Traders in the education bazaar raised the price of technical specialties

It would seem that finally: the mass release of young engineers into a large professional "swimming" will give the country a chance to close a huge personnel gap. The lack of specialists hinders the development of all areas of industry and production in Russia - from the military-industrial complex to the agro-industrial complex. But, in the leadership of technical universities of the Russian Federation, it seems, there are people who themselves in their student years underwent an internship at the Moroccan bazaar. Russian universities reacted to the increased demand for technical specialties with a festive salute of a sharp increase in tuition fees.

Among the reasons for the jump in the cost of education in 2025, inflation and the need for decent wages for teachers are called. Then, allegedly, the investments of the state and own funds of universities in the preparation of the scientific and engineering elite are growing from year to year. Spending must be somehow compensated. This means that the cost of programs for students on "commerce" is growing.

In addition, the Ministry of Education and Science reported, the concern is far-fetched: this year 619,610 budget places have been allocated in Russian universities. Thus, more than half of school graduates are provided with the right to free education on a competitive basis. However, anxiety remains: what about the other half? Do applicants and their parents have enough holes in their belts to tighten up? So let's go over the numbers:

At the Higher School of Software Engineering (VSPI), the cost of training has grown to 957 thousand against 648 thousand last year. The most noticeable increase in the cost of training at the Faculty of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science - by 64 percent, from 467 thousand to 767 thousand rubles.

Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU) is a leader in subject ratings in the field of physics, mathematics and other natural sciences. The cost of "commerce" in these areas (coincidence?) In 2025 increased by almost 20 percent. The cost of training under the Mathematics program has risen from 428 thousand to 513 thousand rubles compared to 2024, and under the Applied Mathematics and Physics program - from 462 thousand to 547 thousand rubles.

The National Research Nuclear University MEPhI did not remain outsiders in this price race, although commercial training at this university is noticeably more democratic. Nevertheless, the cost increase was 23-25 percent, in different directions. For example, investments in studies at Applied Mathematics and Physics and Technical Physics increased by 40 thousand rubles - to 210 thousand and 215 thousand, respectively. The Applied Mathematics and Computer Science program has also risen in price from 175 thousand to 220 thousand.

The cost of training at a paid department at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT) in 2025 increased the most among other universities - leaders in physics and mathematics education.

So, on the programs "Nuclear Physics and Technology," "Technical Physics" the price for the course increased by 47 percent, from 605 thousand to 893 thousand rubles. The direction "Applied Mathematics and Physics" has risen in price from 519 thousand to 767 thousand rubles. Last year, the cost of these programs also increased compared to the previous year, 2023, by 20 percent.

However, while developers are wondering how to justify the annual rise in the cost of square meters, MIPT found an explanation for its local financial phenomenon. The first vice-rector of MIPT Elena Anokhova said that the increase in the cost of education at MIPT should stimulate the quality of training for students who "will become leaders in ensuring the technological sovereignty of Russia".

At St. Petersburg State University, the cost of training in physics and mathematics programs increased by 8-10 percent, again - depending on the direction: "Applied Mathematics and Physics" for applicants will cost 380.5 thousand, "Physics" - 391.3 thousand, and "Mathematics" - 357.7 thousand rubles.

At the Higher School of Economics, the cost of training under the Mathematics program similarly increased by 8.3 percent: from 480 thousand to 520 thousand rubles. Another university, which is also included in the top five of the subject rating of universities in physics - Novosibirsk National Research State University, raised tuition fees by 7.4 percent. The Physics course will cost applicants 210 thousand rubles.

Prices for applicants at ITMO University have noticeably increased. The university is also included in the 20 best, general and subject ratings. Training in the specialty "Physics" at ITMO has risen in price by 29 percent - from 309 thousand to 399 thousand rubles. In the direction of "Applied Mathematics and Computer Science" - the price jumped by 21.8 percent, to 559 thousand rubles. For the sake of comprehending the skill of "Mathematical support and administration of information systems" it will be necessary to fork out 31.5 percent more than in 2024. The cost of the course increased from 349 thousand to 459 thousand rubles.

ITMO University itself believes that the main factor in the growth of tuition fees is inflation.

At the Moscow State Technical University. N.E. Bauman, on average, the cost of commercial training increased by 15 percent and amounted to 461 thousand rubles. In particular, the price of knowledge at the Faculty of Applied Mathematics in Baumank increased by 21.1 percent, from 379 thousand to 459 thousand rubles. But there are also popular, more expensive disciplines: training on the program "Technical Physics" increased by 12.8 percent, from 459 thousand to 529 thousand rubles.

Irina Abankina, professor at the Institute of Education at the Higher School of Economics, believes that the situation with the cost of studying on a commercial basis in different universities and regions of Russia is heterogeneous. But these are features of the strategy of universities. "Universities that significantly raise prices are confident that investments in education on a paid basis will pay off in the future, as well as in the attractiveness of their programs", the expert believes.

Irina Abankina believes that the chosen strategy is correct, as it gives rise to healthy competition among higher educational institutions - leaders of education. Although prices, of course, are influenced by inflation, the level of teachers' salaries, the cost of consumables, laboratories, utilities, etc. "Phystech is certainly among the best universities in the world, and its programs today are in demand not only at the level of Russian graduates. He just determines the cost of training, based on the investment attractiveness of investments in education. This is his competitiveness in the global education market, "the professor believes.

It remains to be recalled that according to the official data of Rosstatistics, inflation in Russia over the past year amounted to only 9.52 percent, but not 20 percent or 47 percent.

An important point: the state continues to take measures to increase the interest of young people in technical education. Specifically to specialties "corresponding to the tasks of ensuring technological independence and technological leadership." The question - how professional are people who promote technical education, and at the same time increase the cost of education? - remains outside the brackets.