As is usual, the University of Latvia, the Riga Technical University and the Riga Stradins University received the most applications.
The law, medicine and computer science study programs at the University of Latvia were the most sought-after.
About 18,000 young people finished grade 12 this year. About a third of high school graduates opt to enter the job market without studying at a university, according to a Swedbank poll carried out in June.
Education Ministry representative Jānis Paiders explained that students are slowly opting to study STEM subjects.
"On a national level it looks like this: five years ago 20% of all students in state and private universities studied hard sciences and engineering. Now it's 25% and it's growing slowly each year," he said.
Social sciences get roughly a third of the €26m state funding allotted to hard sciences.
Ruta Porniece of the Latvian Employer's Federation told Latvian Radio that the IT sector is still lacking able hands, despite government policy.
"Most state-funded study spots are granted in hard sciences and maths .. last year there were more than 10,000 state-sponsored vacancies," she said.
