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)
The UIS does not have recent data for Jamaica. In 2015, the gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education for both sexes was 26.25% and the initial government funding per tertiary student as a percentage of GDP per capita was 34.98%. There is no recent data for the initial household funding per tertiary student as a percentage of GDP per capita.
According to the Tertiary Education Commission, in 2024-25, there were 87,191 students across 34 higher education institutions.
Tuition-free status
Tertiary education is not tuition-free.
Governance
Primary legislation covering education in Jamaica is the Education Act of 1965/1980. The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information (MOEYI, sometimes MOEY) is responsible for Higher Education in Jamaica, oversight and administering budgets allocated by the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service (MOFPS). The University Council of Jamaica (UCJ) is a statutory body under the MOEYI with some operational independence. It has a regulatory role and is responsible for accreditation and quality assurance in universities. In 2026 some of these responsibilities are in the process of moving to the Jamaica Tertiary Education Commission (J-TEC).
1. Education resources to subnational governments
No evidence was found.
2. Education resources to institutions
Funding for private universities in the absence of public institutions
In the public sector there are three universities, one university college, five teachers’ colleges and eleven other institutions. Private institutions are expected to fund themselves through fees, though they may benefit from public money through student funding.
Allocation and equity
Public higher education institutions receive subventions through the MOEYI budget. No evidence was found of equity considerations in this allocation.
3. Education resources to students
Admission for vulnerable groups
Entry to university is primarily academically determined, based on Caribbean Examinations Council exams. The Sixth Form Pathways Programme has widened the set of qualifications with which students can enter university, which has widened formal access to tertiary education. No specific criteria or quotas for vulnerable groups were found.
Scholarships, grants and loans for vulnerable groups
The MOEYI administers a range of scholarships (11 in 2026) such as the Annual Jamaica Scholarship, sometimes in partnership with NGOs. Some of these scholarships are targeted at specific educational specialisations, such as engineering. They have Jamaican residence and nationality requirements and are awarded according to academic merit. Recipients are often bonded to work in Jamaica for five years after graduation. Recipients are expected to perform community service in exchange for some scholarships.
The MOEYI has two Tertiary Assistance Grants, one of which is a Financial Assistance Grant for vulnerable students who are experiencing challenges in continuing their education. They are eligible for a payment of up to JMD 350,000 per year in 2025. Recipients are expected to perform community service in exchange for their grant.
The Jamaica Values and Attitudes Programme for Tertiary students (JAMVAT) provides assistance to financially challenged students. Each year, in exchange for 200 hours of community service, the Government of Jamaica pays 30% of the student’s tuition cost up to a cap of JMD 350,000. The other 70% can be set against a student loan from the Student Loan Bureau. Upon completion of their community service, some may receive a small stipend of JMD 10,000.
In 2024, a total of JMD 635 million was budgeted by the MOEYI for Tertiary Scholarships and Grants.
As part of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security’s (MLSS), the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH) receives funding from the World Bank. Households are eligible if they are identified as needy by the Beneficiary Identification System, which uses a Proxy Means Test to identify the needy. Participants of the programme who have received benefits while in high school are entitled to a Tertiary Bursary which is paid directly to the university to partially cover tuition fees. In 2025, this amount was JMD 150,000 annually.
The Ministry of Finance and the Public Service administers a programme of scholarships in the STEM field for future teachers and low-income students. As part of an agreement with UTECH Jamaica, over 5 years, 1000 low-income students are to be supported through this programme.
Student loans are available through the Student Loans Bureau which offers loans to all those wishing to study locally or at some campuses of the University of the West Indies. These cover the whole cost of tuition. There are application fees, those on the PATH programme and wards of the state are exempted. Recipients are assessed for a Grant in Aid (GIA) for low income or PATH households. In 2023, the government extended the programme to 4200 recipients who were allocated JMD 60,000 each.
4. Support for students’ living costs
Transportation
The Jamaican Urban Transport Company (JUTC) operates buses in urban areas in Jamaica, including dedicated campus bus services. From 2026 as part of the Rural School Bus programme students are entitled to travel concessionary fare of JMD 50 per journey with the presentation of a valid student card. No policy was found at the national level.
Accommodation
Public universities such as the University of the West Indies and UTech Jamaica often offer student accommodation at subsidised rates. Offices of student financing at universities can offer grants to defray housing costs to those who are in financial need. No policy was found at the national level.
Textbooks
Some of the scholarships offered by the MOEYI include a book allowance, however these do not have an equity component. The financial offices of some universities, such as the University of the West Indies at Mona, provide grants for textbooks for those in need. No policy was found at the national level.
This profile has been reviewed with the support of Dr. Stacey N. J. Blackman
