15 Turkish Universities with the Lowest Admission Scores in 2025: A Guide for 2026 Candidates

Today, July 20, 2026, only two days remain until the final results of the Turkish Higher Education Institutions Exam (YKS) are announced [2]. In these critical moments, candidates are estimating their chances of admission in various fields by looking at last year's data. Recent reports from the media outlet «Ekonomim» show that in 2025, significant changes occurred in the candidates' selection map, and some universities in lesser-known cities have gained attention due to low living costs [1].

Why Reviewing 2025 Scores is Vital in July 2026? According to the Turkish academic calendar, this year's exam results will be announced on July 22, immediately followed by the preference period [2]. Educational experts believe that the 2025 base scores are the best indicator for predicting the behavior of the educational market this year. Although scores may change based on exam difficulty, university rankings usually remain relatively stable [3].

List of 15 Universities with the Lowest Thresholds Last Year Based on data extracted from the 2025 final results, the following universities were among the institutions that filled their capacity with the lowest entry scores or faced vacant seats in some departments [1][3]:

1. Munzur University (Tunceli)
2. Batman University
3. Bayburt University
4. Sinop University
5. Ağrı İbrahim Çeçen University
6. Hakkari University
7. Şırnak University
8. Iğdır University
9. Bingöl University
10. Bitlis Eren University
11. Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University
12. Sakarya University of Applied Sciences (in some technical fields)
13. Istanbul Gelişim University (50% discount programs)
14. Istanbul Topkapı University (evening programs)
15. Istanbul Arel University (some associate degree programs)

This list includes a mix of state universities in the Eastern and Southeastern regions, as well as some non-scholarship programs in foundation (private) universities in major cities [1].

Emergence of New Cities on the Turkish Academic Map One of the interesting points in the 2025 statistics is the increased interest of candidates in cities previously considered "remote" or "less popular." Due to inflation and rising rental costs in metropolises like Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir, many students prefer to study at universities in cities like Sinop, Nevşehir, or Batman, where living costs are significantly lower [1]. This phenomenon has caused admission scores in these cities to experience a slight growth compared to previous years.

Smart Strategy for 2026 Selection Educational consultants emphasize that candidates should not rely solely on the "Score." The main criterion for selection should be the "Success Ranking" [3]. Given that the 2026 results will be published within 48 hours, it is recommended that candidates place the list of last year's 15 lowest-scoring universities as a "safety belt" at the end of their preference list to prevent definitive non-admission [2].