Accessing and choosing a career in the Colombian higher education system: socioeconomic factors and public financial support

Abstract

Based on the assertion that knowing the effects of socioeconomic determinants and support policies on access and choice of higher education programs is fundamental to achieve sustainable development and correct social inequalities, the authors analyze these determinants and their effects in Colombia with data from SPADIES (System for the Prevention of Dropout in Higher Education, in Spanish Sistema para la prevención de la Deserción de la Educación Superior), ICFES (Colombian Institute for the Promotion of Higher Education, in Spanish Instituto Colombiano para el Fomento de la Educación Superior) and ICETEX (Colombian Institute for Educational Credit and Technical Studies Abroad, in Spanish Instituto Colombiano de Crédito Educativo y Estudios Técnicos en el Exterior), using an ordered probit model with endogenous regressors. They observe an exclusion effect in access to university studies, since family income, the mother's educational level and access to educational credit are determinants; in contrast, the effects are almost insignificant in technical studies and very marginal in technological studies.