East Java Leads Nationally in State University Admission Rates for Seven Consecutive Years
East Java has once again achieved a proud milestone in national education. Following its record as the province with the highest number of students admitted through the National Selection Based on Merit (SNBP) for 2026, East Java has also emerged as the province with the highest number of students passing the National Selection Based on Test (SNBT) for 2026.
This achievement solidifies East Java’s position as the province with the highest number of students admitted to State Universities (PTN) nationwide for seven consecutive years, covering both non-test (SNBP) and test-based (SNBT) pathways from 2019 to 2026.
Based on 2026 SNBP data, 29,046 students from East Java were admitted to PTN out of a total of 108,122 applicants. This figure is the highest in the country, surpassing West Java, which recorded 18,365 admissions, and Central Java, with 16,326 admissions.
Meanwhile, according to the recapitulation from the East Java Provincial Education Office as of 31 May 2026, the number of East Java students passing the 2026 SNBT reached 24,213. This represents an increase of 4,024 students, or a 19.9 per cent rise compared to 2025, which recorded 20,189 students.
The Governor of East Java, Khofifah Indar Parawansa, expressed her gratitude and pride in this achievement. She noted that this success serves as an indicator of the increasing quality of superior human resources and the national competitiveness of East Java’s education.
“Alhamdulillah, we are grateful because East Java has once again recorded a proud achievement. Not only did we become the province with the highest number of students admitted through SNBP 2026, but we also returned as the province with the highest number of students passing the SNBT. With this achievement, East Java has maintained the highest national position for seven consecutive years, through both non-test and test-based pathways,” said Khofifah on Wednesday.
“This is clear evidence that the quality of education in East Java continues to improve. The ‘Jatim Cerdas’ (Smart East Java) spirit that we have built together is capable of delivering education that is increasingly high-quality, inclusive, and impactful for the future of the younger generation,” she added.
Beyond general admission numbers, East Java also became the province with the highest number of recipients of the Indonesia Smart Card for College (KIP-K) admitted through SNBP nationwide. From 42,013 KIP-K applicants from East Java, 8,915 students were declared admitted to PTN.
This achievement surpassed North Sumatra, which recorded 6,275 admitted students, West Java with 5,572, Aceh with 5,139, and Central Java with 4,778.
“This success shows that access to higher education for children from underprivileged families in East Java is increasingly opening up. This aligns with our commitment to ensuring that no child in East Java loses the opportunity to achieve higher education due to economic limitations,” Khofify emphasised.
Furthermore, Governor Khofifah stated that based on the data, all regional Education Office branches in East Java experienced an increase in the number of students passing the SNBT. The Sidoarjo Education Office branch recorded the highest increase, reaching 100.8 per cent, with the number of students passing the SNBT rising from 2,265 in 2025 to 4,548 in 2026.
The Madura region also showed encouraging results. The Pamekasan area experienced an increase of 33.02 per cent, Bangkalan rose by 15.5 per cent, Sumenep by 10 per cent, and Sampang by 8.5 per cent.
According to Governor Khofifah, these achievements are positive indicators of various educational strengthening programmes in the Madura region, including the ‘MAMA MAU NAIK KELAS’ (Madura Advanced, Madura Superior, Madura Upgraded) programme.
In addition to Madura, several other areas also recorded significant increases, including Gresik (26.6 per cent), Bondowoso (25.6 per cent), Pasuruan Regency (24.8 per cent), Lamongan (17.13 per cent), Malang Regency (16.91 per cent), Jember (13.3 per cent), and Bojonegoro (10.12 per cent).
The Governor assessed that these improvements are inseparable from the strong synergy between schools, teachers, principals, Education Office branches, parents, and the students’ enthusiasm for learning across various regions.
Meanwhile, the Head of the East Java Provincial Education Office, Aries Agung Paewai, stated that the SNBT achievement is not merely a statistical figure, but reflects the increasing competitiveness of East Java’s younger generation in accessing high-quality higher education. “The more East Java children are admitted to state universities, the greater our opportunity to produce superior, competitive human resources ready to welcome Indonesia Emas 2045,” he concluded.