Plummeting Graduate Exam Applications: A Key Shift in Chinese University Students' Mindset

Illustration: Concealing Employment Challenges by Extending Graduate Program Durations at Multiple Universities (Getty Images)

[People News] The number of applicants for China's graduate school entrance exam has declined for the second consecutive year. Amid scarce employment opportunities for young people, interest in obtaining a graduate degree is waning, signaling a critical turning point in the mindset of university students.

Cooling Graduate School Craze: A Turning Point in Student Mindsets

China's Ministry of Education announced on November 21 that the number of applicants for the 2025 graduate school entrance exam has dropped to 3.88 million, a decrease of 500,000 compared to 2024 (4.38 million), marking an 11.4% decline. This is an 18.1% drop from the 2023 peak of 4.74 million applicants.

Despite the decline in graduate exam applicants, the number of students taking civil service exams has reached a record high, increasing by over 220,000 compared to the same period last year. The competition ratio has risen from 76.51:1 last year to 82.07:1, further intensifying the pressure.

On Chinese social media, hashtags like “Cooling Graduate School Craze,” “Turning Point in Graduate Exam Popularity,” and “Second Drop in Applications in 10 Years” quickly became trending topics, sparking widespread discussion among netizens.

Comments from online discussions reflect growing skepticism toward pursuing graduate degrees:

“What’s the point of getting a master’s degree? Everyone around me is practically taking loans just to get by with their jobs.”

“For many people, graduate school is just a way to delay unemployment, and even after graduating, there’s still a high chance of being jobless.”

“Pursuing a master’s degree is essentially a form of consumption. With the economic downturn, many families can’t afford the additional three or even five years of education. A master’s degree is becoming less cost-effective.”

“There are too many master’s degree holders now, and the degree’s value is nowhere near what it used to be. If you still have to take the civil service exam afterward, what’s the point of spending another three years in school?”

Geng Lutao, a former music teacher in mainland China, shared his thoughts with Dajiyuan. He suggested that declining enthusiasm for graduate studies is likely due to the realization that even with an advanced degree, finding a job remains challenging.

Geng, now 27, previously worked in music training in Chengdu after graduating with a bachelor’s degree. He recounted the story of a female colleague who graduated with a master’s degree. “I became a teacher right after getting my bachelor’s, and she joined later with a master’s degree, but our incomes were exactly the same. Her graduate studies didn’t significantly help her career, and she spent a lot of time, money, and effort on it.”

Geng pointed out that pursuing a music master’s degree isn’t cheap. Preparatory courses with teachers cost about 30,000 to 50,000 yuan, and for popular majors like piano, fees can reach 100,000 yuan. These expenses are considered essential because without guidance from experienced teachers—who often design the exam papers—students are unlikely to perform well.

“Graduate school tuition is generally higher than for undergraduates. For a bachelor’s degree, it’s about 8,000 yuan annually. For art students, it’s even more expensive; my undergraduate tuition was 12,000 yuan per year, and graduate school costs around 15,000 yuan.”

Li Yuanhua, a former associate professor at the Education Science Institute of Capital Normal University, told The Epoch Times that the declining interest in graduate studies over the past two years reflects a growing realization: holding a master’s degree often leads to unemployment, making it difficult to recoup education costs. Many are now opting to enter the workforce earlier.

“In the context of the CCP’s commercialization of education, the government has been pushing the education industrialization agenda over the past decade. Tuition fees have been imposed not only for undergraduates but also for graduate students. If pursuing a graduate degree doesn’t offer better opportunities, it means paying several more years of tuition and extending the time without income, which most families can’t afford,” Li explained.

Graduate Employment More Difficult Than Undergraduate: A New Reality

A report by Zhaopin.com, University Graduate Employability Survey Report 2024, reveals that the job offer rate for master's and doctoral graduates from regular universities is 33.2%, down 17 percentage points from last year and significantly lower than the 43.9% offer rate for bachelor's graduates from the same institutions.

Zhaopin's Executive Vice President Li Qiang highlighted that this marks a major shift. Historically, master's and doctoral graduates have always had better job prospects than undergraduates, but this year has seen an unprecedented reversal.

Amid an uncertain macroeconomic environment, companies are leaning toward hiring undergraduate students with lower salary expectations, particularly in startups, small and micro-enterprises, or roles emphasizing practical experience over academic qualifications.

Zhaopin's data shows that among graduates who have already secured jobs for 2024, 36.8% of undergraduates signed with small and micro-enterprises, 6 percentage points higher than master's and doctoral graduates.

Even state-owned enterprises (SOEs), facing financial pressures from local governments, have drastically reduced their demand for graduates with advanced degrees.

A water company general manager explained to Economic Observer that his industry, heavily reliant on government funding, prefers hiring undergraduates at 5,000 yuan per month rather than graduates at 7,000 yuan. "We'd rather save the budget," he said.

The sluggish Chinese economy has hit private enterprises particularly hard, leading to a reduction in available positions. This creates further challenges for graduates.

Geng Lutao, a former music teacher, shared an example of his former colleague in Chengdu. She worked as a freelance music teacher but has recently faced significant difficulties as students have dropped out. Previously, she had over 20 students, but now she only has about 10. Her monthly income, which used to reach 15,000–20,000 yuan, has dropped to around 10,000 yuan at best.

Geng noted that her students primarily came from middle-class families. In the past, parents were willing to pay any price as long as their children showed interest in learning. Now, however, families are more cautious with their spending. "Parents are hesitant now, even if the kids want to continue. They're either asking for discounts or more bonus classes."

Geng's colleague is now deeply concerned about her financial future. "She’s worried she might not even be able to afford her rent in Chengdu soon," he said. To improve her situation, she has started preparing for the highly competitive teacher qualification exams but has struggled to secure a stable position. Originally from Changsha, she’s also contemplating returning to her hometown to be closer to her mother and look for a more stable job, despite the emotional and professional uncertainties of such a move.

Triple Employment Pressure Could Spark Social Unrest

In recent years, the number of graduate students in mainland China has steadily increased, with annual growth rates ranging from 3% to 6%. However, there were exceptions: in 2017, due to the inclusion of part-time students in the unified exam system, and in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the growth rate exceeded 20%.

From 2019 to 2023, the total number of graduate students in mainland China grew from nearly 8 million to over 11 million. Currently, the number of graduate students is increasing by more than 1 million annually.

In 2023, the number of graduate students among Beijing's 285,000 college graduates exceeded the number of undergraduates for the first time.

While the number of applicants for the 2024 graduate entrance exam has declined, graduate admissions for 2025 are expected to continue growing.

Meanwhile, the number of university graduates continues to rise, with the 2025 cohort expected to reach a record 12.22 million, an increase of 430,000 from the previous year.

China's youth unemployment rate remains alarmingly high. After peaking at 21% last year, it still hovers above 17%. This creates a challenging employment landscape for new graduates.

Li Yuanhua, a former professor at Capital Normal University, described the situation as a "triple pressure" on employment: the overall high unemployment rate, the growing number of graduates (both undergraduate and graduate), and a declining interest among university students in pursuing further education.

“This triple pressure combined places society in a state of instability," Li said. "Any triggering event could result in flood-like unrest. This is a major headache for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), but it’s also something they cannot solve.”

Geng Lutao, who has been living in the United States for over a year, shared his perspective on China's current state. “Life here is calm and good," he said. "But looking back at the chaos in China—random attacks on civilians and various forms of unrest—it’s truly frightening. The sense of stability in China seems to be deteriorating rapidly.”

Geng also expressed sympathy for his former colleague, a highly capable and hardworking individual. Despite her efforts, society has failed to provide her with the rewards she hoped for. “This society gives her no sense of a future, no hope," he said. "I think that’s a real tragedy.”

(Reported by Song Tang and Yi Ru for Dajiyuan)