Vice Principal Reveals Reasons for Decline in SMAN 1 Yogyakarta Graduates Enrolling at UGM

The number of graduates from SMAN 1 Yogyakarta, also known as SMAN Teladan, accepted as new students at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) has decreased compared to last year. Nevertheless, more than half of SMAN 1 Yogyakarta graduates still enrolled at UGM. What are the reasons?

“This year, the distribution of SMA Negeri 1 Yogyakarta graduates is indeed more diverse. They are not solely focused on UGM. In the past, both students and parents were focused on UGM. Now, students are spreading out and choosing based on their study programmes,” said Vice Principal for Student Affairs, Sri Lestari, when contacted by detikJogja on Wednesday (19/8/2026).

Sri revealed that this year 184 students were accepted at UGM. This figure is down from 208 last year. In addition to state universities, some SMAN Teladan graduates have also been accepted at overseas universities.

“So, there are already those who have gone to ITB, UI, Undip, and Brawijaya. What they are pursuing now is the study programme, not the university anymore, including those going abroad, of which there are around seven. In fact, some who had already been declared accepted into UGM’s International Undergraduate Programme chose the independent admission route at UI or other universities because it better suited the study programme they wanted,” she explained.

Sri noted that this year’s SMAN 1 Yogyakarta graduates are giving more consideration to the study programme they choose than to the name of the university. Additionally, there has been an increase in SMAN 1 Yogyakarta graduates choosing Brawijaya University, Airlangga University, and the Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology.

“The shift from UGM to UI and ITB is almost the same as last year, with only an increase of one or two compared to before,” she said.

“What has increased significantly is the number taking up places at ITS, Brawijaya, and Airlangga, which has started to grow. So, the shift now tends towards those universities,” she concluded.