WIN Media, Makassar, 2/3/2026 – As the 2026 National Selection for Admission to State Universities (SNBT) approaches, anxiety among final year high school students is starting to rise. The question on everyone’s mind: will this year’s competition be tougher than before?
Harry Yulianto, an education observer from STIE YPUP Makassar, predicts that the competition for SNBT 2026 will indeed see a slight increase in intensity. However, he also highlights a strategic opportunity for prospective students: focusing on less popular majors.
“Based on demographic trends and the number of registrations in the previous year, it is estimated that the national passing grade average could rise by 5-10 percent, especially for top-tier universities,” Harry explained.
The “Safety Valve” Strategy: Unpopular Majors
Harry advises students not to fixate solely on prestigious majors. He suggests exploring programs that are often overlooked but have equally promising career prospects.
“Don’t force yourself to get into the Faculty of Medicine or Informatics Engineering at a top university if your scores are borderline. Look at options like Fisheries, Literature, or Regional Language Education. These departments are often ‘quiet’ but have a high level of acceptance and generally offer quick employment because the number of graduates is still limited,” he said.
Predicted List of Unpopular Majors in 2026
Based on an analysis of interest trends over the last three years, Harry predicts that the following faculties will still be “quiet” in SNBT 2026:
- Fisheries and Marine Science (still considered a niche field despite Indonesia’s huge marine potential).
- Regional Language and Literature Education (e.g., Javanese, Sundanese, or local languages).
- Philosophy (often perceived as having an unclear career path).
- Agricultural Socio-Economics (perceived less popular than the Agribusiness major).
“Students must understand that a ‘passing grade’ is just an entrance ticket. The final outcome is determined by how they develop their potential during college,” Harry emphasized.
Harry also reminded students to consistently practice with the latest questions and not to rely too heavily on passing grade data from previous years, as the patterns can change.
“Focus on your potential and interests. Don’t let yourself be influenced by trends. Sometimes, choosing a quiet major is actually a shortcut to a bright future,” he concluded.
SNBT 2026 Makin Ketat? Ini Prediksi Passing Grade dan Jurusan Sepi Peminat
WIN Media, Makassar, 2/3/2026 – Menjelang Seleksi Nasional Berdasarkan Tes (SNBT) 2026, kegalauan di kalangan siswa kelas 12 mulai terasa. Pertanyaan besarnya, apakah persaingan tahun ini akan lebih berat dari sebelumnya?
Harry Yulianto, pengamat pendidikan dari STIE YPUP Makassar, memprediksi bahwa persaingan SNBT 2026 memang akan sedikit meningkat. Namun, ia juga menyoroti peluang strategis bagi calon mahasiswa, yaitu dengan melirik jurusan-jurusan yang sepi peminat.
“Berdasarkan tren demografi dan jumlah pendaftar tahun lalu, diperkirakan rata-rata passing grade nasional bisa naik 5-10 persen, terutama untuk universitas papan atas,” jelas Harry.
Strategi “Katup Pengaman”: Jurusan Sepi Peminat
Harry menyarankan agar siswa tidak hanya terpaku pada jurusan bergengsi. Ia mendorong para peserta untuk mengeksplorasi program studi yang kerap terlupakan namun memiliki prospek karier yang tak kalah cerah.
“Jangan memaksakan masuk FK atau Teknik Informatika di PTN favorit jika nilai pas-pasan. Coba lihat opsi seperti Perikanan, Sastra, atau Pendidikan Bahasa Daerah. Jurusan-jurusan ini biasanya sepi, tapi tingkat keterima tinggi dan umumnya cepat dapat kerja karena lulusannya masih sedikit,” tuturnya.
Prediksi Daftar Jurusan Sepi Peminat 2026
Berdasarkan analisis tren minat selama tiga tahun terakhir, Harry memprediksi fakultas-fakultas berikut masih akan “sepi” di SNBT 2026:
- Ilmu Kelautan dan Perikanan (masih dianggap sebagai bidang yang niche meskipun potensi bahari Indonesia sangat besar).
- Pendidikan Bahasa dan Sastra Daerah (misalnya Bahasa Jawa, Sunda, atau muatan lokal lainnya).
- Filsafat (sering dianggap prospek kerjanya tidak jelas).
- Sosial Ekonomi Pertanian (dianggap kurang populer dibandingkan jurusan Agribisnis).
“Anak-anak harus paham, ‘passing grade’ itu hanya tiket masuk. Hasil akhirnya ditentukan oleh bagaimana mereka mengembangkan potensi selama kuliah,” tegas Harry.
Harry juga mengingatkan agar siswa gencar berlatih soal-soal terbaru dan tidak terlalu bergantung pada data passing grade tahun-tahun sebelumnya karena pola bisa berubah.
“Fokus pada potensi dan minat kalian. Jangan sampai terbawa arus tren. Kadang, memilih jurusan yang sepi justru jadi jalan pintas menuju masa depan cerah,” pungkasnya.