Polish universities generated PLN 45.8 billion in revenue in 2025, an increase of 7% from the previous year, but their financial performance diverged sharply. Public universities recorded a combined net result of PLN 847.2 million, down 17.8%, while the result of private institutions rose 53.6% to PLN 395.9 million, according to Statistics Poland (GUS).
Operating costs across the sector rose more slowly than revenue, increasing 6.4% to PLN 44.6 billion. The figures were published in the GUS report Higher Education and Its Finances in 2025.
Public universities lose profitability while private schools improve
The combined net result of public universities declined from PLN 1,030.6 million in 2024 to PLN 847.2 million in 2025, a reduction of PLN 183.4 million. Private universities increased their combined result from PLN 257.8 million to PLN 395.9 million, a gain of PLN 138.1 million.
| University group | 2024 net result | 2025 net result | Annual change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public universities | PLN 1,030.6m | PLN 847.2m | −17.8% |
| Private universities | PLN 257.8m | PLN 395.9m | +53.6% |
Both groups recorded positive results in aggregate. This does not imply that every individual institution was profitable: aggregate statistics can conceal large differences in financial position.
Two different funding models
Public universities rely chiefly on government subsidies, whereas tuition fees and other charges for educational services are a central source of income for private institutions. Consequently, higher overall university revenue can have different effects on finances depending on institutional type and cost structure.
Public institutions face costs associated with research, teaching, facilities and staffing, while private providers have different funding exposure and operating models. The divergence in net results highlights the importance of examining each segment separately rather than treating higher education as a single financial category.
More than 1.3 million students
The statistical report also describes the size of Poland’s higher-education market. More than 1.32 million people were enrolled at universities in the 2025/26 academic year, with a further 202,000 participants in postgraduate education.
The sector’s PLN 45.8 billion revenue and PLN 44.6 billion costs should be read alongside this broad teaching and research activity. Revenue growth alone does not show whether an institution has increased resources per student or improved its long-term ability to finance investment.
While the private segment’s improved net result and the public segment’s decline point to different financial trends, more detailed institutional data would be needed to assess the sustainability of their finances and the drivers of individual universities’ results.
Source: Statistics Poland, Higher Education and Its Finances in 2025 (2026 publication).
