BANJARMASIN – The Management Study Program at the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) at Lambung Mangkurat University (ULM) has once again become the most popular study program for the 2026/2027 academic year. The high number of prospective students is reflected in the number of applicants, which reached approximately 2,000, while the available capacity is only 200 seats.
With this number, the selection process is approximately 1:10 based on the total annual capacity. However, in certain selection pathways, competition can be as high as 1:20, with 20 applicants competing for one seat.
The current Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business, Lambung Mangkurat University (FEB ULM) is Prof. Dr. H. Ahmad Yunani, SE, M.Si, stated that the Management Study Program has indeed been a favorite study program within the FEB in recent years. The increasing number of applicants demonstrates public confidence in the quality of education and the prospects of its graduates.
“Competition in the Management Study Program is indeed the fiercest. In certain pathways, around 20 prospective students can compete for one seat,” he said when met in his office on Tuesday (July 7, 2026).
In comparison, the competition rate for the Accounting Study Program is around 1:10, while for the Development Economics Study Program it’s around 1:5.
Career Prospects a Draw
According to Mesir, the high interest in the Management Study Program is inseparable from the broad career opportunities it offers its graduates. Management competencies are needed in almost all sectors, including business, industry, financial institutions, private companies, state-owned enterprises, and government agencies.
In addition to becoming professionals, management graduates also have significant opportunities to build their own businesses as entrepreneurs.
“Almost all sectors require human resources with managerial skills. Therefore, job opportunities for management graduates are wide open,” he said.
He added that the knowledge of management also provides graduates with the flexibility to continue their education to a master’s level or develop careers in various fields that continue to evolve to meet the needs of the workforce.
Capacity Remains Limited
For the 2026 new student intake, Faculty of Economics and Business, Lambung Mangkurat University (FEB ULM) is offering 200 students for the Management Study Program. The Accounting Study Program is also accepting 200 students, and the Development Economics Study Program is offering around 160–170 seats, depending on the admissions pathways. Quota allocation is carried out through the National Achievement-Based Selection (SNBP), the National Test-Based Selection (SNBT), and the Independent Selection.
This limited capacity is one of the reasons for the high level of competition each year. Although the number of applicants continues to increase, the student intake capacity remains adjusted to standards of learning quality, faculty-to-student ratio, and academic facilities.
Excellent Accreditation Strengthens Competitiveness
In addition to job prospects, the high interest of prospective students is also driven by the improving academic quality of the FEB ULM Management Study Program. This study program has now received Superior Accreditation from the Independent Accreditation Board for Economics, Management, Business, and Accounting (LAMEMBA), following its A accreditation from BAN-PT in 2020. The Superior status is valid until 2030 and recognizes the quality of its governance, curriculum, faculty resources, research, and graduates.
Furthermore, ULM continues to strengthen its institutional reputation by improving the quality of education, research, and collaboration with various national and international partners. This has contributed to increasing public trust in ULM as a primary choice for pursuing higher education in Kalimantan.
Competition to Enter State Universities is Increasingly Fierce
The surge in interest in the Management Study Program at ULM’s Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) aligns with national trends, where study programs in the economics and business cluster remain among the most popular choices for prospective students. Competition for admission to state universities is increasingly fierce because high public interest is not always accompanied by an increase in student admission capacity.
For prospective students, this situation presents a challenge to prepare themselves thoroughly from the start. On the other hand, the high level of public interest is also an indicator that the Management Study Program at FEB ULM continues to have strong appeal, both in terms of academic quality and the career prospects of its graduates.
Daffa Ibrahim
