Survey on Educational Costs for Middle and High School New Entrants: Over 80% of Financially Disadvantaged Families Struggle with 'Uniform Costs,' Exceeding Previous Records; 'Cutting Other Living Expenses' Up Significantly
A survey by Save the Children Japan reveals that over 80% of financially disadvantaged families struggle to afford uniform costs for new middle and high school entrants, a record high. Many are cutting living expenses, and there's a call for more support beyond tuition for the 'high school free' program.
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- 📰 Published: April 3, 2026 at 21:35
Save the Children Japan, an international NGO specializing in child support, provides partial financial assistance for middle and high school entrance costs through its "Child Benefit - New Entrance Support" program for economically and otherwise disadvantaged households. Today, April 3rd, the organization announced the results of its "Survey on the Burden of Middle and High School Entrance Costs for Financially Disadvantaged Parenting Households." The survey, conducted in January 2026, targeted 1,800 parents of children scheduled to enter middle or high school in April 2026.
The survey found that over 80% of households reported difficulty preparing "uniform costs," the highest percentage since the survey began in 2022. Furthermore, over 70% of households responded that they are "cutting other living expenses" to cover graduation and entrance costs. This highlights the increasingly strained financial situation of households, compounded by the rising costs of school supplies for middle and high school entrance and the impact of inflation.
Regarding the "high school free" initiative, while over half of respondents felt that increased financial support for education would be helpful, over 40% of parents of new high school first-years stated they would have preferred increased support for educational expenses other than tuition. This indicates that the effects of the policy revision are perceived as limited for financially disadvantaged families.
Based on these findings, Save the Children will advocate for measures such as "urgent operational improvements regarding school supplies" and "creation of new systems for high school entrance preparation" to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and other relevant ministries and local governments, aiming to guarantee the right to education for children in particularly difficult economic situations and achieve true educational free access.
* The effective number of respondents was 1,800 parents from all 47 prefectures who applied for the "Child Benefit - New Entrance Support 2026" conducted in January 2026 and whose responses were confirmed. Survey details are on page 4. (Includes responses from the same parent in cases of sibling applications, etc.)
■ Survey Report: https://www.savechildren.or.jp/news/publications/download/report-shinnyugaku_shinsei2026.pdf
＜Survey Highlights＞
1. Difficulty in preparing "uniform costs" reported by households reaches an all-time high (Graph 1)
Regarding graduation and entrance costs, 84.4% of households with incoming junior high school 1st graders and 82.3% with incoming high school 1st graders found it difficult to prepare "uniform costs," the highest percentage since the survey began in 2022.
2. Over 70% of households cut "other living expenses" to fund graduation and entrance costs (Graph 2)
When asked about how they fund graduation and entrance costs, over 70% of parents, a nearly 10-point increase from the 2025 survey, responded that they "cut other living expenses." Specifically, high percentages reported "reducing their own food intake" (79.4%) and "refraining from using heating/cooling" (67.4%), revealing that various living costs are being reduced.
3. Approximately one-third of households resort to borrowing to fund graduation and entrance costs (Graph 2)
About 30% of households chose borrowing as a method to fund graduation and entrance costs. Among parents of new high school 1st graders planning to borrow, about 40% indicated the loan amount would be 190,000 yen or more.
4. Over 70% face financial burden, and about 60% experience emotional burden regarding graduation and entrance (Graph 3)
Regarding concerns about graduation and entrance, over 70% of parents cited financial burdens such as high costs for school-designated supplies and price increases due to inflation. Nearly 60% of parents also reported feeling an emotional burden, such as perceiving economic disparities compared to peers or making their children endure hardship.
5. "High school free" receives positive reception from over half, but over 40% of new high school 1st-year parents desire support beyond tuition (Graph 4)
Concerning the "high school free" initiative (revision of the High School Enrollment Support Fund System) from April 2026, over half of respondents view it positively, stating, "I think increased financial support for education will be helpful." However, over 40% of parents of new high school 1st graders responded, "I wish for increased support for educational expenses other than tuition, rather than tuition-related support."
Q. Please state any specific concerns or requests to the government regarding overall school life costs, including middle and high school entrance fees (tuition, uniform costs, transportation, textbooks, school-designated items, school trips, club activities, etc.). (Free response) *1
・ School supplies, including uniforms, are designated with no room for choice. As prices for school supplies like uniforms and athletic wear have risen due to inflation, more substantial support would be appreciated. We also hope for more choice rather than designation. (Father of new junior high 1st grader, two-parent household, Mie Prefecture) *2
・ I worry that children might choose schools not based on their desires but on proximity to reduce commuting costs, or they might be choosing club activities with lower equipment/uniform expenses in middle school. I feel anxious about this situation. (Mother of new high school 1st grader, single-parent household, Ishikawa Prefecture)
＜Recommendations based on Survey Results＞
Based on the survey findings, Save the Children will advocate the following four points to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and other relevant ministries and local governments to guarantee the right to education for children in particularly difficult economic situations and achieve true educational free access:
1. Urgent operational improvements regarding school supplies - review necessity, school provision, choice system, and cost indication -
2. Grasping the current cost burden in diverse learning environments and considering expansion of financial support
3. Further expansion of existing support systems for reducing enrollment costs and nationwide dissemination of unique systems
4. Creation of new systems related to high school entrance preparation
"Survey on the Burden of Middle and High School Entrance Costs for Financially Disadvantaged Parenting Households" Overview
【Survey Target】 Parents who applied for "Child Benefit - New Entrance Support 2026" conducted by Save the Children.
【Survey Method】 Online questionnaire conducted at the time of benefit application; all questions were mandatory (some paper responses and proxy responses by supporters were also accepted).
【Collection Period】 January 8 - January 23, 2026
【Effective Responses】 1,800 people (Parents responded for each child's application. Includes responses from the same parent in cases of sibling applications, etc.)
About Save the Children's Child Support Program "Child Benefit - New Entrance Support"
We provide partial support for costs related to middle and high school entrance (30,000 yen per child for middle school entrance, 50,000 yen for high school entrance) to households facing specific life difficulties and economic hardship, meeting the organization's application criteria. Repayment is not required.
Started in 2016 for educational support in the Tohoku region, the program expanded nationwide in 2022. To date, a total of 6,246 individuals have utilized this benefit.
【2016-2021】 2,606 people *Targeted Tohoku region: Yamada Town, Miyako City in Iwate Prefecture; Ishinomaki City in Miyagi Prefecture
【2022】 631 people (574 households) *Expanded nationwide from this year. 【2023】 979 people (882 households)
【2024】 995 people (899 households) 【2025】 1,035 people (950 households)
【2026】 Provided sequentially from early March 2026 after screening based on eligibility criteria.
【Details URL】 https://www.savechildren.or.jp/lp/kodomosupport2026/ (Details including application criteria)
Keywords: Entrance costs, impoverished families, entrance ceremony, graduation ceremony, tuition fees, high school free, Save the Children, survey, questionnaire, children
The survey found that over 80% of households reported difficulty preparing "uniform costs," the highest percentage since the survey began in 2022. Furthermore, over 70% of households responded that they are "cutting other living expenses" to cover graduation and entrance costs. This highlights the increasingly strained financial situation of households, compounded by the rising costs of school supplies for middle and high school entrance and the impact of inflation.
Regarding the "high school free" initiative, while over half of respondents felt that increased financial support for education would be helpful, over 40% of parents of new high school first-years stated they would have preferred increased support for educational expenses other than tuition. This indicates that the effects of the policy revision are perceived as limited for financially disadvantaged families.
Based on these findings, Save the Children will advocate for measures such as "urgent operational improvements regarding school supplies" and "creation of new systems for high school entrance preparation" to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and other relevant ministries and local governments, aiming to guarantee the right to education for children in particularly difficult economic situations and achieve true educational free access.
* The effective number of respondents was 1,800 parents from all 47 prefectures who applied for the "Child Benefit - New Entrance Support 2026" conducted in January 2026 and whose responses were confirmed. Survey details are on page 4. (Includes responses from the same parent in cases of sibling applications, etc.)
■ Survey Report: https://www.savechildren.or.jp/news/publications/download/report-shinnyugaku_shinsei2026.pdf
＜Survey Highlights＞
1. Difficulty in preparing "uniform costs" reported by households reaches an all-time high (Graph 1)
Regarding graduation and entrance costs, 84.4% of households with incoming junior high school 1st graders and 82.3% with incoming high school 1st graders found it difficult to prepare "uniform costs," the highest percentage since the survey began in 2022.
2. Over 70% of households cut "other living expenses" to fund graduation and entrance costs (Graph 2)
When asked about how they fund graduation and entrance costs, over 70% of parents, a nearly 10-point increase from the 2025 survey, responded that they "cut other living expenses." Specifically, high percentages reported "reducing their own food intake" (79.4%) and "refraining from using heating/cooling" (67.4%), revealing that various living costs are being reduced.
3. Approximately one-third of households resort to borrowing to fund graduation and entrance costs (Graph 2)
About 30% of households chose borrowing as a method to fund graduation and entrance costs. Among parents of new high school 1st graders planning to borrow, about 40% indicated the loan amount would be 190,000 yen or more.
4. Over 70% face financial burden, and about 60% experience emotional burden regarding graduation and entrance (Graph 3)
Regarding concerns about graduation and entrance, over 70% of parents cited financial burdens such as high costs for school-designated supplies and price increases due to inflation. Nearly 60% of parents also reported feeling an emotional burden, such as perceiving economic disparities compared to peers or making their children endure hardship.
5. "High school free" receives positive reception from over half, but over 40% of new high school 1st-year parents desire support beyond tuition (Graph 4)
Concerning the "high school free" initiative (revision of the High School Enrollment Support Fund System) from April 2026, over half of respondents view it positively, stating, "I think increased financial support for education will be helpful." However, over 40% of parents of new high school 1st graders responded, "I wish for increased support for educational expenses other than tuition, rather than tuition-related support."
Q. Please state any specific concerns or requests to the government regarding overall school life costs, including middle and high school entrance fees (tuition, uniform costs, transportation, textbooks, school-designated items, school trips, club activities, etc.). (Free response) *1
・ School supplies, including uniforms, are designated with no room for choice. As prices for school supplies like uniforms and athletic wear have risen due to inflation, more substantial support would be appreciated. We also hope for more choice rather than designation. (Father of new junior high 1st grader, two-parent household, Mie Prefecture) *2
・ I worry that children might choose schools not based on their desires but on proximity to reduce commuting costs, or they might be choosing club activities with lower equipment/uniform expenses in middle school. I feel anxious about this situation. (Mother of new high school 1st grader, single-parent household, Ishikawa Prefecture)
＜Recommendations based on Survey Results＞
Based on the survey findings, Save the Children will advocate the following four points to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and other relevant ministries and local governments to guarantee the right to education for children in particularly difficult economic situations and achieve true educational free access:
1. Urgent operational improvements regarding school supplies - review necessity, school provision, choice system, and cost indication -
2. Grasping the current cost burden in diverse learning environments and considering expansion of financial support
3. Further expansion of existing support systems for reducing enrollment costs and nationwide dissemination of unique systems
4. Creation of new systems related to high school entrance preparation
"Survey on the Burden of Middle and High School Entrance Costs for Financially Disadvantaged Parenting Households" Overview
【Survey Target】 Parents who applied for "Child Benefit - New Entrance Support 2026" conducted by Save the Children.
【Survey Method】 Online questionnaire conducted at the time of benefit application; all questions were mandatory (some paper responses and proxy responses by supporters were also accepted).
【Collection Period】 January 8 - January 23, 2026
【Effective Responses】 1,800 people (Parents responded for each child's application. Includes responses from the same parent in cases of sibling applications, etc.)
About Save the Children's Child Support Program "Child Benefit - New Entrance Support"
We provide partial support for costs related to middle and high school entrance (30,000 yen per child for middle school entrance, 50,000 yen for high school entrance) to households facing specific life difficulties and economic hardship, meeting the organization's application criteria. Repayment is not required.
Started in 2016 for educational support in the Tohoku region, the program expanded nationwide in 2022. To date, a total of 6,246 individuals have utilized this benefit.
【2016-2021】 2,606 people *Targeted Tohoku region: Yamada Town, Miyako City in Iwate Prefecture; Ishinomaki City in Miyagi Prefecture
【2022】 631 people (574 households) *Expanded nationwide from this year. 【2023】 979 people (882 households)
【2024】 995 people (899 households) 【2025】 1,035 people (950 households)
【2026】 Provided sequentially from early March 2026 after screening based on eligibility criteria.
【Details URL】 https://www.savechildren.or.jp/lp/kodomosupport2026/ (Details including application criteria)
Keywords: Entrance costs, impoverished families, entrance ceremony, graduation ceremony, tuition fees, high school free, Save the Children, survey, questionnaire, children
FAQ
What percentage of households found it difficult to prepare uniform costs in this survey?
84.4% of households with incoming junior high school students and 82.3% with incoming high school students reported difficulty, the highest proportion on record.
What are parents' views on the 'high school free' system?
Over half of respondents view increased support positively, but more than 40% wish for expanded aid for educational expenses beyond tuition.
What recommendations is Save the Children Japan making?
They propose improving school supply management, expanding support for diverse learning methods, enhancing existing systems, and creating new systems for high school preparation.