Applications to semiconductor contract-based degree programs at five South Korean universities reached 5,992 for the 2027 academic year, up 972 applicants, or 19.4%, from the previous year. The programs recruited 210 students, producing an average competition ratio of 28.53 to 1 and the highest applicant total since the 2023 admissions cycle, when all five universities operated semiconductor contract departments. Sogang University recorded the largest increase, while Yonsei University was the only institution to report a decline. Sogang’s System Semiconductor Engineering Department drew 1,323 applicants for 20 places, a 66.15-to-1 ratio. Its essay-based general admission track drew 893 applicants for three places, producing a 297.67-to-1 ratio. Sungkyunkwan University’s Semiconductor System Engineering Department attracted 2,026 applicants for 55 places, or 36.84 to 1, while its mathematics-type essay excellence track drew 1,241 applicants for 10 places, or 124.1 to 1. Contract-based degree programs align university curricula with industry needs, with companies covering tuition and, in most cases, guaranteeing employment after graduation.