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The number of new upper secondary school graduate applicants, the rate of their application to universities (undergraduate courses) and junior colleges (regular courses) and the rate of successful applicants among them are shown in Chart 1-24.

Chart 1-24. Number of New Upper Secondary School Graduate App1icants to Universities and Junior Colleges and Number of New Upper Secondary School Graduate Entrants Thereto

The number of new upper secondary school graduates applying to universities increased 2.3 times from 200,000 persons in 1960 to 460,000 in 1975, with the corresponding rise in the rate of applications from 21% to 35% during the same period. It is notable, in this regard, that the number of new upper secondary school graduate applicants, showing a steady growth since 1970 notwithstanding the decline in the number of upper secondary school graduates, surpassed in 1974 the number of upper secondary school graduate applicants in 1967 when the number of upper secondary school graduates reached an all-time high, and, as a consequence, that the rate of application has also been climbing to an unprecedented high level. The rate of successful applicants among new upper secondary school graduate applicants, which had taken a downward turn during the period of sharp increase of new upper secondary school graduate applicants partly due to the increase of Ronin students, turned upward in subsequent years, but has been in a downward trend again in recent years.

The number of new upper secondary school graduate applicants to junior colleges rose 4 times from 40,000 persons in 1960 to 170,000 in 1975, but the rate of their application climbed only 8% during the same period. The rate of successful applicants among new upper secondary school graduate applicants has kept at around 90%, except during 1965-68, when it temporarily declined due to sharp increase of upper secondary school graduates.