Among the top universities in Vietnam in terms of revenue, FPT University stands out with nearly 2,920 billion VND ($121.67 million) in total earnings for 2023, with over 90% coming from tuition fees.

Following closely behind is Hanoi University of Technology, which saw its revenue double to 2,140 billion VND ($89.1 million) from 1,070 billion VND in 2022. This increase was largely driven by tuition fees, which contributed 1,340 billion VND, making up about 63% of its total income.

Other universities in the top revenue bracket include Van Lang University and University of Economics in Ho Chi Minh City. Van Lang's revenue in 2022 reached 1,758 billion VND, mostly from tuition fees, while University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City's revenue grew from 1,443 billion VND in 2022 to nearly 1,680 billion VND in 2023.

The top 10 universities with the highest revenue also feature Nguyen Tat Thanh University (1,476 billion VND), National Economics University (1,410 billion VND), Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (1,260 billion VND), Ton Duc Thang University (1,141 billion VND), Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry (1,010 billion VND), and Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education (1,004 billion VND). Notably, Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education joined the top 10 list this year, while Can Tho University dropped out, with revenue falling below 1,000 billion VND in 2023.

Most universities still rely heavily on tuition fees as their primary source of income, with some schools like Nguyen Tat Thanh University and Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology generating over 98% of their revenue from student fees. This reliance on tuition fees has raised concerns about the financial burden placed on students, particularly those from lower-income families.

To address these challenges, many institutions are working to diversify their revenue streams. Hanoi University of Technology, for example, increased its revenue from research and other sources from 97.4 billion VND in 2022 to 506 billion VND in 2023.

Despite efforts to expand income sources beyond tuition fees, most universities continue to rely on three primary revenue streams: tuition fees, government funding (for operational costs, research, and faculty development), and other sources such as technology transfer, partnerships with businesses, and external sponsorships.

With universities increasingly relying on tuition fees, there is concern that these costs may become a significant barrier for students from less privileged backgrounds. Many universities have already announced plans to raise tuition by 8-15% in the coming years, potentially exacerbating the financial strain on students and their families.

Thuy Nga