Rated "AA (Affirmed)" by Rating and Investment Information, Inc. (R&I)
Apr. 06, 2024
On March 22, 2024, Meiji University received its eighth rating evaluation from the Rating and Investment Information, Inc. (R&I). The result was the same as last year: "AA (Affirmed)" [Rating Outlook: Stable]
The rating is based on a comprehensive evaluation of the university, such as the quality of the education and research, ability to recruit students, employment record, abundance of graduates, and efforts to promote internationalization and improve educational capabilities.
A school corporation rating reflects the rating agency's opinion on the overall ability to perform all financial obligations incurred by a school corporation. The university obtained the rating for the following purposes.
・To confirm the school corporation evaluation from third parties, mainly in management and finance, and to obtain useful information contributing to management improvement.
・To inform prospective students, students and their parents that the university has established a stable management foundation so that students can attend with peace of mind.
・To make clear to graduates the results of their university’s management efforts
・To ensure the management and faculty members understand the current situation and challenges of the university and have common improvement goals
Issuer Rating / Outline of Rating Acquired / Reason for Rating
A school corporation centered on Meiji University, which originated from Meiji Law School established in 1881. The university has 10 schools, 12 graduate schools and 4 professional graduate schools, as well as affiliated high schools and junior high schools. With its founding spirit of “Rights and Liberty, Independence, and Self-Government,” the university emphasizes the spirit of “Go Forward" to unlock the future by developing the personality. The number of students is about 36,000. The university is one of the largest in Japan. With a history of more than 140 years, it is very well known. Thanks to its brand power and location of the campus, the university attracts many students from all over the country, and its social evaluation is excellent.
The total number of applicants for general selection in the academic year of 2023 exceeded 100,000 for two consecutive years, and the number of applicants in the academic year of 2024 has been higher than the previous year as of the end of February. The total number of applicants and the number of actual applicants remain among the highest in Japan, and the ability to recruit students is extremely strong.
After the announcement of the long-term vision "MEIJI VISION 150 - Go Forward -," the university announced the third medium-term plan of the five-year plan in spring 2022 toward the realization of the vision. It has worked toward the goals set for each of the eight priority measures, including university management and administration, financial strategy, facility development plan, education, research, and measures for affiliated schools.
In terms of education, it has proactively promoted education reform and internationalization, including the development of new curricula and educational methods using the media and the introduction of programs in cooperation with overseas universities. In the future, attention will be drawn to the establishment and reorganization of schools using measures to support the strengthening of science and engineering schools for fostering digital human resources that is promoted by the government.
In terms of facility development, the construction of a new education building at Ikuta Campus (Kawasaki City), which costs 10 billion yen, started in spring 2023. It is scheduled to be put into service by the end of 2025 and is expected to further enhance the educational environment. As for the measures to be taken for affiliated schools, the university has concluded an agreement with Nihon Gakuen on the cooperation of affiliated schools, and plans to change the name, as its affiliated school, to Meiji University Setagaya Junior and Senior High School in spring 2026. The admission of students to Meiji University through the recommended entrance examination is planned to start in the academic year of 2029. The number of applicants and students at Nihon Gakuen has already been increasing. It will contribute to securing diverse students.
Income and expenditure are improving. Thanks in part to an increase in academic fees and donations, the balance of the current academic year before the introduction of the basic fund in the academic year of 2023 is expected to increase by 60% from the previous year. In line with the improvement in income and expenditure, the margin in indicators such as the ratio of retained assets and the ratio of assets under management is also increasing. Although it will take time, the ratio of retained assets is expected to rise to a level commensurate with the rating due to an increase in cash, deposits and securities.
*Please refer to the announcement from the Rating and Investment Information, Inc. (R&I) for details of the reasons for the rating.
≪Japanese version≫
The rating is based on a comprehensive evaluation of the university, such as the quality of the education and research, ability to recruit students, employment record, abundance of graduates, and efforts to promote internationalization and improve educational capabilities.
A school corporation rating reflects the rating agency's opinion on the overall ability to perform all financial obligations incurred by a school corporation. The university obtained the rating for the following purposes.
・To confirm the school corporation evaluation from third parties, mainly in management and finance, and to obtain useful information contributing to management improvement.
・To inform prospective students, students and their parents that the university has established a stable management foundation so that students can attend with peace of mind.
・To make clear to graduates the results of their university’s management efforts
・To ensure the management and faculty members understand the current situation and challenges of the university and have common improvement goals
Issuer Rating / Outline of Rating Acquired / Reason for Rating
A school corporation centered on Meiji University, which originated from Meiji Law School established in 1881. The university has 10 schools, 12 graduate schools and 4 professional graduate schools, as well as affiliated high schools and junior high schools. With its founding spirit of “Rights and Liberty, Independence, and Self-Government,” the university emphasizes the spirit of “Go Forward" to unlock the future by developing the personality. The number of students is about 36,000. The university is one of the largest in Japan. With a history of more than 140 years, it is very well known. Thanks to its brand power and location of the campus, the university attracts many students from all over the country, and its social evaluation is excellent.
The total number of applicants for general selection in the academic year of 2023 exceeded 100,000 for two consecutive years, and the number of applicants in the academic year of 2024 has been higher than the previous year as of the end of February. The total number of applicants and the number of actual applicants remain among the highest in Japan, and the ability to recruit students is extremely strong.
After the announcement of the long-term vision "MEIJI VISION 150 - Go Forward -," the university announced the third medium-term plan of the five-year plan in spring 2022 toward the realization of the vision. It has worked toward the goals set for each of the eight priority measures, including university management and administration, financial strategy, facility development plan, education, research, and measures for affiliated schools.
In terms of education, it has proactively promoted education reform and internationalization, including the development of new curricula and educational methods using the media and the introduction of programs in cooperation with overseas universities. In the future, attention will be drawn to the establishment and reorganization of schools using measures to support the strengthening of science and engineering schools for fostering digital human resources that is promoted by the government.
In terms of facility development, the construction of a new education building at Ikuta Campus (Kawasaki City), which costs 10 billion yen, started in spring 2023. It is scheduled to be put into service by the end of 2025 and is expected to further enhance the educational environment. As for the measures to be taken for affiliated schools, the university has concluded an agreement with Nihon Gakuen on the cooperation of affiliated schools, and plans to change the name, as its affiliated school, to Meiji University Setagaya Junior and Senior High School in spring 2026. The admission of students to Meiji University through the recommended entrance examination is planned to start in the academic year of 2029. The number of applicants and students at Nihon Gakuen has already been increasing. It will contribute to securing diverse students.
Income and expenditure are improving. Thanks in part to an increase in academic fees and donations, the balance of the current academic year before the introduction of the basic fund in the academic year of 2023 is expected to increase by 60% from the previous year. In line with the improvement in income and expenditure, the margin in indicators such as the ratio of retained assets and the ratio of assets under management is also increasing. Although it will take time, the ratio of retained assets is expected to rise to a level commensurate with the rating due to an increase in cash, deposits and securities.
*Please refer to the announcement from the Rating and Investment Information, Inc. (R&I) for details of the reasons for the rating.
≪Japanese version≫