 13.8 percentage points.
Admissions experts attribute this preference for regional national universities to government policies aimed at supporting these institutions and the realities of the job market. Support measures akin to 'free tuition' and the initiative to create ten universities comparable to Seoul National University, along with the establishment of regional industrial complexes and mandatory hiring of local talent by public institutions, have made regional universities attractive alternatives to metropolitan schools.
In fact, a survey conducted by JinHakSa among applicants revealed that 41.8% of those applying to regional national universities stated that tuition support policies influenced their decision. Among multiple-choice responses regarding their motivations for applying, 'likelihood of acceptance' (60.5%) was cited alongside 'reduction of tuition and living expenses' (49.6%) and 'better job prospects' (34.9%). Additionally, expectations surrounding the 'ten universities initiative' accounted for a significant portion at 19.2%.
JinHakSa's Director of Admissions Strategy, Woo Yeon-cheol, remarked, "The simultaneous increase in average grades and the proportion of high-tier applicants in the academic track at regional national universities is a significant change. It suggests that expectations surrounding government support for regional universities and tuition assistance may positively influence students' university choices." He added, "Given the rise in high-tier applicants, it is essential to monitor changes in acceptance thresholds, although actual cutoffs may vary based on meeting minimum exam requirements and enrollment results, urging students to make careful decisions."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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