Financing for equity in higher education
1. Education resources to subnational governments
2. Education resources to institutions
3. Education resources to students
4. Support for students' living costs
Introduction
Key financing indicators (UIS Data)
As of 2024, the gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education for both sexes is 37.69%. According to the 2022 database, the initial government funding per tertiary student as a percentage of GDP per capita is 13.16 and the initial household funding per tertiary student as a percentage of GDP per capita is 94.94.
Tuition-free status
National laws and policies do not guarantee tuition-free public tertiary education for all citizens.
Governance
The main government body responsible for financing higher education in the Marshall Islands is the Marshall Islands Scholarship Grant and Loan Board (MISGLB). It is supported by relevant education sector agencies and receive significant funding through compact grants from the United States.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
There are no formalised funding mechanisms for transferring higher education resources from the Marshall Islands’ central government to local governments, as higher education is centrally managed and funded.
2. Education resources to institutions
Funding for private universities in the absence of public institutions
Government resources do not directly subsidise private universities, as there are no significant private universities within the country. The Marshall Islands Scholarship Grant and Loan Board (MISGLB) provides financial support for Marshallese students to attend accredited colleges and universities outside the country (including private institutions) if they align with national priority fields and are approved by the MISGLB.
Allocation and equity
Subsidies to public institutions such as the College of the Marshall Islands (CMI) and the local University of the South Pacific (USP) campus are allocated through the national budget rather than earmarked institutional block grants for equity purposes.
3. Education resources to students
Admission for vulnerable groups
There are no specific admission criteria for vulnerable groups.
Scholarships, grants and loans for vulnerable groups
Scholarships (more broadly, “financial assistance”) are available for higher education under the 2020 Marshall Islands Scholarship Grant and Loan Board (MISGLB) Regulations and the 1979 Scholarship Assistance Act. By default, every award is treated as a student loan that the MISGLB can later convert to a grant when a recipient meets the program’s conditions. Eligibility centres on Marshallese students who can demonstrate the academic ability to complete tertiary education, financial need, and a commitment to study in government-priority fields and return to serve in the Marshall Islands after completion.
The regulations do not set a single fixed loan amount; instead, they define annual award ceilings that cap the maximum financial assistance a student can receive. For undergraduate students, the MISGLB may provide up to USD 18,000 per academic year and USD 5,000 for summer sessions. For graduate students, the ceiling is higher - up to USD 25,000 per academic year and USD 6,000 for summer sessions.
The regulations do not assign responsibility to a single cabinet minister; rather, they establish the MISGLB - a multi-member board drawn from key institutions (e.g., the Public School System, College of the Marshall Islands (CMI), local University of the South Pacific (USP) campus, specified ministries, private sector representatives, a Nitijela member, and public members) - to administer the program. Operationally, the scholarship office runs the scheme under these regulations, with other agencies involved for specific functions (for example, collections can route through the Ministry of Finance, Banking and Postal Services).
4. Support for students’ living costs
Transportation
According to the 2020 Marshall Islands Scholarship Grant and Loan Board (MISGLB) Regulations, students studying abroad are eligible for transportation support, with the Board providing airline tickets for the most direct and economical route. This includes travel when a student first departs for school, returns home after completing their program, or must return due to failure, termination, health reasons, or death. The regulations also allocate USD 500 specifically for transportation costs as part of the financial assistance package.
Accommodation
The 2020 Marshall Islands Scholarship Grant and Loan Board (MISGLB) Regulations provide financial assistance for accommodation to students studying abroad, offering up to USD 1,050 per month for meals and housing expenses, including utilities. Students living off-campus must submit a rental agreement, and this support falls under the overall annual award ceiling of USD 18,000 for undergraduates and USD 25,000 for graduates.
Textbooks
For students pursuing higher education abroad, the Marshall Islands Scholarship Grant and Loan Board (MISGLB) offers support for textbooks and academic supplies by providing up to USD 1,000 each academic year. This amount is included under the Board’s financial assistance package to help cover the necessary books and materials required for the student's program of study.
