Number of state university students in Indonesia 2013-2021

In 2021, around 3.21 million students were enrolled in state universities, or perguruan tinggi negeri (PTN). State universities are under the purview of the Ministry of Research, Technology, and Higher Education of Indonesia. These universities exclude state universities with religious affiliations, which fall under the Ministry of Religion's responsibility.

Admissions process to Indonesian state universities

As of 2021, there are 125 state universities in Indonesia. Entering state universities in Indonesia is arguably harder than private universities as the top Indonesian universities are dominated by state universities. There are three ways to qualify for Indonesian state universities: firstly, by invitation, or SNMPTN. Students, whose grades in the last five semesters of high school meet the university entrance criteria, would be nominated by their schools to receive an invitation to the universities of their choice. Students who do not receive an invitation to enter state universities could still qualify by either sitting for the nationwide university entrance exams known as SBMPTN or by sitting for an independent entry selection examination offered at selected state universities.

Tuition fees in Indonesian state universities

Indonesian state universities charge a national semester tuition fee ranging from 500 thousand Indonesian rupiah to 13 million Indonesian rupiah based on a student's financial situation. On top of that, depending on each state university’s policy, major, campus quality, and location, each student needs to pay the operational tuition fees. The operational fees for the first semester at one of Indonesia's top public medical schools, for example, could be up to 51 million Indonesian rupiah.