College Tuition Fees Soared Since 2001

The average tuition fees of private universities rose by 43.7 percent over the last seven years, while those of state-run or public universities by 60.7 percent, a government statistics showed.

According to statistics on education policy released Sunday by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the Korean Educational Development Institute, the average annual tuition fees of 25 state-run or public universities rose by 60.7 percent (1.48 million won) from 2.44 million won in 2001 to 3.92 million won in 2007.

The average annual tuition fees of 150 private universities rose 43.7 percent (2.1 million won) from 4.8 million won in 2001 to 6.9 million won in 2007.

Though the growth rate of tuition fees over the last seven years was higher in state-run or public universities, the actual amount of average increase was higher in private universities by 617,500 won.

The yearly growth rate at state-run or public universities was 7-9 percent, which is higher than that of private universities at 6-7 percent.

In the case of state-run or public universities, tuition fees rose 7.3 percent in 2002 from the previous year, 8.9 percent in 2004, and 8.9 percent in 2007, while those of private universities rose 6.8 percent in 2002, 5.8 percent in 2004, and 6.5 percent in 2007.

By department, tuition fees for medical departments rose by the highest rate in universities. In the case of state-run or public universities, the fees rose 71.8 percent from 3.49 million won in 2001 to 6 million won last year. Those of private universities rose 45.8 percent from 6.43 million won to 9.38 million won.

In humanities and social science departments, the fees rose 63.1 percent from 2.03 million won to 3.32 million won in state-run or public universities and 44.9 percent from 4.14 million won to 6 million won in private universities.

Tuition fees at state-run or public universities consist of education fees (15-20 percent), which is stored in the state treasury, and school support fees (80-85 percent), which can be administered by universities. State-run universities tend to raise school support fees by large degrees because the government controls education fee hikes.

ceric@donga.com