The results of the 2025 Higher Education Institutions Exam (YKS) placement revealed a striking trend: private foundation universities in Turkey are facing historically low enrollment rates. A sharp rise in tuition fees has emerged as the primary reason behind this decline, with recent data showing that Turkey recorded the highest university tuition hikes in Europe.

Economists argue that the dramatic increase in education costs reflects a mentality that treats students as “customers,” a perspective they describe as undermining accessibility to higher education.

Enrollment Rates Plummet

Following the announcement of YKS placement results, the debate over why so many spots at private universities remain unfilled gained momentum. Data from the Student Selection and Placement Center (ÖSYM) revealed that the occupancy rate at foundation universities dropped from 91% to 76% in just one year.

Even in highly competitive programs such as medicine and law, hundreds of seats were left vacant — a stark contrast to previous years when these fields were typically oversubscribed.

Observers quickly pointed to soaring tuition fees as the driving force behind this decline. And new data comparing Turkey with Europe’s education costs has put this argument into sharper focus.

The Numbers: Turkey Breaks Records in Tuition Hikes

A chart based on Eurostat and Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) data, shared widely on social media by economists such as İnan Mutlu and Mahfi Eğilmez, illustrates the extent of the crisis.

As of July 2025, tuition fees for university education in Turkey had risen by a staggering 108% in a single year.

This figure is unprecedented in Europe. The European Union average increase stood at just 5.2%, meaning Turkey’s tuition hikes were 21 times higher than the continental norm.

For context:

• Turkey: +108%

• Netherlands: +19.4% (second-highest in Europe)

• Estonia: +10.9%

• Slovakia: +10.0%

• Poland: +8.9%

Meanwhile, some countries saw no change in education costs at all — including Macedonia, Malta, and Luxembourg. In fact, Iceland registered a 21.1% decrease in tuition fees, underscoring just how extreme Turkey’s position has become.

Economists Sound the Alarm

Economists did not mince words in their reaction to these findings. Sharing the chart on social media, İnan Mutlu directly linked the data to the poor YKS enrollment results:

“Over the past year, university prices in Europe rose by 5.2%, while in Turkey they increased by 108%. This is the result of a merchant mentality that sees students as customers.”

His comment quickly went viral, sparking public debate over the role of private universities in Turkey’s education landscape.

Similarly, veteran economist Mahfi Eğilmez argued that the collapse in student demand for private universities was directly tied to tuition hikes. He stressed that the financial burden had reached unsustainable levels, forcing families to reconsider their options.

According to Eğilmez, the combination of high inflation, rising living costs, and soaring tuition fees has created a “perfect storm” that is pushing students away from foundation universities, regardless of academic prestige.

Families Face Unbearable Costs

For many households, the cost of sending a child to a private university has become financially crippling. Beyond tuition, families must also budget for accommodation, food, and other living expenses — all of which have risen sharply in recent years.

Economists warn that this situation risks creating an inequality gap in higher education. Wealthier families may still afford private institutions, while middle- and lower-income students are increasingly excluded, turning higher education into a privilege rather than a right.

Broader Implications for Higher Education

The decline in demand for private universities is not just a financial issue but also a structural one. With fewer students enrolling, universities may face budgetary shortfalls, which could reduce investment in facilities, research, and academic staff.

In the long run, this could weaken the competitiveness of Turkey’s higher education sector, both domestically and internationally.

Moreover, the perception of universities as “profit-driven businesses” risks damaging their reputation as institutions of learning and research. Critics argue that prioritizing revenue over accessibility undermines the very mission of education.

Europe vs. Turkey: A Stark Contrast

The contrast between Turkey and the rest of Europe could not be clearer. While EU nations have generally kept tuition costs stable — or even lowered them — Turkey’s surge highlights how domestic economic pressures are filtering into education policy.

Some countries, like Iceland, are actively reducing costs to encourage greater participation. In Turkey, by contrast, families are being priced out, leading to empty classrooms in programs that were once in high demand.

This divergence raises important questions about the sustainability of Turkey’s education model and the broader impact on its youth and labor market.