Shizuoka University
A well-established university providing quality higher education. Offers a range of undergraduate and graduate programs with dedicated faculty and supportive learning environment.
- Acceptance Rate
- 59.7%
- SAT Range
- 1050–1250
- ACT Range
- N/A
- Avg GPA
- 3.4
- Size
- Large (30,906 students)
- Type
- N/A
- Student:Faculty
- 1:24
- Setting
- suburban
- Graduation Rate
- 66.0%
- Retention Rate
- 71.0%
- Tuition (In-State)
- $6,000
- Tuition (Int'l)
- $10,000
Academic Programs
STEM
Business
Social Sciences
Humanities
Health
Arts
English Proficiency Requirements
Student Life & Environment
Student life at Shizuoka University reflects the character of mid-sized Japanese regional universities. The two main campuses serve different faculties, with students in humanities, education, and agriculture primarily based in Shizuoka city while engineering and informatics students attend the Hamamatsu campus. This geographic split means the student community is divided rather than unified. Club activities remain important to Japanese university life, with sports clubs, cultural circles, and hobby groups providing social networks and extracurricular experiences. The pace feels slower than at universities in Tokyo or Osaka, with less intense job-hunting pressure and more space to enjoy university years. Housing options include university dormitories with limited spaces and private apartments in the surrounding areas. The cost of living in Shizuoka runs below major metropolitan areas, making student budgets stretch further. Local attractions include easy access to the ocean, views of Mount Fuji on clear days, and the cultural heritage of a region that has played important roles in Japanese history. International students are a smaller presence than at more cosmopolitan universities, which means both fewer resources specifically for foreign students and more immersion in Japanese culture.
Location & Surroundings
Shizuoka Prefecture stretches along Japan's Pacific coast between Tokyo and Nagoya, blessed with mountain scenery culminating in Mount Fuji at its northern border. Shizuoka city serves as the prefectural capital while Hamamatsu functions as a major industrial center, with both hosting Shizuoka University campuses. The climate brings mild winters and warm, humid summers typical of the Japanese Pacific coast. The Shinkansen bullet train connects both cities to Tokyo in roughly an hour and to Nagoya in similar time, making day trips to major urban centers feasible. Local attractions include the Nihondaira plateau with panoramic views, historic Suruga Bay fishing harbors, and the Sumpu Castle ruins associated with Tokugawa Ieyasu. Hamamatsu is known globally as the home of Yamaha and other musical instrument manufacturers, along with significant automotive industry presence. Green tea plantations cover hillsides throughout the region, producing much of Japan's premium tea. Beaches along the coast provide summer recreation. The region feels distinctly Japanese without the international character of major cities, offering immersion experiences valued by some international students and challenging isolation for others.
Costs & Career Outcomes
Tuition at Shizuoka University follows the standard structure for Japanese national universities, with annual fees of around 535,000 yen that remain consistent across most programs. Entrance fees add to first-year costs. These rates are substantially lower than private Japanese universities and far below what students would pay at institutions in the US or UK. Living costs in Shizuoka and Hamamatsu run below Tokyo levels, with housing, food, and daily expenses more manageable on student budgets. Scholarships exist for students with financial need or academic merit, provided by the university, Japanese government, and private foundations. Part-time work opportunities help students cover living expenses while studying. Career outcomes for graduates reflect regional employment patterns, with many finding positions at companies in Shizuoka Prefecture or nearby areas. Teaching graduates enter schools throughout the region. Engineering and agriculture graduates work in industries ranging from automotive to food processing. Some graduates move to Tokyo or other major cities for career opportunities, using the university degree as their entry point to national job markets. The career services office coordinates with employers and helps students navigate the job search process that dominates senior year for most Japanese university students.
Campus Location
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