State Islamic Universities Grow Increasingly Competitive, Interest in SPAN-PTKIN 2026 Surges

State Islamic Higher Education Institutions (PTKIN) are increasingly demonstrating their competitiveness on both national and global stages. This is evident from the significant surge in the number of registrants for the 2026 National Academic Achievement Selection pathway (SPAN-PTKIN), reaching 143,948 students from 12,174 educational units across Indonesia.

The high number of registrants indicates that state Islamic campuses are no longer seen as alternative choices but have become primary destinations for higher education. The Head of PTKIN Admissions 2026, Prof Abd Aziz, stated that the change in public perception is the main factor driving the increased interest in PTKIN.

According to him, PTKIN are now assessed as offering an ideal combination of religious character education, affordable costs, and competitive academic quality.

“Society now sees PTKIN as a complete package: a strong foundation in religious character, very affordable education costs, and world-class academic standards,” Aziz said in a press release on Saturday (4/4/2026).

Optimism regarding the quality of PTKIN is also reflected in the results of a national survey. As many as 97.3 percent of students believe the quality of PTKIN is on par with top general universities. Meanwhile, 96.7 percent of respondents assess that PTKIN graduates have high competitiveness in the global job market.

The Director General of Islamic Education at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Prof Amien Suyitno, added that this year’s achievement records a new phenomenon. For the first time, the number of registrants from madrasahs has exceeded that from general schools.

“This is evidence that our Islamic education ecosystem is becoming increasingly solid. Our curriculum is now designed globally. PTKIN graduates can now easily access prestigious universities abroad, including in the UK and other European countries,” he said.