In recent years, higher education in Colombia has undergone notable changes, especially in the private sector, while public institutions have faced significant challenges. Despite the national government’s policies to increase coverage and offer free tuition, the results have been less encouraging than expected.
Between 2021 and 2023, the Colombian higher education system only grew by 50,000 students, a figure that is well below government expectations, according to a recent report by the National Higher Education Information System (SNIES).
The implementation of the ‘Zero Tuition’ policy and other subsidies have failed to reverse the negative trend in the public sector. Of the 74 public higher education institutions (HEIs), 39 reported a decrease in their enrollment, highlighting the stagnation in the sector, according to SNIES.
By 2023, public universities reported an enrollment of 2,475,833 students, a modest increase of 0.4 percent over the previous year, placing the coverage rate at 55.38 percent. This growth rate raises questions about the feasibility of achieving the government’s goal of 60 percent coverage by the end of the current four-year period.
The National Apprenticeship Service (Sena) experienced the largest decrease in the number of students, with a drop of 31,839 students between 2022 and 2023. Other public institutions that also reported losses include the Pedagogical and Technological University of Colombia and the National University of Colombia, with reductions of 3,218 and 1,788 students, respectively.
In contrast, the private university sector has shown a more positive outlook. The National Open and Distance University (UNAD) led the growth with 28,146 new students, contributing significantly to a positive balance in the university sector in general. In total, public and private universities gained 11,924 new students during the period.
Private universities have managed to stay afloat and even grow thanks to educational strategies in the offering of programs and marketing. Institutions that offer short, technical, virtual programs and with a broad national presence have been the most benefited.
Manuela Beltrán University (UMB) is an example of this phenomenon, with a gain of 1,168 students between 2022 and 2023, placing it among the ten fastest-growing private universities in the country.
“The UMB has opted for educational programs that respond to the current demands of the labor market, which has made it especially attractive for students seeking training that allows them to quickly enter the workforce. In addition, it has developed virtual platforms that facilitate access to distance education, expanding its reach at a national and international level,” says the educational institution.
The case of Manuela Beltrán University is not unique, but it is representative of a broader trend among private universities in Colombia. Institutions such as the Universidad Minuto de Dios (Uniminuto), Asturias Corporación Universitaria (Uniasturias) and the Fundación Universitaria del Área Andina have also registered significant growth, thanks in part to their ability to adapt to the changing needs of the educational market.
