Chile sees surge in university admissions for vulnerable students

Recent data from the Chilean Ministry of Education (MINEDUC) indicates a significant increase in university admissions among students from vulnerable socioeconomic backgrounds. Studies from the Center for Studies of MINEDUC show that selected students from the most vulnerable quintile rose from 594 in 2022 to 4,370 in 2026.

In the second quintile, admissions grew from 6,094 to 25,379 during the same period. This trend is also reflected in high-performing students; those scoring above the 75th percentile in the first quintile increased from 91 to 767, while those in the second quintile rose from 1,415 to 6,640.

While the studies are descriptive and based on the socioeconomic context of schools rather than individual incomes, they suggest that expanding participation opportunities allows academic talent from disadvantaged backgrounds to become more visible. Additionally, the first-year retention rate for the 2025 cohort reached 77.9%, the highest recorded since measurements began in 2007.