UDC 378.014.15

THE COMPETITIVENESS OF UNIVERSITIES IN THE CONTEXT OF THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION MARKET: PRICE AND REPUTATION FACTORS

Published in Trade, service, food industry · Volume 6, Issue 3 · Pages 353–363 · Rubric: Marketing and management
EDN: WZKNBQ
Received: 22.05.2026 Accepted: 02.06.2026 Published: 28.08.2026
Authors
The Russian higher education market between 2024 and 2026 demonstrates signs of deep structural transformation. Based on PESTLE analysis, tuition fee monitoring, and a comparative analysis of the competitive environment using Porter's five forces model, the article identifies key factors determining the competitiveness of higher education institutions. It is established that the share of the paid segment has reached 56%, tuition fees in popular fields have increased by 25–42%, and the state has introduced quotas for paid admission in 46 specialties. It is shown that at the regional level a price equilibrium has developed: the difference in tuition fees between universities for comparable programs does not exceed 2–3%, indicating the absence of direct price competition. In the context of the transition from a buyer's market to a seller's market with strict selection, price loses its function of balancing supply and demand and turns into a signal of quality and status of an educational institution. Using the example of Siberian Federal University and its competitors, it is argued that the key factor of competitiveness becomes the university brand – its ability to justify the premium value of education and reduce the perceived risk for applicants. Special attention is paid to the high threat from vocational education institutions, which offer training in similar fields at three to five times lower cost.
higher education market, university brand, pricing policy, competitive environment
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