Higher Education in Latin America

Dr. Jonathan Smith

Professor of Educational Policy
State University of New York, Buffalo

Cost

Tuition at Latin American universities is cheaper as compared to studying

in other countries, like the United States or the United Kingdom. Indeed, in some
countries, like Brazil and Uruguay, post-secondary education is free at public
universities and considered a right, enshrined in those countries’ constitutions
(World Education News and Reviews). In other countries, like Mexico, while not
free, tuition in public universities is quite affordable, ranging in cost from $1
to $200 a year. Although public universities in Latin America are highly
prestigious, Latin America also has private universities, where tuition costs range
from $2,000 to over $15,000 a year, depending on the institution (Center for
International Higher Education).

Despite the low-cost education offered by prestigious public institutions

in Latin America, the number of public institutions is not sufficient to meet
demand for post-secondary study. This results in many students having to attend
private universities, at a substantially higher cost than they had planned for or
having to refrain from pursuing post-secondary study at all. Students who are
compelled to enroll in private institutions, often have to take out loans to afford
post-secondary study. As a result, the average student loan debt totals over
$25,000, for students graduating from private universities in Latin America (World
Bank). This often becomes a substantial burden for graduates, as the unemployment
rate in Latin America is 40% for college graduates (UNESCO).

Enrollment

Although the number of public colleges in Latin America is not sufficient

to meet demand, higher education is available to more young people in Latin
American today than at any other time in the region’s history. Over the last
decades, enrollment rates have increased from 21% in the 2000 to 40% in 2010 (Latin
American Educational Foundation). Today there are more than 20 million students
attending college. This increased rate of college attendance reflects a desire by
young people to participate in Latin America’s rapidly growing economies, which
offer substantially higher salaries to college graduates (UNICEF). However,
enrollment in post-secondary education varies sharply by income levels, resulting
in lower income students attending lower quality institutions. In particular,
prestigious public universities in Latin America, which are free to attend, serve
45% of students coming from middle and high income families, but only 11% of
students coming from poor urban areas and only 3% of low-income rural youth (Center
for International Higher Education).

In addition to this economic disparity in public university attendance,

graduation rates are a troubling indicator of problems with the university system
in Latin America. Across Latin America, less than half (46%) of all young people
who started post-secondary education graduate (Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development). Moreover, the high drop-out rate in Latin America
disproportionately affects students from low and lower-middle class families, with
49.7% of students dropping out due to a lack of financial resources based on survey
data of students leaving university study (Institute of International Education).

Please rate the following:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------

College Education in the U.S.

Dr. Kyle Redmond
Professor of Higher Education
University of California, Los Angeles

Cost

A unique feature associated with the university system in the Unites

States is its cost. Part of the high cost of university study in the United States
is attributable to high tuition. According to the National Center for Education
Statistics, average tuition for the 2017-2018 academic year was just over $10,100
at public four-year universities. This figure jumps to nearly $37,000 for tuition
at private four year universities. With annual median individual income in the
United States at $31,099 in 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, it
is clear that these tuition costs represent significant challenges for many
students and their families.

While some students are able to cover the high cost of tuition, either
with family support or through scholarships or grants, many require loans to afford
their education. According to U.S News and World Report, in 2018 about 65% of
graduating seniors had student loans, with graduates of public institutions owing
an average of $26,900 and graduates from private institutions owing $32,500, for
their four-years of study. As students are typically obligated to start repaying
loans six months after graduation, loan repayments become significant expenses for
young adults only beginning their careers. At the same time, job prospects remain
high for college graduates, with the unemployment rate for college graduates at
2.1% in 2019, according to the National Student Clearing House.

Enrollment

Another feature of college education in the United States, are the

changing demographics of enrollment. Although we may expect the same number of
students to enroll in college year-to-year, college enrollment is, in fact, a
flexible number, reflecting both long-term trends in college attendance and year-
to-year shifts in the economic climate. Historically, more students than ever are
going to college. Specifically between 1955 and 2017 college enrollment rose from
17.7% of high school graduates enrolling in college to 69.8% (Pew Research Center).
This increase reflects the fact that more jobs than ever require a college degree.
Despite this overall increase in college enrollment, less than 40% of students from
low-income families enroll in post-secondary study, as compared to over 80% of
student from high income families (National Assessment of Educational Progress).

All told, 40% of 18 to 24 year olds in the Unites States are enrolled in
college at any one time (Bureau of Education and Research). But simply enrolling in
college does not guarantee that students will graduate successfully. Freshman year
is the most challenging for students. On average, 1 in 3 first-year students do not
enroll in college, beyond their freshman year. Reasons that students leave
university study include financial challenges, mental health issues and experiences
of loneliness, and academic challenges. The official four-year graduation rate for
students attending college is 42%, while the six-year graduation rate is 56%. This
means that over 40% of U.S students enrolling in college do not make it to
graduation and for many students, the college completion process takes more time
than they would prefer (U.S. Department of Education).

code 194879