Higher Education in Crisis: Challenges of Access and Retention in Colombia

Abstract

This article critically analyzes higher education in Colombia between 2016 and 2024, focusing on access, permanence, and financing. Using a mixed and correlational approach, it was evidenced that a greater availability of financing mechanisms is associated with more educational coverage and lower dropout. The study indicates that structural challenges persist in public policies that limit the democratization of the system. It concludes that it is urgent to rethink these policies, leaving aside the mercantilist logic and recognizing education as a fundamental right, key to social equity, human dignity, and an active and inclusive citizenship.