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)
According to UIS data, the gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education for both sexes in the Dominican Republic was 57.65% in 2024. The data for the initial government funding per tertiary student as a percentage of GDP per capita and the initial household funding per tertiary student as a percentage of GDP per capita in the Dominican Republic are not available.
Tuition-free status
Law 139-01 of Higher Education, Science and Technology of the Dominican Republic, in article 6, states that students are expected to contribute financially according to their economic possibilities to higher education. Thus, tertiary education is not tuition-free.
Governance
The Government of the Dominican Republic is the primary source of higher education funding and allocates resources through the Secretaría de Estado de Educación Superior, Ciencia y Tecnología (SEESCyT), created by Article 34 of Law 139-01. The SEESCyT, together with the Consejo Nacional de Educación Superior, Ciencia y Tecnología (CONESCyT), is responsible for policy development, funding strategies, budget allocations, supervision of institutions, and oversight of the use of public funds (Articles 34–39, 89–92)
1. Education resources to subnational governments
Higher education financing is centralised; there are no transfers from central to local governments. Equity is pursued mainly through scholarships and targeted aid for disadvantaged groups and priority careers, rather than through territorial allocations.
2. Education resources to institutions
Funding for private universities in the absence of public institutions
Article 18 of Law 139-01 states that one of the objectives of higher education financing is to fund public higher education and contribute to the financing of private higher education. This means that, while the law prioritises public institutions, it also allows the State to support private universities. However, the law does not establish a specific mechanism that automatically allocates funding to private universities when no public university is available. Instead, public contributions to private higher education are framed as part of broader objectives to promote equal opportunities, knowledge transfer, and the linkage of universities with society and the productive sector.
Allocation and equity
Government subsidies to public higher education institutions in the Dominican Republic are primarily allocated through general funding administered by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology (MESCyT) to support the operation of public universities and the financing of research and innovation programmes established under Law 139-01. Article 91 requires that not less than 5% of the national budget be directed to the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (UASD) and other public universities, in addition to subsidies for other higher education institutions. Article 92 specifies that the MESCyT budget must include programmes for public higher education, contributions to private higher education, competitive research funds, revolving funds for infrastructure and teacher training, and a national student loan program. It also establishes a scholarship fund targeted at low-income population groups and students in priority fields of study. Thus, while institutions do not receive dedicated equity-targeted subsidies, equity is addressed through student-based mechanisms such as scholarships and credit programmes.
3. Education resources to students
Admission for vulnerable groups
No specific admission criteria and/or financial support for the admission of vulnerable groups are found.
Scholarships, grants and loans for vulnerable groups
National Scholarships Programme (Becas Nacionales)
The National Scholarships Programme, managed by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology (MESCyT), provides educational opportunities each year for students of limited economic resources, proven academic ability, or situations of vulnerability, with priority given to programmes aligned with national development needs. To be eligible, applicants must be Dominican nationals, have obtained a high school average of at least 80/100, and apply for programmes offered in the official call for Higher Technician, Undergraduate, or Postgraduate levels. Scholarships are awarded on the basis ofacademic merit and equity considerations, ensuring equal access across the national territory. The programme covers the full cost of tuition and institutional fees, with additional support such as scholarships for students from low-income families and targeted funding for priority fields of study. The application process is free of charge, and MESCyT issues several calls each year through the Department of National Scholarships.
Crédito de Apoyo Educativo
Established under Decree No. 549-21, the Crédito de Apoyo Educativo forms part of the National System of Scholarships and Educational Support Credit. It is managed jointly by MESCyT and the Banco de Reservas de la República Dominicana and provides soft educational loans through a fiduciary fund. Its objectives include promoting access, retention, and completion of higher education studies, supporting the professional training of Dominican citizens, and ensuring equal opportunities for vulnerable groups, with explicit attention to gender equity and socio-economic disadvantage. Beneficiaries are selected based on academic merit, professional potential, and socio-economic situation. The credit may cover tuition, living expenses, insurance, and other educational costs, functioning as a complementary mechanism to scholarships, especially for students who lack sufficient resources to continue their studies.
4. Support for students’ living costs
The programme “Incentivo a la Educación Superior” (IES), implemented by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology (MESCyT) as well as by the Administradora de Subsidios Sociales (ADESS), grants a monthly economic subsidy of RD$500 to university students from low-income backgrounds, particularly those who graduated from schools located in areas identified on the national Poverty Map, and who are enrolled at any campus of the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (UASD). The subsidy can be used for tuition payments, the purchase of books, and study supplies. Its objective is to provide financial support to economically disadvantaged students so they can pursue and complete their higher education without interruption, while maintaining regular academic performance.
There is no support available for students' transportation or for accommodation.
