Korea’s most expensive universities for undergraduates revealed

Chugye University for the Arts had the highest average tuition for its undergraduate programs this year, followed by Yonsei University.

Students hold signs urging universities to stop raising tuition in October last year. [NEWS1]

Chugye University for the Arts had the highest average tuition for its undergraduate programs this year, followed by Yonsei University.

According to data from the Ministry of Education submitted to lawmaker Jin Sun-mee of the Democratic Party on Tuesday, Chugye University for the Arts had the highest average undergraduate tuition at 9.24 million won ($6,890) this year.

Yonsei University followed with an average tuition of 9.2 million won.

Tech University of Korea ranked third overall with an average tuition of 9.04 million won.

These three universities were the only institutions with annual undergraduate tuition exceeding 9 million won.

Shinhan University came fourth with 8.82 million won, followed by Ewha Womans University with 8.75 million won. Kyungdong University ranked sixth with 8.6 million won, with Yonsei University Mirae Campus at 8.57 million won and Hanyang University at 8.565 million won.

Hanyang University's Erica Campus ranked ninth with 8.534 million won, and Eulji University followed with 8.53 million won.

Korea Aerospace University was 11th with 8.51 million won, followed by Yewon Arts University at 8.5 million won, Korea University's Sejong Campus at 8.49 million won, Sungkyunkwan University at 8.45 million won and Hongik University at 8.44 million won.

The university with the lowest tuition was Gwangju Catholic University, which charges no tuition fees at all. The university only offers theology-related programs and is funded by churches such as the Archdiocese of Gwangju.

For graduate schools, the Seoul School of Integrated Sciences & Technologies (aSSIST) had the highest average annual tuition at 18.8 million won.

Seoul University of Foreign Studies' graduate school followed with tuition of 17.2 million won, while Sungkyunkwan University had 14.6 million won. Korea University followed with 14.56 million won and the KDI School of Public Policy and Management with 13.8 million won.

Among associate degree programs, Seoul Institute of the Arts had the highest annual tuition at 8.26 million won. Korea Golf University of Science & Technology followed with 7.93 million won, Kaywon University of Art & Design with 7.71 million won, Paekche Institute of the Arts with 7.55 million won and Dong-Ah Institute of Media and Arts with 7.43 million won.

BY LEE TAE-HEE [lee.taehee2@joongang.co.kr]