Deputy education minister: educating one student costs an average worker's annual salary

The annual cost of educating a university student, approximately 100 million VND, is equivalent to an average worker's yearly income, meaning 'university is not a place for casual study,' according to the deputy minister of education.

During the university admissions conference on 20/4, Professor, Doctor Le Quan, Deputy Minister of Education and Training, discussed his perspective on the expenses and graduate outcomes of higher education.

Citing data from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Le Quan noted that the average worker's income in 2025 is 8,31 million VND per month. In contrast, preliminary statistics on tuition and other costs reveal that a university student incurs at least 100 million VND annually. He acknowledged that funding a child's university education presents a substantial financial burden for many workers.

"University is not a place for casual study," Le Quan stated. "Educational costs are increasing, and the total expense over four years represents a substantial amount."

Deputy Minister Le Quan at the 2026 university admissions conference on 20/4. *Photo: TDTU*.

In this context, Le Quan voiced concerns about the repercussions if graduates fail to meet job requirements or adapt to technological advancements. Such a scenario would constitute a waste of investment from both families and society, ultimately affecting the national workforce.

Consequently, he urged universities to prioritize the quality of their graduates. Given that the mission of higher education is to cultivate high-quality human resources, institutions bear the responsibility for recruiting, training, and ensuring appropriate employment opportunities for students.

"My view, shared by the Ministry's leadership, is that we must progressively aim for higher output standards," the deputy minister stated.

Le Quan noted that graduate quality is primarily evaluated by the labor market. Currently, university-compiled statistics on student employment rates are incomplete and do not fully capture the scope of the issue. To address this, the education sector plans to collaborate with the Ministry of Public Security to synchronize data, tracking student information from enrollment through graduation and social insurance contributions.

Additionally, the Ministry is establishing a National Scholarship Fund to provide tuition waivers or reductions for exceptional students and those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Certain specialized fields, including pedagogy, strategic technology, and STEM, will benefit from dedicated scholarship and support programs.

According to VnExpress statistics from 130 universities last year, annual tuition fees ranged from 9,8 to 170 million VND, with most falling between 15 and 40 million VND. This year, many institutions have continued to increase their fees, typically by around 10%, with some exceptional cases seeing rises of up to 47% due to institutional autonomy or achieving quality accreditation.

Tuition fees for over 50 universities in 2026