PMB PTKIN 2026 Getting Tighter, Global Reputation Boosting Interest

SURABAYA - The State Islamic Religious University (PTKIN) - a state campus under the Ministry of Religion that combines general science and Islamic studies - is no longer seen as a second choice. In the 2026 PTKIN PMB, competition for admission is getting tighter, driven by a surge in applicants and global recognition.

Data from the National PMB-PTKIN 2026 Committee noted that 143,948 students from 12,174 educational units competed through the SPAN-PTKIN channel. Participants come from MA and MAK, SMA and SMK, to Formal Early Childhood Education and boarding schools.

This surge is in line with changes in public perception. The latest survey shows that 97.3 percent of students assess the academic quality of PTKIN as equal to top public campuses. As many as 96.7 percent of respondents are also optimistic that their graduates will be able to compete in the global job market.

Chairman of PMB-PTKIN 2026, Abd. Aziz, assessed that this high interest was born from a change in people's way of thinking. "People now see PTKIN as a comprehensive solution, namely the integration of a solid religious character, affordable education costs, and world-class academic standards," he said in Surabaya, Friday, April 3, 2026.

This year, PTKIN PMB also introduced mental health mapping for prospective students. This step marks attention to psychological readiness, not just academic achievement.

Another fact emerged. For the first time, the registrants from the madrasah exceeded the public schools. Director General of Islamic Education, Amien Suyitno, called this a sign that the Islamic education ecosystem is becoming more solid and global-oriented.

The strengthening is also visible on the international stage. UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta and UIN Sunan Kalijaga are among the world's ranks in the QS World University Rankings 2026 for theology. A number of PTKINs are also listed in SCImago for research and law.

The Secretary General of the Ministry of Religion, Kamaruddin Amin, assessed that this achievement was an entry point for internationalization. The target is to attract more foreign students to study in Indonesia.