Record-Breaking Applicants Excluding Waseda — The Surprising University That Tops Meiji and Kinki

Until now, the record for the highest number of applicants for Japan’s general university entrance exams was set by Waseda University in 1989 (Showa 64/Heisei 1) with 160,150 applicants. This spring, that record was broken for the first time in 36 years. The historic new high reached 162,005 applicants.

The university achieving this feat is Chiba Institute of Technology, located in Narashino City, Chiba Prefecture.

Founded in 1942 (Showa 17), it is the oldest existing private university in Japan specializing in science and engineering. However, compared to nationally recognized universities that consistently rank at the top, such as Waseda and Meiji, its general name recognition has been relatively low. So how did it manage to take the top spot? Education journalist Reiji Ishiwata explains:

“Chiba Tech surpassed Kinki University, which had held the top position for 11 consecutive years, achieving an increase of 19,360 applicants compared to the previous year to claim first place for the first time. Originally centered around the Faculty of Engineering, the university has been praised for its proactive reforms since the 2010s.

They established the Faculty of Information Transformation Science and the Faculty of Creative Engineering. In April of this year, they launched Japan’s first Department of Space and Semiconductor Engineering within the Faculty of Engineering. Currently, the university has five faculties and 17 departments. The prime location of the main campus, just a few minutes’ walk from JR Tsudanuma Station, has also been a factor that appeals to prospective students.”

Making Entrance Exam Fees Free

Following its education reforms, Chiba Institute of Technology entered the top 10 in applicant rankings in 2016 and then held second place for four consecutive years starting in 2021. However, the biggest factor behind its overwhelming popularity is said to be its student-first initiatives, Ishiwata continues.

“Chiba Tech is an extremely cost-effective university for applicants. First, for those using the National Center Test for University Admissions (now the Common Test), the exam fee was made free. Normally, this would cost around 15,000 yen. Also, paying the exam fee for just one department allows applicants to take exams for multiple other departments at no additional cost. Furthermore, applications were made available online and accepted up until the day before the exam.

Many universities close applications about a month before the exam, so being able to wait until the last minute based on other schools’ results is a huge benefit for applicants. It also significantly reduces financial burden. Since multiple departments can be applied to with just one exam fee, internal multiple applications have also increased. This is truly a student-first approach.”

As popularity rises, naturally the difficulty level increases as well.

“Until the 2010s, the university was positioned a rank below the four private engineering universities (Shibaura Institute of Technology, Tokyo City University, Tokyo Denki University, and Kogakuin University) and, among comprehensive universities, below the Nitto-Komazens (Nihon University, Toyo University, Komazawa University, Senshu University). However, with the increase in applicants, entrance exam scores have also risen sharply. For some departments, scores are now on par with Nitto-Komazens,” Ishiwata notes.

At the same time, Ishiwata points out challenges.

“If reforms stall, applicants’ attention will shift to other universities. While the number of applicants has grown, overall name recognition is still not high. Measures to attract students from the Kansai region or those in the humanities, and further promotion of the university’s appeal, will be key future challenges.”

Whether Chiba Institute of Technology can grow into a prestigious university known to all Japanese within the next 10 years remains to be seen—the university’s challenge continues after achieving its first-ever top spot in applicant numbers.