The cost of higher education in Ukraine will continue to increase in 2026. The Ministry of Education and Science explains this by the need to ensure stable funding for universities and increasing costs for maintaining the education system.
According to Deputy Minister of Education Mykola Trofymenko, the current level of tuition fees in Ukraine remains justified, but further increases are inevitable. He called the main reason the increase in the wage fund in universities. In particular, since January 2026, salaries of university employees have already increased by 30%, and another increase of 20% is expected from September.
In such conditions, the ministry notes, universities cannot keep the cost of contract education low. The formation of special funds of educational institutions directly depends on student fees, so prices will be gradually adjusted.
The Ministry of Education and Science also emphasizes that the issue of the cost of education is related to its quality. Director of the Directorate of Higher Education and Adult Education Oleg Sharov emphasized that too low a price for education creates risks for the entire system.
According to him, the state finances the education of state-funded students, but the contractual form must cover the real costs of universities. Otherwise, there is a threat of an outflow of teachers abroad, which could lead to a personnel crisis in higher education.
Despite the expected increase in cost, the ministry notes that Ukrainian higher education still remains cheaper compared to most European countries. At the same time, the trend towards price increases is likely to continue in the coming years, as the education system gradually transitions to a more market-based financing model.
