Enrollments below capacity at half of Japan's private universities for 3rd year
The Promotion and Mutual Aid Corporation for Private Schools of Japan says 316 of the 594 private universities in Japan, or 53.2 percent of the total, had fewer new students than their admission quotas in fiscal 2025. It was the third straight year of this level of decline.
Universities in urban areas, such as Tokyo, Osaka and Fukuoka, have had enough enrollments. But many municipalities are seeing their student numbers falling below capacity.
Some universities are expected to stop recruiting students in fiscal 2026 and later and close down.
Admission quotas for all private universities in the country totaled 502,755 this fiscal year. That is down 1,114 from the figure for fiscal 2024 and the first decline in 22 years.
The education ministry says it will apply stricter standards for setting up new departments and other measures for private universities if their enrollments are below capacity.
The ministry policy is expected to prompt universities to downsize, merge with others, or close especially in non-urban areas.
The ministry says it plans to place emphasis on supporting universities which educate people engaged in regional economies. It says if universities face management risks, it will advise them to reorganize or downsize.
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