Economic Factors Dominate as 60,000 University Entrants Fail to Re-register

As many as 60,000 candidates who passed the National Selection for New Student Admissions (SNPMB) through various entry routes have reportedly failed to re-register. Education observer Totok Soefijanto believes this phenomenon demands serious attention, with economic factors being the most dominant cause.

According to the Rector of the IMDE Digital Media Institute, the economic difficulties experienced in recent years have been the primary trigger for prospective students and their families to forfeit their places at state universities (PTN).

‘Economic problems appear to be the most dominant, especially in recent years with widespread layoffs and an increasingly difficult economic situation,’ Totok told Media Indonesia on Friday (26/6/2026).

Beyond financial constraints, Totok noted other reasons why hard-won state university places are being relinquished. Some students are accepted into other educational pathways they prefer or that are considered more suitable for their family’s financial circumstances.

‘We must think of ways to minimise this number. Why? There are many reasons, for instance being accepted into another preferred pathway or one that better fits the family budget, such as official schools, military academies, or the police force. They might also be targeting scholarships, whether from private universities at home or abroad,’ he explained.

Meanwhile, for upper-middle-income groups, the reasons for not re-registering tend to differ. Totok suggested that a mismatch between the allocated study programme and the student’s interest is more dominant than economic issues.

‘For the upper-middle class, the issue could also be economic, but it is more likely due to a study programme that does not match their interest. They might enter business, trade, or help with their parents’ company first, while exploring what skills they want to master in the next two to three years,’ he said.

Furthermore, Totok observed a behavioural shift among today’s youth. In this era of disruption, many are no longer in a rush to continue directly to higher education after graduating from school.

‘In this era of disruption, many young people adopt a wait-and-see approach before deciding to go to university,’ he stated.