Breaking Down Japan’s University Costs
A Guide to Tuition Fees by School Type, Majors, and 2024 Trends
January 8, 2025
Key Points
・Private Universities Cost Twice as Much as National Universities
・National/Public Universities Generally Do Not Charge Facility Fees
・Tuition Cap for International Students to Be Lifted in 2024
Average Tuition Fees 2023: National, Public, and Private Universities (Undergraduate)
Note: In the case of national/public universities in Japan, facility and equipment fees are generally not charged separately. This is because most operating costs are covered by government budgets with support from national or local governments.
From April 2024, MEXT will abolish the tuition cap for international students at national universities, allowing universities to independently set tuition fees for international students. Some national universities may raise tuition fees for international students by up to 20%, setting them as high as 642,960 JPY. It’s important to check each university’s official website for details.
Average Tuition Fees by Major at Private Universities 2023
Average Tuition for 2-Year Vocational Colleges 2023
Number of Schools Surveyed: 600 private universities, 269 private short-term colleges, 4 private vocational schools.
Source: Japan Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)
