A psychologist assessed the impact of prices on university admission

The rising cost of education and related expenses is changing the approach of Russian families to choosing universities. Maria Todorova, a consultant on child education and development, told Izvestia about this on April 21.

"A teenager makes an admission decision not in a vacuum, but inside the family system. With a high financial burden and anxiety for the future, he often chooses not the path of self—realization, but a safer option," the expert noted.

According to her, the rise in tuition fees, as well as housing, transport and food costs, especially affects regional applicants. For them, admission to the capital's university becomes not only an academic, but also a financial challenge.

In such circumstances, teenagers often refuse to enroll in strong universities in other cities, choosing more affordable options near their homes. This, in her opinion, can increase social inequality, when learning opportunities depend not only on abilities, but also on the level of family income.

At the same time, the expert noted that the educational system has tools that can partially compensate for the increase in costs. We are talking about grant support, social scholarships, installment payments and targeted training programs.

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"Targeted education looks particularly promising, in which a student receives not only education, but also financial support, as well as job security. Changing economic conditions also affect the behavior of applicants. Families are increasingly comparing tuition fees with future career prospects, choosing destinations with a higher probability of quick employment," she explained.

In addition, there is a growing interest in applied and working professions. For some young people, colleges and technical schools are becoming a rational alternative to universities due to a shorter period of study and lower costs.

Earlier, the media reported that in the 2026/27 academic year, tuition at Moscow universities has sharply increased in price. For example, at MIPT, tuition starts at about 1 million rubles per year and can reach 2 million rubles for individual programs. At Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas, annual training costs an average of 600-650 thousand rubles, depending on the chosen direction.

On April 19, the press service of the Ministry of Education and Science reported that Lomonosov Moscow State University, UrFU (Ural Federal University) and KFU (Kazan Federal University) have the largest number of budget places. The top universities with a large number of budget places also include Bauman Moscow State Technical University, HSE, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, Siberian Federal University, Southern Federal University, Don State Technical University and MIREA.