Competition ratios edge up at Daegu, North Gyeongsang universities for 2027 admissions

Average competition ratios for the early admissions round at major four-year universities in the Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province region for the 2027 academic year came in similar to or slightly higher than last year.

Medical and pharmaceutical programs, which have traditionally drawn intense competition, again posted high ratios.

According to Kyungpook National University, applications for its 2027 early admissions round closed Friday, with 59,749 applicants vying for 4,530 spots — an average competition ratio of 13.19 to 1.

Yeungnam University received 23,541 applications for 3,892 spots within quota, yielding an average ratio of 6.05 to 1. Keimyung University drew 30,180 applicants for 4,109 spots within quota, for a ratio of 7.34 to 1.

Daegu University attracted 23,939 applicants for 3,656 spots within quota, averaging 6.55 to 1. Daegu Catholic University received 15,172 applications for 2,359 spots within quota, for a ratio of 6.43 to 1.

Daegu Haany University closed with 7,549 applicants for 1,020 spots, averaging 7.40 to 1. Gyeongil University drew 8,669 applicants for 1,220 spots, averaging 7.11 to 1 — a slight increase from the previous year.

Breaking down Kyungpook National University's results by admissions track, the school-record subject-grade track drew 17,790 applicants for 2,154 spots, a ratio of 8.26 to 1, while the comprehensive school-record track attracted 29,057 applicants for 1,620 spots, a ratio of 17.94 to 1.

The essay (AAT) track drew 11,288 applicants for 550 spots, a ratio of 20.52 to 1, while the performance and special talent (athletics) track received 1,614 applicants for 206 spots, a ratio of 7.83 to 1.

The highest ratio was recorded in the veterinary medicine program under the essay (AAT) track, where 506 applicants competed for 3 spots at 168.67 to 1. The medicine program under the same track came second, with 1,006 applicants for 8 spots at 125.75 to 1.

By high school region, the share of applicants from Greater Seoul high schools rose 2.32 percentage points from last year, while the share from Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province high schools edged down 1.5 percentage points to 49.5 percent, from 51.0 percent the previous year.

At Yeungnam University, the highest ratio was recorded in the medicine program under the general student track, where 227 applicants competed for 8 spots at 28.38 to 1.

The medicine program also posted strong ratios across other tracks: 15.14 to 1 in the school-record regional talent track, 20.5 to 1 in the regional opportunity equity track (medical and pharmaceutical), 10.75 to 1 in the creative talent track, and 23.9 to 1 in the comprehensive school-record regional talent track.

Particularly notable were the newly introduced regional physician selection tracks for medicine, which drew 27.25 to 1 in the wide-area track and 9.78 to 1 in the clinical-area track, with all tracks posting high ratios overall.

At Keimyung University, the medicine program under the school-record general track led with a ratio of 26 to 1. Also notable under the same track were German and European studies at 22.38 to 1, biomedical engineering at 20.92 to 1, and automotive engineering at 15.55 to 1.

Under the school-record regional track, medicine posted 12.48 to 1, biomedical engineering 11.7 to 1, pharmacy 10.75 to 1, and Korean language education 9.75 to 1. Under the school-record interview track, medicine recorded 28.8 to 1, pharmacy 21.8 to 1, nursing 15.2 to 1, and early childhood education 15 to 1.

The medicine program, which expanded its intake by 18 to 79 seats this year, drew 1,316 applicants for an average ratio of 16.66 to 1. Under the newly introduced regional physician selection track, the school-record wide-area track drew 127 applicants for 4 spots at 31.75 to 1, while the comprehensive school-record clinical-area track drew 101 applicants for 11 spots at 9.18 to 1.

The pharmacy program received 474 applications for 32 spots, averaging 14.81 to 1.

At Daegu Catholic University, the pharmacy program led the school-record subject track at 19.91 to 1, followed by history education at 17.63 to 1. Physical therapy posted 15.00 to 1, the College of Social Sciences open major 13.50 to 1, and nursing 11.59 to 1.

In the medicine program, the comprehensive school-record regional track drew 143 applicants for 5 spots at 28.60 to 1 — the highest ratio for that program. The school-record regional physician selection wide-area track drew 75 applicants for 4 spots at 18.75 to 1, while the subject track drew 53 applicants for 4 spots at 13.25 to 1.

At Daegu University, the emergency medical services program drew 87 applicants for 5 spots at 17.4 to 1, general social studies education drew 66 applicants for 4 spots at 16.5 to 1, and physical therapy drew 82 applicants for 5 spots at 16.4 to 1.

Meanwhile, Gyeongkuk National University in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, recorded an all-time high number of applicants with a ratio of 5.66 to 1, far surpassing last year's 3.54 to 1. The surge is widely attributed to the university's zero-tuition policy.

"These early admissions results appear to reflect the choices of applicants seeking a stable path to university at a time when changes to the college entrance system have been signaled," said Hwang Byeong-hun, dean of admissions at Keimyung University. "We will work to select talented individuals who can contribute to the local community through a range of tracks, including the newly introduced regional physician selection track."