Yonsei University: The First and the Best when it comes to tuition

Yonsei Universty's has been claiming to be the first and the best. Indeed the university is the first and the best when it comes to school fees. A recent news ranked Yonsei as the most expensive university in Korea.

Tuition for universities here has surpassed 9 million won ($8,117) per year, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology said Friday. Yonsei University became the first higher learning institute to break this barrier among Korean universities charging an annual average of 9.07 million won per student.

The ministry said four-year universities here have continued to raise tuition fees over the years, imposing a heavier financial burden on parents and students seeking higher education.

University tuition across the country increased 1.29 percent this year from 2009, averaging 6.85 million won per year.

Yonsei was followed by Chugye University for Arts, which charges 8.95 million won on average.

Ewha Womans University ranked third at 8.82 million won, followed by Eulji University at 8.75 million won, Sangmyung University in Cheonan at 8.71 million won and Hongik University in Chochiwon, 8.7 million won.

Korea has 23 state and 153 private universities. Among them, 67 are located in Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province.

In 2009, Korea saw a total of 27 universities charge more than 8 million won, but this year the number increased to 35.

Hongik University in Chochiwon had the highest tuition rate for studying humanities, Yonsei University for social studies, Hallym University for education studies, Korea University for engineering, Sungkyunkwan University for medicine, and Hansei University for fine arts and physical education.

More details are available on the Web site (www.academyinfo.go.kr).

The ministry has introduced a school loan program, "study-now-pay-later," to help students facing financial difficulties receive long-term state education loans. Students pay them back after graduating and finding a job.

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2010/05/117_65138.html